YOU either love or loathe the looks of the ZS, but get past the big alloy wheels and prominent spoilers and you will find a genuinely sporty car.
There are few electronic gadgets to help handling and enthusiasts will love that. Performance is lively especially from the biggest V6 engine and it is possible to behave badly and have lots of fun in a ZS.
Underneath there is a very old Rover 45 and no amount of bolt on extras and bright paint jobs can change the fact. So it's vitally important you check the car before buying. Here are three of the 10 important checks in the UsedCarExpert.com buyers guide:
Check 1: Cam belt
Check the paperwork to see if the cam belt has been changed on schedule. On most petrol engines the cam belt must be changed within 60,000 miles and 84,000 miles with most diesels. If the cam belt and associated parts have not been changed on schedule, the belt is likely to fail soon and will cause expensive damage to the engine.
Check 2: Head gasket
Open the oil filler cap on the engine and check to see if there are any white creamy substances on the inside of the cap. Check the water reservoir (connected to the radiator at the front of the engine bay) for deposits of oil (grey sludge) floating on the top of the water. These symptoms mean you need a new head gasket. The head gasket has failed because of water leaks and the engine overheating (see UsedCarExpert.com's full guide). On the petrol (K-Series) engines, head gaskets damage very quickly when the car overheats. They commonly fail at around 60,000 miles.
Check 3: Rocker cover
Look for oil dripping down the front corners of the engine. Oil leaking in this area suggests the rocker cover needs to be re-torqued.
The basic Rover underpinnings are also part of the appeal for many. It's a simple, likeable car that does exactly what you expect of it. A 2003 120 with 40,000 miles is at the most £4825 with a warranty.
MG ZS 1.8, £7,000, 10,414 miles, Motorpoint.co.uk, 08701 209633.
02 Reg MG ZS 1796 cc, £5,295, 28,000 miles, Bridgend Garages, 01294 555400.
MG ZS 1.6 110, £7,995, 14,729 miles, Morrisons Garage Ltd, 01786 811411.
2002 52 Reg MG ZS 1796 cc, £4,999, 27,000 miles, Team Valley Car Centre, 0191 4607088.
51 Reg MG ZS 1.8 120 5dr, £3,995, MOA, North East Part Exchange Centre, 0191 2290222.
51 Reg MG ZS 1796 cc +,, £3,995, 62,000 miles, JCS Performance, 0191 4262626.
52 Reg MG ZS 2.0 + TD, £5,689, 19,400 miles, Oakwood Car Sales, 01642 254422.
04 Reg MG ZS 2.5 180, £7,999, 7,900 miles, MMC Specialist Cars, 01642 640003.
2002 02 Reg MG ZS 2.5, £4,493, MOA, Central Car Sales, 01609 773777.
03 Reg MG ZS 1796 cc, £5,495, 23,000 miles, Colin Appleyard, 0845 1207161.
2003 03 Reg MG ZS 1.8, £5,495, 11,000 miles, KW Cars, 01484 510450.
MG ZS 180 V6, £5,995, 18000 miles, Private, 01484 353438.
53 Reg MG ZS 2.0, £6,200, 30,000 miles, Ewloe Hall, 01244 548300.
04 Reg MG ZS 1.6, £6,000, 12,000 miles, Autosave Widnes, 0151 4244533.
MG ZS Turbo Diesel, £9,995 ono, 10000 miles, Private, 07763 280915.
52 Reg MG ZS 1.8, £3,995, MOA, Brewer Street Garages, 0151 9227177.
52 Reg MG ZS 1.8, £3,995, 49,105 miles, Maghull Car Centre, 0151 5202777.
04 Reg MG ZS 1.6, £6,000, 12,000 miles, Autosave Widnes, 0151 4244533.
2002 MG ZS , 52 reg, £3,500 ono, 55000 miles, Private, 07974 537930.
2004 MG ZS 120+,, £7,500, 11,650 miles, Research Subaru, 02476 377170.
MG ZS 1.8 120 + 5dr Hatchback, £4,500, 43,000 miles, Private, 01926 424767.
03 Reg MG ZS 2.0 TD, £6,495, 31,080 miles, CVS, 01905 455833.
03 Reg MG ZS 120, £5,995, 41,000 miles, Startin, 01905 754794.
02 Reg MG ZS 1.8 120, £4,495, 41,000 miles, Wordsley Motor Co, 01384 481010.
2002 MG ZS 2.5 180, £7,995, MOA, Wessex Garages, 0870 1127828.
03 Reg MG ZS 1.8 120, £5,995, MOA, A & J Motors, 01446 730880.
54 Reg MG ZS 1589 cc, £6,999, 25,000 miles, Cars 4 U UK Ltd, 01443 848448.