Friday 28th November 2014

Shed Of The Week: MG TF

Is now the time to start appreciating the TF? Shed makes his case for the defence

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Shed once knew a chap who worked in the print business. Well, 'worked' might not be the right word. This was back in the days of the Wapping riots, when greasers would turn up to work on presses that hadn't needed greasing for twenty years, and a good night's work would consist of a four-hour card school followed by a nice lie down.

TF very different to the F, as Shed explains

This fellow was technically a machine minder, a miserable sort of cove with very little mechanical sympathy or understanding. However, he did run a small beer import-export business on the side, plus his Dad had done the job before, so he was perfectly suited for the post.

His specialty was not engineering, or even basic maintenance, but swearing. If the machine he was minding conked out, his solution was to swear at it until it came back to life. He once came out with a five-word sentence to describe a broken press. The first word was 'the'; the other four were all variations on the f-word.

Sadly, swearing nowadays isn't what it used to be. Used routinely as part of everyday speech, curse words have lost almost all of their impact. People swear for fun now. So whenever Shed wants to hear some truly Olympic cursing, as he occasionally likes to just for old time's sake, he simply pops round to his mechanic mate Ron's place, hoping against hope that there'll be an MGF up on the lift. If his luck's in and there is, he knows that he will instantly be thrown back in time to those grand old Wapping days when men swore mightily, but only when they felt they had good cause to. Which admittedly was most of the time.

Ron's reason for swearing is that he hates MGFs. He hates the Mickey Mouse suspension, pinched from a Metro. He hates the rusty engine/suspension subframes. He hates the K-Series engines with their chocolate cylinder heads. He hates the way those hateful engines are hatefully positioned in a hate-mungously knuckle-skinning box behind the driver's nut.

Cover the MX-5 plate and not the MG's; huh?

But let's forget all that, because here we're looking at an MG TF. That's huge because for a start it means no Hydragas suspension. It also means a stiffer body for better handling on those conventional steel springs.

And the good news just keeps on coming. There really can't be many K lumps left that haven't blown and been fettled by now with proper multiple-layer steel gaskets, uprated oil rails and a coolant level sensor kit. The 'improved' Pektron SCU (Security Control Unit) issue that naffs up the alarm, immobiliser and central locking systems only affects 2003-05 cars, so you should be all right there. Pre-'03 electrics are considered to be pretty sound. 20,000 TFs were recalled for loose/broken bolts attaching the upper suspension arms to the dampers, but you should still keep your eyes (and ears) tuned in for untoward noises.

Parts availability is excellent. Fitting those parts might not be the most fulfilling thing you're ever done, but you can't have everything. Bodywise, the air intakes behind the doors are a bit vulnerable to stone chipping. The TF doesn't have the earlier F's two-part sills, which could almost have been designed to corrode from the leading edge of the rear section. Wings front and rear will go too but this Shed looks like it's been pampered. Obviously look carefully at those front and rear subframes, made out of whatever old bits of angle iron were lying about at Longbridge. Rust prevention? Nah mate, that's for mugs.

Not just any leather, this is BLACK LEATHER

The friend who's selling this one for his mate has done the decent thing by prepping the car to a most acceptable standard. The ad doesn't say anything about the MOT, but Shed's own private inquiries reveal that it's covered until the end of Feb '15.

So, summing up in an objective fashion, what have we got here? Answer: a mid-engined, rear-wheel drive British sports car in British Racing Green with a smart black leather cabin; a decently quick (even in 135 guise) and cheap to run convertible that you can jump straight into and, with any luck, enjoy. For £800 or less.

Is it finally time to stop ignoring TFs? Time to recognize their style? Time to start praising them as underrated, excellent value British sports cars?

Or should we just carry on as before?

Hmm, yes, thought so. Whatever, here's the ad.

MG TF 1.8 135 16v 2dr BLACK LEATHER
British Racing Green Metalic, Great condition for age
I am selling this on behelf of a friend, and before putting it up for sale I have changed the ooil and filter (Castrol Edge) and replaced the rear screen with a new one. I have checked over the brakes and given it a good clean.
The interior is a fantastic environment with leather seats and the carpets are nice and clean.
It has a bluetooth Pioneer CD/MP3 player fitted

[VolvoT5]

They haven't aged too badly have they. Not my cup of tea but for £850 how far wrong can you go really?

[HorneyMX5]

Cracking although I prefer the ride/handling in the hydro cars. For £800 it's impossible to argue against.

[IanMorewood]

That looks half decent, you can pick up serious bargains in the land of TF's though so £850 isn't all that cheap.

[kambites]

I think I'd rather spend a bit more and get a 160 but it's a lovely car nonetheless.

[BMWill]

not a bad motor and a nice drive.... had one in stock for a while when i worked in the trade.

have to say though even being a late 80s kid and growing up abroad when the mention of a ragtop MG comes up, only 2 come to mind: the Midget, and my late uncle's old TD.

