This Week's Value for Money V8s: A Showdown Between MG's ZT and Vauxhall's Monaro

This week, we're focusing on two value-for-money V8s that are sure to get your heart racing: MG's ZT and Vauxhall's Monaro. Both cars are available for around £28,500, making them a bargain in the V8 market. However, with great price comes great expectation, and it's clear that both manufacturers have had their work cut out to deliver a car that can compete with the likes of Fox Hall's Monaro.

The MG ZT is certainly an impressive package, boasting a 4.6L V8 engine and rear-wheel drive chassis. While its design may not be the prettiest on paper, it's clear that this car has been engineered to deliver power to the rear wheels. With 260 horsepower under the bonnet, there's no denying that the ZT is going to put a smile on your face as you hit the open road. However, it does lack a bit of finesse, particularly in terms of its interior design and braking performance.

One of the standout features of the MG ZT is its handling capabilities. Despite being originally designed as a front-wheel drive car, this shassis has proven to be quite good indeed. The steering may not offer much feedback, but it's certainly competent, and the turn-in is smooth. With a respectable lap time of 55.6 seconds, it's clear that the ZT can hold its own around the track.

However, there's one car that's got to take notice of this performance: Fox Hall's Monaro. With 68 horsepower more and a weight difference of over 100 kilos, the Monaro is a formidable opponent in the V8 stakes. And it shows, with the ZT struggling to keep up at times. Despite its impressive power output, the Monaro still manages to deliver a respectable lap time of 50.5 seconds. But how does it fare when compared to the ZT?

The difference between these two cars is stark, and it's clear that Fox Hall has done something special with the Monaro. With only three gears needed to tackle the track, this car is a rocket ship from 0-60mph in just 3.5 seconds. The power delivery is smooth and linear, making it feel like a dream to drive around the circuit. And let's not forget the sound – the big brutal V8 engine is music to the ears.

But what about the MG ZT? Does it still have a place in the market? Unfortunately, it struggles to keep up with the Monaro's pace, especially when it comes to braking and handling. The steering may be communicative, but it doesn't offer much feedback, and the pedals can be soft at times. However, despite its limitations, the ZT still delivers a respectable lap time of 55.6 seconds, making it clear that this car is still capable of holding its own in the V8 stakes.

In conclusion, if you're looking for a bargain V8 with plenty of power and handling capabilities, the MG ZT is certainly worth considering. But if you want a car that's truly at the top of its class, the Fox Hall Monaro is the one to beat. With its impressive performance, smooth power delivery, and brutal V8 engine, this car is sure to put a smile on your face as you hit the open road.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enthis week we're focusing on two value for money V8s mg's V8 ZT and voxel's Australian import the manaro both available for around 285,000 on paper at least the mg sounds impressive but its ugly 4.6 L V8 engine and rear wheeel drive chassis are going to have their work cut out to beat Fox Hall's manaro which has 68 horsepower more and is over 100 kilos lighter so mg have given us what we always wanted a British build rear wheel drive massel car okay they've had to get an American V8 engined and stick it in but I don't care where it comes from as long as it gives me 260 horsepower to the rear wheels although it could use a little bit more this shassy since it was originally designed to be a front-wheel drive car it's actually very good indeed shame I didn't have more of a musly interior to put me more in the mood and some slightly better brakes as these tend to have rather soft pedal the turn in's good the steering doesn't give me that much feeling the feedback right let's set a time time to keep things neat and tidy just a touch of opposite look smoothly through the radar complex and round the hairpin and onto set a very respectable time of 55.6 seconds let's see if the Monaro is as well balanced around the track unfortunately for mg this lock has got a 5.7 L Chevy V8 it's got a lot more grun it's even got to snat your interior to get me a bit more in the mood again only three gears needed well in fact I only need two cuz with the grunt of this hold and I don't need first gear for the hair pin steering's a bit more communicative the gear boxes got a bit of about feel the only shame is that inside this voxal you don't hear enough of that big brutal f8 blasting out its power I won't be able help this much fun when I'm going for a lap time but it's still going to be waging its tail the manaro may be lighter and have more power but it's only 500s of a second ahead by the radar complex but by the time it's blasted down to The Hairpin it's extended its lead to 9/10 of a second the monaro's on a roll and it flashes across the Finishing Line a whopping one and a half seconds ahead so if it's a bargain VH you're after you now know where to go ohthis week we're focusing on two value for money V8s mg's V8 ZT and voxel's Australian import the manaro both available for around 285,000 on paper at least the mg sounds impressive but its ugly 4.6 L V8 engine and rear wheeel drive chassis are going to have their work cut out to beat Fox Hall's manaro which has 68 horsepower more and is over 100 kilos lighter so mg have given us what we always wanted a British build rear wheel drive massel car okay they've had to get an American V8 engined and stick it in but I don't care where it comes from as long as it gives me 260 horsepower to the rear wheels although it could use a little bit more this shassy since it was originally designed to be a front-wheel drive car it's actually very good indeed shame I didn't have more of a musly interior to put me more in the mood and some slightly better brakes as these tend to have rather soft pedal the turn in's good the steering doesn't give me that much feeling the feedback right let's set a time time to keep things neat and tidy just a touch of opposite look smoothly through the radar complex and round the hairpin and onto set a very respectable time of 55.6 seconds let's see if the Monaro is as well balanced around the track unfortunately for mg this lock has got a 5.7 L Chevy V8 it's got a lot more grun it's even got to snat your interior to get me a bit more in the mood again only three gears needed well in fact I only need two cuz with the grunt of this hold and I don't need first gear for the hair pin steering's a bit more communicative the gear boxes got a bit of about feel the only shame is that inside this voxal you don't hear enough of that big brutal f8 blasting out its power I won't be able help this much fun when I'm going for a lap time but it's still going to be waging its tail the manaro may be lighter and have more power but it's only 500s of a second ahead by the radar complex but by the time it's blasted down to The Hairpin it's extended its lead to 9/10 of a second the monaro's on a roll and it flashes across the Finishing Line a whopping one and a half seconds ahead so if it's a bargain VH you're after you now know where to go oh\n"