ZT-T V8 reviewed on Pistonheads

[rolled1]

An interesting article on Pistonheads today comparing 5 fast estates from a new Merc C63 AMG,Audi RS4 and RS2,Volvo 850 and the ZT-T,I was surprised the MG actually got favourable reviews not only from Pistonheads but the other car owners too,anyone know the owner?
Main article here-
http://www.pistonheads.com/doc.asp?c=52&i=23637
and more here-
http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=23649

[StephenL]

anyone know the owner?

I think the car is 'Kermit (http://www.two-sixties.com/cotm1006/)'.

Interesting article - I always wanted an RS2 in my younger days - never managed to get one :(

[colintf]

thanks for sharing that with us :thumb

extract from above link : -

FAST ESTATES: MG ZT-T V8



http://images.pistonheads.com/nimg/23649/GFW_5751.jpg


In some ways, whether the V8 MG is any good or not is beside the point - the fact that it exists at all makes it simply marvellous. It's a real two-fingered salute to the world from an engineering department of a dying company keen to prove that they could still produce decent cars even on a shoestring budget.

http://images.pistonheads.com/nimg/23649/GFW_6177-t.jpg (http://images.pistonheads.com/nimg/23649/GFW_6177-L.jpg)

And a shoestring budget it must have been. Word has it that the clever six-damper set-up (there are two extra dampers on the axles to help eliminate axle tramp) was calibrated by chaining a development car to a wall and getting an engineer to lie under it and essentially say 'when' once the axle tramp was gone.
The very same word also tells us that the electronic speed limiter was little more than a genius marketing ploy because, with the electronic 155mph restriction removed, the big MG would do, er, 155mph...

http://images.pistonheads.com/nimg/23649/GFW_5654-t.jpg (http://images.pistonheads.com/nimg/23649/GFW_5654-L.jpg)

But endearing bodges notwithstanding, the V8 MG does seem to be a brilliant car. It's proved reliable - Chris points out that the only bits that have gone wrong with it have been BMW parts, not MG or Ford bits - and he obviously gets a heck of a lot of fun out of it.
It perhaps doesn't feel like the most modern of cars - the chunky clutch, old-school Tremec gearbox and gruff-but-lovely 4.6-litre Ford lump see to that - but it's solid, honest, pretty quick, and sounds lovely.
It even handles moderately adroitly. You wouldn't call it agile or sprightly, but it does what you tell it, when you tell it to, and with a fair degree of enthusiasm.

http://images.pistonheads.com/nimg/23649/GFW_5734-t.jpg (http://images.pistonheads.com/nimg/23649/GFW_5734-L.jpg)

Gareth: "I just love the story behind it, and the fact that it's kind of the 'final fling' of British mainstream car engineering"
Jeremy: "It sounds fab and looks like great fun. A lunatic-mobile - which is exactly what a fast estate should be"
Smita: "Weirdly, it reminds me of an old Alpina B7 turbo I used to have - it feels very stable at speed"
Pics: George Williams
http://images.pistonheads.com/nimg/23649/GFW_6195-t.jpg (http://images.pistonheads.com/nimg/23649/GFW_6195-L.jpg)

http://images.pistonheads.com/nimg/23649/GFW_6198-t.jpg (http://images.pistonheads.com/nimg/23649/GFW_6198-L.jpg)

http://images.pistonheads.com/nimg/23649/GFW_6194-t.jpg (http://images.pistonheads.com/nimg/23649/GFW_6194-L.jpg)

http://images.pistonheads.com/nimg/23649/GFW_6192-t.jpg (http://images.pistonheads.com/nimg/23649/GFW_6192-L.jpg)



P.H. O'Meter
Join the PH rating wars with your marks out of 10 for the car. (Your ratings will be shown in your profile... if you have one (http://www9.mg-cars.org.uk/members/) !)
http://www9.mg-cars.org.uk/include/lobordog/images/transparent.gif

[Martin]

Mmmmmmmm I should have gone down with a boot full of paint and me ladders on the roof and see what they thought about a working girl:D

Still showed out well congrats and like they say two fingers to the rest

[brrm]

Mmmmmmmm I should have gone down with a boot full of paint and me ladders on the roof and see what they thought about a working girl:D

Haven't seen you round these parts for a while, hope all's well! I still have a dust sheet in my boot for you. :D

[Martin]

Haven't seen you round these parts for a while, hope all's well! I still have a dust sheet in my boot for you. :D

You just would not believe the time I have had since we met it's the stuff of books and psychiatrist's notes but hay ho still on the V's Valium, Volterol, Vicodin and Viagra :D

[wraith01mg]

Heavy on the Viagra. :~
Hope all is well Martin.

[Tim]

Good read of all the cars but needed to give Chris 10 :D

[VXman]

Word has it that the clever six-damper set-up (there are two extra dampers on the axles to help eliminate axle tramp)

Am I write in thinking this is wrong? Theres only one extra damper on the rear axle isn't there? Or maybe one is missing on mine.

[JohnB]

Am I write in thinking this is wrong? Theres only one extra damper on the rear axle isn't there? Or maybe one is missing on mine.

Hi VXman, this thread should answer your question, pictures to show the two dampers.

https://www.two-sixties.co.uk/mgoc260/html/f0rum/showthread.php?t=4611&highlight=dampers

[Tim]

Don't oftern look under your car then ;)

Theres two :)

https://www.two-sixties.co.uk/gallery/albums/502/medium/2007_03170025.JPG

Just see the bottom of thr rear one in this shot
https://www.two-sixties.co.uk/gallery/albums/502/medium/2007_05290132.JPG