MG ROVER'S reworking of the 25 to make the MG ZR has been a great success, extending the life of an older model and producing a smaller family hatch, that even in its lowliest guise is good to look at and great fun to drive.
With its spoilers and bodykit, fat tyres on good looking alloy wheels and bright, in-your-face colours, it has appealed to a wide range of buyers who would not have considered the 25.
The new stiffer suspension setup is properly sporting and with those big tyres, grip and roadholding are superb.
Yes, it still has the 25's failings of a poor driving position and rear leg and headroom which is cramped for taller people.
It's available as a three or five door hatch, and the re-worked interior is great to live with and funky to look at.
Four engines are available, starting with a 105bhp 1.4 and rising through a 120bhp 1.8 to the range topping 160bhp tuned version of the same size. There is also a two litre turbo diesel with 100 bhp.
Even the 1.4 offers decent performance, thanks to a close ratio, sporty gearbox, which makes the best of the power available.
It's not hugely fast in a straight line, but that great handling and roadholding add tremendously to its abilities.
The 1.8 is obviously even better in every way, and the range topping 160 is blisteringly fast with acceleration quick enough to embarrass many a sportscar, but also has a very hard unforgiving ride which would shake loose the best of fillings.
The over-the-top styling and bright colours mean you will always be noticed and it makes the car look more expensive than it is.
Creature comforts are missing to keep the price down in the cheapest ZR 105, so that it doesn't have even central locking or electric front windows.
It does have those lovely alloy wheels though, and excellent power steering, an alarm, height adjustment for seat and steering wheel and a split folding backseat. The "+" trim adds those creature comforts including remote locking, electric front windows and mirrors, electric sunroof and front fogs.
Air conditioning only comes as standard with the top ZR 160 but it is available as an option on all the other models and many were fitted with it.
MG prices are generally holding up quite well secondhand, so even the lowliest 105 is not yet cheap.
But if you are in the right price range for one, drive a couple before you buy something else. I guarantee you will be impressed.
Insurance starts at group 8, economy should be 34-38mpg for petrol models and servicing is every 15,000 miles for petrols and 12,000 for diesels.
Pay around £6,200 for an '01 Y-reg ZR 105 three door, £8,400 for an '01 51-reg 120 five door. A 160 on '01 51-reg should be about £9,800 and an '02 02-reg TD+ five door will be £10,800.
FORECOURT FACTS
Model: MG ZR105
Driving: Light controls, brilliant handling, great power steering
Performance: Engine willing and peppy, but 1.8 much better
Economy: 40mpg
Safety: Early models only driver's airbag, ABS extra
Recommended Buy: 105+ or 120+
Alternatives: Citroen Xsara VTR 1.6, Honda Civic, Peugeot 306 1.6
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