[Guest]

Well, just been out and about HKG, had my medical and yes I've put on 5 Kgs since LAST year. (12 in 5) time to do something about it. Like get out and drink some beer, or maybe visit the Gym (just done that too), bit like the modern day saloon really.

Anyway, as I was thinking, the 385 came into my mind, as it often does. The thoughts were on the basis of Autocar (any genaeric magazine really) giving it marks out of 10, for the following and I then became a little scarred of my prognosis. What are you're thoughts please.

Straight line performance 10/10.
Braking 10/10
Handling 9/10
Build Quality 8/10 (handbuilt)
Ownership 9/10
Toys 9/10
Running Costs 4/10
Residual 2/10

My summary is a fantastic car at a price. I would see this as the same reason that the ZT is not selling as well as it should, as the company car residuals are not as high as the "Fleet Manager" would like. Could the above scenario mean that some of those orders, will not materialise into 385's?

 

[NNH]

Maybe...

Hi Jerry,
I reckon the performance figure depends on how good the traction off the line is, and whether MG do anything daft with the gearing like the 190! As for residuals, it's so cheap (relatively) that I don't think there's room for a real plummet in used values. Worth noting that M5 and M3 residuals have been less than spectacular, so I'd hope the 385 can at the very least match them.
Simon

 

[Guest]

May I suggest u look at a *** I know u know what I mean.

 

[Dave Harrison]

Jerry, I think that the 385 will have residuals approaching 10/10 as it is not going to go anywhere near fleets - This is a vehicle designed with real drivers in mind, not a mass market fast saloon The combination of scarcity of examples, public interest, uniqueness in it's sector will all add up, and will also be in demand as race teams/hill climbers et al, look for examples. In short, I think that the usual worries of fuel consumption and the like which plague the regular hi end cars will not apply. People in this market are after the drive.
With the launch of this, i believe that ZT residuals will pick up, as interest in them will be generated to a phenominal degree. And, without any doubt whatsoever, will make it as an ultimate classic.

 

[Paul Flint]

Have to agree with Dave on this one. No way can you compare this car with a ZT190. Totally diferent market place. This is a true enthusiasts car not for the fleet market. Risidual values I would imagine will be 9 out of 10 due to rarity.

Most importantly running costs should never be a factor. If you can't afford the petrol don't consider the purchase.

Jim

 

[Synchrobox]

I have heard reports from Milbrook that a Racing Gray ZT has putting in some very very fast laps. Describtion suggests that it was the 385 and not the 500 !!! Apparrently some Porsche's also testing were not alot quicker. The car was described as "awesome" and "massive". Given that these superlatives are not the ones I've heard M5s or S-type Rs attract, I for one think that the residuals can only be spoilt if MGR either oversells the car or sells it off too cheap to empoyees.

Bad news is that the wife has nicked the 190 to go see her mother. Good news is that her father is in the MGR pension scheme so I got the ZT cheap.

Jaguar is offering a max of 2.5 grand off an S type whilst MGR are offering 5.5 grand of certain models of the 75. No wonder MGR residuals are poor .....

 

[Guest]

ZT monsters

Saw (and heard) a rather tasty looking prototype ZT driving round the test track at work a few weeks ago - rear view was a dead give away, twin pipes (one each side so obviously a V8) screaming like a banshee on ALL gearshifts - more than likely the 385...... cannot wait for it to come out so i cannot afford one of them either! but devilishly good fun listening to it being thrashed round the track (but i must say the Aston Martin DB8 they've been doing the same to does look MUCH nicer )

 

[MartinW]

IHMO, I would guess residuals for the 385 would be similar to the likes of the extreme machines of the past couple of decades, like the Lotus Carlton, Ford Cosworths et al. Hang onto it long enough and it might just have an appreciating value! As for residuals on ***, the problem now is that there are too many on the road so where is the exclusivity factor?
I decided, after seeing a figure of 29% for the MG ZT's that this was not worth losing sleep over. Performance and having the best badge in the world will come at a price! As for deals, there are a few delivery milage, pre-registered cars on the forecourts, but with the Employee scheme certain models are heavily discounted which at least makes up for some of the depreciation
As for motoring journalists and their not so humble opinions! Did anyone see a recent Auto-car comparison of hot hatches where they wrote about the 5 door ZS, but showed pictures of the 4-door! Also pleased to see that the ZT 190+ ranked higher than the M5 in an AutoExpress hot drive shoot-out, although the AR 156 came top in the category.

 

[Jerry]

Looking back and resurrecting one of the first threads and it's true. The V8's do have stronger residuals and why - their rarity.

 

[Jerry]

Just looking at MartinW's signature. Anything other than MG on the drive Sir?

 

[Bainzi]

After all the above, only one ZTT came off the line and the V5 on that says its a ZT260.
As far as I know two of the prototype cars engines have ended up in two 260 saloons and there's another four or five (SV-S) type Roush S/C engines, which have been retro fitted into one or two ZTT's and the rest into 260 Saloons.

What might have been? If they had come into production ....