Given the age of the car, I'd take an MX5 over the TF, but it's nice to see a bit of patriotism here in a country that "doesnt make anything anymore".


= )

[s m]

kambites said:

I think I'd rather spend a bit more and get a 160 but it's a lovely car nonetheless.

Yes, nice cars - quite safe in a crash too weren't they ( compared to similar cars of the time )?

[kambites]

I have absolutely no idea. I don't really worry about such things.

[Geoffcapes]

My only comment is based on my mates one.

It rattles more than a charity workers collection tin.
And thats before you get to the engine!

Not for me. Maybe a few hairdressers will be along to say how good it is.

[Chris Y]

I had a MGF VVC from new (there was even a long waiting list!) and really liked it. Prefer the look to the TF but they had the better suspension. Absolute bargain at that price.

[whythem]

As an ex NGA machine minder can I say we used to kick, punch and head but the machines at the same time as swearing, which is much more effective in getting a printing press to run.

Attending the riots at Wapping as an NGA union member then lead to attending the race, and poll tax riots of the same time. The best fun though was being coached up to various Welsh mines and rioting there, before attending a football match for a quick riot on the way home. I have a nice scar on my forehead from the pasting I got from a few coppers for punching a horse, great days

Not a bad sporting shed, I remember at the time they were very well regarded by the motoring press in comparison to the MX 5 as a good steer, but they have not aged well, especially the interiors.

[Blackpuddin]

IanMorewood said:

That looks half decent, you can pick up serious bargains in the land of TF's though so £850 isn't all that cheap.

Maybe, but I'm not seeing any better ones for the money on ebay. Leather is a nice and seemingly pretty rare option.

[Axionknight]

whythem said:

As an ex NGA machine minder can I say we used to kick, punch and head but the machines at the same time as swearing, which is much more effective in getting a printing press to run.

Attending the riots at Wapping as an NGA union member then lead to attending the race, and poll tax riots of the same time. The best fun though was being coached up to various Welsh mines and rioting there, before attending a football match for a quick riot on the way home. I have a nice scar on my forehead from the pasting I got from a few coppers for punching a horse, great days

Not a bad sporting shed, I remember at the time they were very well regarded by the motoring press in comparison to the MX 5 as a good steer, but they have not aged well, especially the interiors.

Yeah, sounds brilliant.

[s m]

Geoffcapes said:

My only comment is based on my mates one.

It rattles more than a charity workers collection tin.
And thats before you get to the engine!

Not for me. Maybe a few hairdressers will be along to say how good it is.

Same engine as Lotus Elise?

[vtecyo]

Quite nice in every way really... apart from the engine, at least in the low power variants.

Which is a bit of a ball drop in a MR sports car. shame, as they're quite nice to drive really.

Edited by vtecyo on Friday 28th November 09:37

[kambites]

At the time, it was arguably the best inline-four engine available for a small sports car (unless reliability was a particular priority). Hence companies like Caterham and Lotus using it.

IMO the TF's biggest problem was its driving position, which is woeful.

Edited by kambites on Friday 28th November 09:40

[Triumph Man]

My GF nearly bought one, then I got on my hands and knees and noted the corroding fronts of the sills. This was 2 years ago on an '02 plate TF, for pretty decent money. Needless to say she didn't buy it.

I however would love a cheap one just to thrash around in!

[anonymous-user]

whythem said:

As an ex NGA machine minder can I say we used to kick, punch and head but the machines at the same time as swearing, which is much more effective in getting a printing press to run.

Attending the riots at Wapping as an NGA union member then lead to attending the race, and poll tax riots of the same time. The best fun though was being coached up to various Welsh mines and rioting there, before attending a football match for a quick riot on the way home. I have a nice scar on my forehead from the pasting I got from a few coppers for punching a horse, great days

Not a bad sporting shed, I remember at the time they were very well regarded by the motoring press in comparison to the MX 5 as a good steer, but they have not aged well, especially the interiors.

You are why the world needs engineers, and also therapists.

[Geoffcapes]

s m said:

Geoffcapes said:

My only comment is based on my mates one.

It rattles more than a charity workers collection tin.
And thats before you get to the engine!

Not for me. Maybe a few hairdressers will be along to say how good it is.

Same engine as Lotus Elise?

And a Caterham. Your point is what exactly?

[s m]

Geoffcapes said:

s m said:

Geoffcapes said:

My only comment is based on my mates one.

It rattles more than a charity workers collection tin.
And thats before you get to the engine!

Not for me. Maybe a few hairdressers will be along to say how good it is.

Same engine as Lotus Elise?

And a Caterham. Your point is what exactly?

People don't seem to dislike the Elise/Caterham engine quite as much

I wondered what was different about them

[kambites]

s m said:

People don't seem to dislike the Elise/Caterham engine quite as much

I wondered what was different about them

There is two fundamental differences - the Elise and Caterham are worth enough that no-one worries too much about a 500 quid bill to fix the head gasket; and they are owned by people who take enough interest in their cars to look after the engine properly so it's less likely to go in the first place.