Alfa Romeo 156 vs MG ZS

[Tristan]

"personally i wouldn't touch an mg unless it's one of the 'proper' mgs because
a) girls car (sorry rdjones)
b) based on an old car (as pointed out previously)
c) comes in very silly attention seeking colours."

What I wanted to say but was scared of being shouted at again!!

[Izzy]

It’s the ZR that is based on Honda floor where as the ZS being the same as a Rover 75 is based on the late 90’s 5 series BMW floor. The MG has stiffer suspension then the 75 & sportier engine tune. The original 75’s were designed & built by BMW in true German fashion. Unfortunately now that Rover/MG has been sold, quality control has gone out the door with the Germans. They are about as reliable as a mid 80’s Alfa. Saying that I drive a 1989 Alfa 33-sportwagon (1.7 cloverleaf) which is very reliable & can match the ZS through the twisty stuff. The MG is quicker in a straight line though. If performance is what you’re after go the Alfa, the same goes for reliability & looks.

[garcon]

The MG based on the Rover 75 is the ZT. The ZS is based on a Rover 45, which in turn was a facelifted Rover 400, which - like the 200/25 - is on a platform shared with the Honda Civic of the time.

I'm not sure if BMW's presence and departure had much impact on the 75's build quality, but I can vouch that they're better than a mid-80s Alfa. Just.

The 75 does indeed share some elements of platform with the 5 series, bulkhead and rear assembly included. That's why it's been relatively straight forward to develop the upcoming ZTR (to be launched in the UK this Autumn), a rear wheel drive supersaloon using a supercharged version of the Ford 4.6 V8, developing 380-400 bhp...

[Tristan]

"If performance is what you’re after go the Alfa, the same goes for reliability & looks"

...prestige, pride of ownership, the fact you're driving an Alfa etc.

See?? Buy it.

[garcon]

And when you pick it up - say hello to the Service Manager - you'll be on first name terms before long...

[rdjones]

MG ZR's are not girls cars - OK they are maybe a little - I have a 25 which is OK, but I have also driven a ZR and I was very impressed, it handled well etc, if I could afford the insurance on one I would have had one......

[bella]

mg's are girls cars. they're 'performance cars' for girls who intend to have a family with their boyfriend darren at some point.
they're also very difficult to be stealth in. how you can be undercover in a bright yellow skirted up girly machine i don't know. if that doesn't say 'officer, stop me for speeding' i don't know what does.

i know the alfas are pretty difficult not to notice, but they're extremely stylish and very sexy cars.

[Bluebottle]

Originally posted by bella
if that doesn't say 'officer, stop me for speeding' i don't know what does.

Er... speeding does.

[rdjones]

Originally posted by bella
mg's are girls cars. they're 'performance cars' for girls who intend to have a family with their boyfriend darren at some point.
they're also very difficult to be stealth in. how you can be undercover in a bright yellow skirted up girly machine i don't know. if that doesn't say 'officer, stop me for speeding' i don't know what does.

Ture, but they are still lovly cars, and yes if I had the option then I would have one, no question's asked.

OK I know I am hugh MG fan, but the ZR is a bit "girly" but the ZS and ZT are both big boys toys in IMO. Now I haven't driven either of them, but they look spot on my next car will be an MG, no question's asked...........

[garcon]

The ZR's a girly car, the ZS is a little boys' toy, the current ZT is a bigger boys' toy - for those in their 40s with a family and a Vectra budget who can't face yet another Vectra.

The forthcoming ZTR I mentioned earlier is a big boys' toy - just think of it as a British Holden. And the X Power coupe thing will be the proper article if it ever hits the showrooms...

And although I agree that in bright red, yellow or blue none of them are exactly subtle, they are also available in BRG and Black...

I do quite like the ZT. I really want the ZTR to be a superb car - I just fear quality issues and inordinate claims of supremacy by MG may be its downfall. (Remember Rover's claim that the 75 was the best drivers' car in its class??)

[woodyracing]

Im not really an Alfa fan, but theres a pic in the Autotrader of a yellow Spider which looks nice.

// blimey just found an Private sale, XJ220 in there - no price on it though.

[garcon]

Talking of unlikely things in Autotrader, search on price high > low for Subaru Impreza.

www.autotrader.co.uk

Clue - reg no X10 SRT ...

