2 weeks Ago By Jacob Jaffa
A DISCONTINUED saloon from a British brand that can match a BMW M3 for speed has gone up for sale under £10,000. The spotless motor comes complete with a full warranty and plenty of luxury for a fraction of the Beemer's price. The MG ZT was one of the flagship models for its manufacturer in the early noughties.
Emerging from the division of the Rover Group following the collapse of British Leyland, MG Rover only existed between 2000 and 2005 before the iconic MG marque was sold off to a Chinese company. For pretty much the entirety of the company's run, it made the ZT, which was discontinued in 2005. As such, it is among the last MG models to be created and manufactured under British ownership.
Styled by Peter Stevens, the man behind the beautiful McLaren F1 and Lotus Esprit models, it featured a 1.8 litre inline-four engine as standard. This could be turbocharged as standard, while there was also a V6 option available.
As a result, it was able to hit 155mph at the top end, matching the speed of the modern BMW M3 (though the latter is electronically limited). A specially modified ZT even became the world's fastest estate car in 2003 when it hit 225mph on the Bonneville salt flats after the original engine was swapped out for an 800 horsepower V8. Now, a model from that very year has emerged on the second-hand market, sold by Warren Road Motors in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire.
With 81,911 miles on the clock, it remains in remarkably good condition for a 20-year-old motor. Photos attached to the listing showed the sleek grey paintwork to be blemish-free, while the interior is spotlessly clean. There is some slight wear to the black leather upholstery inside but that's to be expected given how much it has been used.
This particular example is one of just 883 ZTs made with a Mustang GT V8 engine, boasting chassis number 45. Dubbed a "future classic", it comes with a full service history and has an MOT valid until February 2025. A check with the DVSA shows a few MOT failures over the years, but it passed earlier this year with just two advisories.
And at just £9,995 it's a fraction of the price of its £80,000 BMW rival. Even better, it comes with an AA-guaranteed warranty, with a free history check and breakdown cover for 12 months included. It comes after we revealed the best hybrids you can buy in time to avoid the 2030 ban on petrol and diesel cars.
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