MG ZR 160 1.8 VVC - Owning, Driving, Restoring and the ZR Story 

It’s funny the MG Zed cars seem to get more praise today than they did back when they were new. I’ve had my ZR since new. 18 years of ownership and it is probably one of the most coveted examples there’s ever been. I remember the car having zero street cred when it was my absolute pride and joy. I always thought the value for money and sheer fun were heavily underrated. I remember reading magazine reviews of the ZR and thinking “ are they talking about the same car” it was often unfairly slatted. Of course nostalgia eventually takes hold and now 16 years after MG-Rovers collapse people may start to realise what a shame it was to witness the death of our last mainstream British car manufacturer.

Love the MG Zcars, much better looking in my opinion than offerings from other manufacturers.

My first car was a trophy yellow ZR+. 1400cc 105. registration was NK53 LWM. I owned it from 2005 to 2007, after that i continued on my boy racer path, owning numerous faster hatches, such as the 106 GTi, and the saxo VTS. Since then, I have had countless cars but I always wish I could go back in time to relive the days of owning that ZR. People give the K series a bad rep, but let me tell you i tortured mine for 40K miles and it never missed a beat. I totally agree the price of these will head north, and as you correctly said, (people like me), wanting to recapture their youth will be looking for them. I think anyone that has owned one, will know just how much fun these cars were, it was a very nippy car even for a 1400, and the twin cam design meant you could rev them to oblivion. I think this was one of the ''proper'' last hot hatched to be made, before technology went wild and detached the driver from any emotion with the car. Thanks for the video, really enjoyed it.

Absolutely thrilled to see my old MG ZR .... what a beauty and you are quite right she was a dream to drive. Happy that she's in safe hands and what a great job you have carried out. Thanks for sharing the video

Excellent video, i had a 160 when quite new was a great car but did start to rust and went about 2013. In 2017 i bought an absolutely mint 115TD ownd by an enthusiast with every single extra so would have been an expensive car when new it only had 41k I did use it as a daily but the following year replaced it with a ZT. I srill use it in dry salt free weather quite a bit and now has 66k on Its been remapped and is actually quicker than my 160 but obviously not as revvy As the only thing that is visually different to a 160 and its over 160 bhp ive given it a 160 badge. Irs trophy yellow with yellow insert seats and even got the yellow sides on the steering wheel. Glad to say its part of my 7 vehicle autin rover/ rover collection .

When I was 18, if you were a car person and fancied buying a brand new car, the MG ZR 1.4 had just come out and was the car that a number of people I knew were getting on finance (back when getting finance was very easy). 105hp, looked good and under 10k? Of course they were popular with young people! But if you had the MG ZR 160, you were held in high regard and people my age would have been quite envious of you. I also knew someone my age who had a 306 GTI-6 and I questioned how they could afford the insurance. Now for me, the best British hot hatches are the Ford RS cars, but they cost more to buy and insure. Back in 2003, in terms of value for money and 'bang for buck' the MG ZR 160 was only beaten by the EK Civic Jordan (only sold in the UK). Remember those? B16A with black and yellow leather interiors. Hatch backs these days might have more power, but imo they don't have the amount of character/personality that cars from the late 90's/early 00's had. They also weigh a lot more and are more than double the price.

I bought a trophy blue ZR 160 last month and doing little bits to make it perfect, trying to drive carefully to keep it good but I just can't stop using all the revs its addictive. Love it!

Love my mg zr still going

Amazing video! Great to see the ZR getting some praise. I have a Trophy yellow 160, fantastic cars

Had a zs, an mgf and a rover 200. Loved them all and I'm now on the lookout for a zr160. The k series is much maligned but with care it goes on and on, good acceleration, lightweight and good emissions for the time. I'm impressed with them and hope prices stay low for a while longer! Looking forward to the zt video and I've watched the zs one too. Great work!

