MG ZR 1.8i Trophey SE

I bought the MK2 MG ZR 1.8i Trophy SE in September on an 05 plate from The Car People after a good friend of mine purchased the MK2 1.4 version. I was so impressed with the handling and power I decided to get one which I managed to do three days later (Most expensive impulse buy yet).

First impressions were of joy as I have seen the MK1 and the interior hardly deviates from the Rover 25. The level of trim is excellent with comfy bucket seats, air-conditioning, cd/mp3 player, electric windows with the one-touch-down system, funky air vents and switches, leather gear knob/gaiter and steering wheel. The list goes on.

I found a metallic black five door version, simply because I cart my friends about to and from college/work etc a lot, which came with the rear Lexus lights as well as the rally pack which includes the 17in wheels and spoiler.

It's certainly quicker than my old MK3 VW Golf 1.9 TDi but the fuel cost is a bit of a shock as it does 39.1 approx combined to the gallon - which was a shock coming from 50-60 but that is expected of a sporty car.

As I have had the car for around a month now, the little niggles are coming to light. Little niggles I mean such as the centre console rattling, the drivers seat squeaking, the drivers door rattling, both rear pillars producing a knocking noise. Not best pleased.

I sent the car back to Manchester where I provided the engineers with a diagram of the car with the locations of the squeaks indicated.

Got the car back last week and all seemed well until I went over a large bump which caused all the rattles - bar the driver's door - to reappear. As I've paid 9.5K for the car I'm not too impressed with the build quality, granted I may drive it a little hard now and then, but nothing extreme. Yet the whole cabin rattles. I have to turn the music up so I'm not reminded of the shoddy workmanship.

I've driven a Kia, which is considerably cheaper yet there are little /no rattles squeaks. Very annoying indeed.

With the grumble aside, this car is a real head turner. Every time you change gear and put your foot back on the throttle, you get a little short sharp sucking noise, perhaps the injection system, which sounds very nice alongside the general growl of the K-series engine. Very impressed with a zero-to-sixty of 8.6 and top end of 120+mph.

All-in-all, don't purchase one and expect premium build, but DO expect a well priced super fun driving experience, you wont be disappointed!

This is the second MG ZR I have owned in two and a half years. The first was the original base 105 zr, which although it was a great drive had no extras like electric windows, central locking, etc.

I then changed this for the New ZR and wow, improved handling, better interior, higher spec for the new base model. These are a really great car for a reasonable price and only being 22, the low insurance group is a huge plus!

I bought this MG ZR sports car mainly because of the look of it and a great price with the dealer, I picked it up on the 3rd September 2004, the first things it had to go in for was the accelerator pedal having too much play on it and the bitting point of the clutch was right at the bottom. Both problems were sorted out. It then went in for a new gear knob because the old one kept coming off when I changed gear, even after it was changed this still happens. If I have to break hard at high speed the car veers severly to the right. Whenever I put my car into reverse gear it always grinds I now need to double the clutch to stop it from doing this. The cover behind the lever on the drivers door pulls out when I open the door. My car is now booked in again to hopefully be sorted. Has anyone else had any of these problems or any others.