[cheryl ward]

So I've found what looks like a super cheap exclusive.
But my trust radar is twitching...
It's a Jan 21 registered 70 plate, main dealer sale.
Now with some rudimentary dvlc checks, the car was untaxed 2nd week of March, change of owner showing end of Feb.
I'm thinking this is not a pre-reg, looks more like someone has got rid pretty quick.
Waiting on a callback from dealer, website says 1 owner.
Thoughts anyone?- I'm dubious could be on wrong software and an unhappy punter has taken it back.
Crappy repair on body? (been there before and rejected a brand new one, so know what I'm looking for there).
Wouldn't trust a dealer as far as I could throw one due to many bad experiences- they'll most likely give a bull story.
Am I right to be wary or is it worth listening to what they say- I realise people do take them back occasionally but something doesn't add up.

 

[Paul M]

I agree, there's not too many reasons for selling a car so quickly, it's not like it was a year old and the person really wanted the MG 5 Estate and it came out afterwards. We do know that a very small minority of cars have a bunch of faults, usually minor.

Software issues can be fixed, I'd take it to Chorley or Cambridge to get that checked.

I don't know if you might get lucky and be able to find the old owner here or on the facebook group by posting the registration and asking why it was sold. I might ask the dealer if they can ask the previous owner to contact you. If the dealer is very adamantly against it, then I'd be more suspicious!

 

[cheryl ward]

Thanks for reply.
I like a bargain but this really does seem too cheap, perhaps I should leave well alone. (it's under 20k!)
Besides, I did love my Zoe and it's still a toss up.
A 70 plate iconic is around the same price as pre-reg exclusive zs's between 20.5 and 21k.- slightly bigger battery and a bit more the size I like.
Not quite as many toys though, and the higher up position of the zs appeals- just can't get near any until the 14th April.

 

[Brian G]

Last year there were some good deals around because VW needed credits against fossil fuel car sales and paid MG to register a load of cars that were offloaded cheaply. Could it be something similar again? Where is the dealer?

 

[cheryl ward]

Dealer is up north.
The usual, they didn't ring back as promised.
Why would VW pay another manufacturer to register cars??
How does does that give them credits?

 

[Brian G]

Dealer is up north.
The usual, they didn't ring back as promised.
Why would VW pay another manufacturer to register cars??
How does does that give them credits?

I'm a bit vague as to precisely what happened, it was probably the EU that required mfrs to have met a target on CO2 emissions on sales which VW couldn't do because they hadn't got their EV programme into sales. They have a tie with SAIC who make VWs and Audis under licence in China. (The ZS has a golf GTI steering wheel with a different badge!) So MG had electric cars in the EU to sell and VW paid them to pre register them as sales. MG then had a bunch of no mileage ex-demo cars to offload at a discount. That may be the current situation again. I noticed that Luscombes in Leeds had some deals on MG5s which could be the same thing?

The ZS is nice and relaxing to drive provided you don't have twisty lanes like in Lincolnshire. It's a very quick milk float!

 

[cheryl ward]

Wow. Just wow.
In this case I suspect the car was pre-registered in Jan, sold to someone, who has in turn traded in/given back at the end of February as that was when there was activity on the v5c.

 

[Brian G]

Wow. Just wow.
In this case I suspect the car was pre-registered in Jan, sold to someone, who has in turn traded in/given back at the end of February as that was when there was activity on the v5c.

What's the mileage... is it just a demo... or has it been rejected by someone over the BMS fiasco.

The car is basically sound but software issues have been a problem for some. VW have a similar saga on the ID3. All EVs are heavily dependant on software and all mfrs seem to have had buggy software at some point, unintended consequences of rushing out upgrades. Overall mine has been back 4 times but was fixed last Sept. I am in Hants and would love to take it up to Scotland, reckon I could get to Perth in the day with just 4 or 5 charging stops.

 

[urpert]

It’s not @TJEV ’s old one is it

 

[cheryl ward]

Mileage is 900.

 

[Brian G]

Mileage is 900.

Well it has a 7 year warranty and you should be able to check if it has been in an accident. I suspect it was rejected over the range which was impacted by the BMS update issued in November (?) see Update information for the full story. Once fixed and the battery balanced a few times you should have a cracking car!

 

[Neilew]

A local dealer fell over backwards to sell my brother an MG HS (long story on another MG thread) but basically my brother put feelers out to this dealer for an HS advertised by the dealer and P/Xing his GS just coming to end of warranty. After about 5 offers and 5 refusals by my brother a car was found that my brother could accept at the right price. An absolutely cracking deal.

Sales are down by about 38% on this time last year. This may be one desperate dealer in need of a sale. There may be some too good to be true deals that are caused by the desperation.

 

[cheryl ward]

Interesting reading- thanks for that.
I might try them tomorrow and see what I can glean.
Registered Jan so according to that page it might well have dodgy software, but does sound to be fixable.
So I would just need to check it has the very latest software applied, and that the comfort 2 is also present (sounds probable on a 2021 car).

 

[Neilew]

Oh, Cheryl. Just to let you know the sale took place mid March.

 

[cheryl ward]

Perhaps this car is now showing 2 previous owners on the log book- maybe why it's being sold cheaper?

 

[Rcc]

What's the mileage... is it just a demo... or has it been rejected by someone over the BMS fiasco.

The car is basically sound but software issues have been a problem for some. VW have a similar saga on the ID3. All EVs are heavily dependant on software and all mfrs seem to have had buggy software at some point, unintended consequences of rushing out upgrades. Overall mine has been back 4 times but was fixed last Sept. I am in Hants and would love to take it up to Scotland, reckon I could get to Perth in the day with just 4 or 5 charging stops.

Who does your updates. I'm in Hampshire and struggling to find a dealer who can apply them. Been in 4 times and they've so far only managed to load the 1st comfort update.

 

[Bazzer44]

I'm a bit vague as to precisely what happened, it was probably the EU that required mfrs to have met a target on CO2 emissions on sales which VW couldn't do because they hadn't got their EV programme into sales. They have a tie with SAIC who make VWs and Audis under licence in China. (The ZS has a golf GTI steering wheel with a different badge!) So MG had electric cars in the EU to sell and VW paid them to pre register them as sales. MG then had a bunch of no mileage ex-demo cars to offload at a discount. That may be the current situation again. I noticed that Luscombes in Leeds had some deals on MG5s which could be the same thing?

The ZS is nice and relaxing to drive provided you don't have twisty lanes like in Lincolnshire. It's a very quick milk float!

I got my ZS Exclusive from Luscombes in January and got an excellent deal , they told me MG were discounting them , just missed a deal to get one for less than 20k , love it

 

[cheryl ward]

Luscombes is 15 minutes away but they aren't open till the 14th.
They are advertising exclusives nearer the 22k mark so not sure if I could chip them down 2k.
When was yours registered and what updates is it running?

 

[Sandy]

Not sure if I have the whole story here but wasn't there a member on the FB group who bought a ZS, decided pretty much right away the range wasn't enough, traded in for a 5, and is now trading the 5 for a Tesla?

I'd say the ZS is a big bargain right now, its cheaper than the 5, better spec too. Only losing out on range really. The 5 does appear to be finding owners as quick as the ZS did last year, which in turn has slowed the ZS sales.... but MG are trying to drive their ZS sales to the max, so some decent discounts available.

Go for it I say.... having also come from a Zoe you'll very much enjoy the whole experience.

 

[cheryl ward]

I simply can't afford more than 20k, and don't want an excite.
Zoe's are slowly but surely coming within budget, so the other option is just to wait another 6-12 months.