These cars are full of character. The last and best in my opinion. They are definitely a future investment as many as possible should be saved

Another super video, loads of great MG Rover facts! Many ill-informed people out there bash the K series. Look after it, and it will look after you in return. Even it hasn't been looked after right by a previous owner, a new head gasket kit and related bits won't cost heaven and earth (even if fitted by a specialist). Nothing more than you would spend in a lifetime of another car in my opinion. Once done correctly you should be happy for many more years. Looking forward to more, especially the V8 ZT! 😁

Has now given me food for though. Good video, love MG-Rover stuff

that ZR is a belter :) ... another cracking video

MG and Rover really should have given the American market another go.

I also still have my Mk 160 in the same colour also, but a 3 door. Wish i had the means to make it perfect again. Love what you done to the car.

Really Enjoyed this. I'm 20 years old and I have one of these, only difference is I have an 05 mk2 version. It is my first car and it is great fun

Great video :) MGR cars are so underrated, if looked aftee properly they are fun and reliable, i own a rover 25 gti, MG ZS 180 mk2 Saloon, MG ZR Mk1 in biomorphic Green and have recently purchased an early Mk1 ZR 160 in trophy which requires restoration

Good vid on the look out now for one in grey still good value for money

Lovely review they are still great cars, I have two K-Series an R3 1.6 IS 3 door and an MGF Mk1 VVC both great fun to drive and reliable with no HG issues. I am on the lookout for a Gti or one of these VVC 160’s but do prefer the pre-facelift and bulletproof earlier Lucas electric’s albeit pre OBD plug ins. The Rover/MG cars are still bargains at the moment but that may change when people realise just how good they can be with special edition low mileage examples now creeping up in value.

I have zr 160 face-lift blue trophy, very good car

BMW bought Rover-MG for the Mini brand. The agreement included some rehash of older Rover models so they took the 25, 45 and 75 models and released fresher more sporting looking cars.

I've got two 218 vi's , both 3 doors, and two 114 GTi's . All stock but I love them like that. I would love to add a ZR 160 to my collection. (I own 16~17 cars including a 50k kilometers Skyline R34 GT-R V Spec in Midnight Purple, a red Lancer Evolution V, Ralliart Version R Special, Daihatsu Charade GTti, Ibiza Cupra R,...). To be honest I love the Rovers the most... British Engineering 🙌🏻💪🏻🤙🏻

Can’t wait to see the 25 GTi.

Lovely video! I currently own two ZRs one being the 105 and the latter with the 2.0 diesel! Both are solar red. Also to mention - the 105 is a 1 owner from new with only 32k on the clock!! Full service history stamped all the way to 31k!!

I have a MG ZR 120+ 3 door with the same metallic grey. It is one of the very last pre facelift models that went off the line in 2004. Brilliant car (although my fuel gauge is taking getting used to). I have only just started getting rust on the arches which is a shame but I'm from Plymouth so hope its not too expensive getting it done to future proof the car. One thing I ask is how many miles do you get from a tank? I don't rag the car (its 18 years old so don't really want to push it all the time) but I only get about 320 miles even though it supposedly gets 430... Trying to figure out where the other 110 miles are going 😅 cleaned intake, no fuel leaks, new sparks and cam cover gasket change and all that. Maybe I'm still getting used to it perhaps. Anyway great video and really found it facinating!

Should review face lift mg zr , there great looking is well 🙌🤩

What's an Rover MG ZR 1.4 Trophy Blue Immaculate only 32,200 miles genuine from new worth today. New head gasket and many new parts replaced when head gasket blew.

Great video. Wish I could find a decent MG ZR 160 for sale

Don't forget the 113zr td

Why not do a video on the super rare Rover 200 BRM !?

What about the last car MG ever made the MG zr 2005 trophy why do people forget about these. They are part of the zr group.👍

👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

i hand one to the 1.8 three door

You forgot about the MG ZR Atomix 😔💚

Iv a zt 2002 shes been parked over 10 yrs am i mad to thinking to restore it

Such an ugly car but I love it