Wise Buyer: MGZT
2001-2005
Bag yourself MG’S ZT before it’s too late. They’ll never be cheaper.
Still cheap, this is has to be the ultimate modern British family classic to buy now
When the Rover 75 was launched in 1998, a sportier version of the companies flagship wasn’t high on the agenda. As soon as BMW sold up to the Phoenix consortium, however, the MG ZT became a serious priority. It was an immediate hit, proving what a great platform the 75 was and allowing Rover’s engineers to show the world what they could do.
Why you want one
The fact that many ZT owners still use their cars every day isn’t because it’s all they can afford, it’s because this swift, family hold-all does everything they need and more. Spacious, comfortable and well-equipped, the ZT is the perfect family racearound, especially in capacious Tourer (estate) form. However, while the ZT is undeniably fast, if you feel the need to unleash the inner hooligan, nothing less than one of the barking mad V8powered derivatives will do. But standard ZTS are affordable, rapid and the V6 still has a superb soundtrack, if you’re a fan of subtle performance cars you’ll just love the ownership and driving experiences of arguably MG’S ultimate five seater.
Why now is the time to buy
John Newey runs Summit Garages in Dudley, which sells and maintains these cars. Says John: ‘There are still plenty of ZTS in good condition, but with the newest examples almost 15 years old, the numbers will soon drop sharply. Exceptional ZTS are already commanding a premium, but prices of most ZTS are very reasonable; just £500 gets you into something scruffy that will provide faithful service.
‘The V8 is the most sought after and, until recently, the diesel came next. But with people moving away from diesels, it’s the petrol-engined models that most buyers want. However, the BMW 2.0-litre diesel engine is tough and economical; our own ZT-T diesel auto is still running strong with 226,000 miles on the clock.
‘Autos are hard to find, but they have a ready market so they fetch a premium, but really good ZTS are still worth only around £2000-£3000 – the ceiling for non-v8 cars is £5000, while really nice V8s fetch £10,000. Exceptional V8s are now getting close to £20,000. With its naturally aspirated 1.8 engine, the ZT120 is the least desirable variant, the 1.8T (ZT160) is the most common and the 2.5 V6 (ZT160/180/190) is the best of them all as it’s great value, really good to drive and is worth little more than the 1.8T. Estates tend to be abused – so excellent ones are scarce. As a result, they can attract a premium, but both bodystyles have a following. The ZT can compete with recent family saloons and estates far better than you might think – it really is that good.’
Which one?
When the ZT arrived in June 2001 it was offered in 158bhp ZT160 and 188bhp ZT190 forms, both featuring a 2.5-litre V6 petrol engine. A year later, a Bmw-sourced 2.0 CDTI engine became available, in 114bhp or 129bhp forms. In October 2002, a 175bhp ZT180 was introduced with a 2.5 V6 petrol engine; this was the only powerplant offered with an automatic transmission. At the same time a new