Already sold, I'm afraid.

[dretceterini]

Haven't driven a 147 or either 147 or 156 GTA, as I'm in the US..but I have driven the 156 2 liter, and it's a superb car. The estate is perhaps the best looking one ever made. I can't comment on the MG...

[GTV27]

I did some laps at a race track in a 2.5 litre 156 6 speed manual - it was very impressive for a fronty - although we also had a 3.0 litre GTV there as well and it was fan-bloody-tastic.

So go for a GTV if you fit and don't need the extra room or a 156 if you don't and do.

[Suzy]

Originally posted by bella
mg's are girls cars. they're 'performance cars' for girls who intend to have a family with their boyfriend darren at some point.
they're also very difficult to be stealth in. how you can be undercover in a bright yellow skirted up girly machine i don't know. if that doesn't say 'officer, stop me for speeding' i don't know what does.

i know the alfas are pretty difficult not to notice, but they're extremely stylish and very sexy cars.

Bella!!!!!! How dare you??? You know full flipping-well that I own one - in fact, when I posted a picture of it on this very forum you admired it and asked me about its insurance costs!

1) I happen to be the owner of an MG-ZR!
2) It is bright yellow!
3) My car IS a performance car
4) I don't have a boyfriend - certainly not one called Darren and I don't intend to start a family.
5) I've never been stopped for speeding.
6) I deliberately chose yellow because I think it is a great colour and one that I would be noticed in for safety reasons - it is much easier for me on the road to be noticed in the doom and gloom. It's not attention-seeking (mind you, you'd know more about that than me!) Everybody at 10-10ths who has seen Peril likes him.

[rdjones]

Suzy I would agree with on most of that, but why Yellow (u have your reasons) If I had one it would have to br British Racing Green........

[bella]

ok, so peril's different no, i don't have a problem with girls driving them, and i always refer to the stereotypes.
i'd just not drive one if i was a bloke that's all.

[Truckosaurus]

I saw an Alfa 156 estate ('Sportwagon'?) on my travels yesterday, hadn't seen one in a while, it looked very nice. One of those with the V6 (with sports exhaust) would be cracking. (Off to check autotrader to see if such a combo exists).

Coincidentally I was in a colleagues V6 MG ZT-T which was also nice.

[Suzy]

Why yellow?

Well, first of all, I've always liked bright colours. You're looking at somebody who spent the first 18 years of her life chugging around in an orange and white doormobile.

From there, I've always had a "thing" about bright cars: I've owned purple, gold and now yellow.

I love Peril being yellow. I can see him in a car park, he's noticable on the road - unlike some of these grey things, a bright colour is cheerful and it cheers me up.

I saw a yellow ZR in my local Rover/MG dealer and fell in love with it at first sight. I then saw Gwyndaf Evans driving one and was smitten. I knew I wanted a ZR (and my current car was reaching the end of its lease period) and I was determined to have yellow. I was given the option of a ZS or a ZR for the same price but I passed on the ZS as I found the rear spoiler was right in my line of vision (I'm not that tall you see) and it wouldn't fit in our garage!!! So it was the ZR and his name is Peril.

My Peril is such a groovy boy you know. And let's be fair: you can't have a car called (Yellow) Peril if it's blue!

[Suzy]

Excuse the double-post by the way, but I keep telling Tim that he'd be much better with a ZS. They're friendly, comfy, stylish, parts are easy to get, they don't rust, it's a good insurance group (I was pleasantly surprised when I insured Peril this year), Peril would like a relative to talk too when they're together and there's a free-fuel offer too at the moment.

[Izzy]

The MG based on the Rover 75 is the ZT

Sorry about that. The dealership where I work has only just taken on the mg franchise in the last 2 weeks, So I’m just getting to grips with the model names. Before that we did Landrover/Rover. I assure you what I sed about the 75 is all true. Unfortunately

[garcon]

No need to apologise!

Of course, if you're a technician , it's got to be far more interesting working on cars that break all the time - imagine how boring life would be at a Honda dealership...

[Izzy]

I couldn’t agree more, I’ll never be out of a job. My last job was better though, I worked for lotus but it was only 3 days a week, The bills weren’t paid but oh the test-drives.