MGF in the wet. Really?
Discussion
So, I've had the F a couple of months now and have enjoyed immensely.
Today was the first time I've driven it in full wet conditions.
Jay-hay-zeus.
It went sideways at two points in a journey I know very well and at ~ 20mph less than my normal speed as I was, of course, allowing for conditions.
It really was unbelievably squirrelly at the rear. I've never felt anything like it save perhaps my smart which wanted to kill you at 5mph in the snow. I've driven a fair few middies and the difference has never been like this. My fezza was fine in inches of standing water and the Elises I've played with have been a model of predictabilty in the rain in comparison.
Do they all do this (sir) or is there something I should be checking? It is getting new boots tuesday, that's for sure. The current set are more mismatched than an Essex single mother's children.
Today was the first time I've driven it in full wet conditions.
Jay-hay-zeus.
It went sideways at two points in a journey I know very well and at ~ 20mph less than my normal speed as I was, of course, allowing for conditions.
It really was unbelievably squirrelly at the rear. I've never felt anything like it save perhaps my smart which wanted to kill you at 5mph in the snow. I've driven a fair few middies and the difference has never been like this. My fezza was fine in inches of standing water and the Elises I've played with have been a model of predictabilty in the rain in comparison.
Do they all do this (sir) or is there something I should be checking? It is getting new boots tuesday, that's for sure. The current set are more mismatched than an Essex single mother's children.
Justayellowbadge said:
Do they all do this (sir) or is there something I should be checking? It is getting new boots tuesday, that's for sure. The current set are more mismatched than an Essex single mother's children.
What tyres is it running on?What are your current geo settings?
What's the condition of the suspension? Hydragas system OK?
My husband has a TF, and his is fine in the wet - it has Goodyear Eagles all round. If he's giving it some around a corner in the wet which isn't often, it gives way a little bit but not sideways.
I'd also say your tyres are the issue!
I'd also say your tyres are the issue!
Edited by CatfishCKY on Wednesday 15th June 16:13
No ordinary road car in good condition should be like that in the wet; there's definitely something wrong. I'd sort the tyres first, and get a full geo check done whilst you're there. If that doesn't sort it, then start looking at the suspension and possible how worn it is. I've had two BMW E36s which handled beautifully on new suspension, but on worn dampers before I had them changed (100k on one car, 70k on the other), they were rather wild at the back. Don't rely on a garage's opinion on the suspension - one garage told me my E36 325i was fine, but I got it changed anyway and the difference was night and day.
PS - If it's an F rather than a TF it'll have hydragas suspension. You'll have to find someone with a pump and find out the required pressures. Most MG specialists will have one - it's as easy as setting your tyre pressures. I'm not sure whether they use a seperate damper on top of the hydragas, but if they do then they'l need looking at just like an ordinarily suspended car.
HTH
PS - If it's an F rather than a TF it'll have hydragas suspension. You'll have to find someone with a pump and find out the required pressures. Most MG specialists will have one - it's as easy as setting your tyre pressures. I'm not sure whether they use a seperate damper on top of the hydragas, but if they do then they'l need looking at just like an ordinarily suspended car.
HTH
Having a random mix of tyres on a mid engined car is begging for trouble, particularly in wet conditions. Aside from that mid and rear engined cars do need to be treated with a bit more respect in the wet than front engined (esp. FWD) cars.
Fit the best tyres you can find and get the geometry properly sorted and the MGF/TF is perfectly ok to drive in the wet - not as forgiving as a FWD car certainly, but not an instant death machine by any standards.
Fit the best tyres you can find and get the geometry properly sorted and the MGF/TF is perfectly ok to drive in the wet - not as forgiving as a FWD car certainly, but not an instant death machine by any standards.
Smike said:
Justayellowbadge said:
Do they all do this (sir) or is there something I should be checking? It is getting new boots tuesday, that's for sure. The current set are more mismatched than an Essex single mother's children.
What tyres is it running on?What are your current geo settings?
What's the condition of the suspension? Hydragas system OK?
RobM77 said:
No ordinary road car in good condition should be like that in the wet; there's definitely something wrong. I'd sort the tyres first, and get a full geo check done whilst you're there. If that doesn't sort it, then start looking at the suspension and possible how worn it is. PS - If it's an F rather than a TF it'll have hydragas suspension. You'll have to find someone with a pump and find out the required pressures. Most MG specialists will have one - it's as easy as setting your tyre pressures. I'm not sure whether they use a seperate damper on top of the hydragas, but if they do then they'l need looking at just like an ordinarily suspended car.
HTH
HTH
Justayellowbadge said:
Jay-hay-zeus.
I'd wager it's your mismatched tyres chap. I've got mismatched ones on all corners of my MX5, they came with the car and I'll run them till they die. Driving Bristol to MK earlier the thing was all up on its toes through every corner. Just be aware of it and go slowly on a neutral throttle. And get some new tyres
+1 for tyres tyres.
Also, check that some dick hasn't done what they did to my TF and put the staggered wide rears on the front, with the narrower fronts on the back.
That made it interesting in the wet, and it took me an embarrassingly long time to figure it out, all the tyres had very good tread and were a proper makr (Vred Sportrac IIRC) so it never crossed my mind to check the bloody sizes!
Also, check that some dick hasn't done what they did to my TF and put the staggered wide rears on the front, with the narrower fronts on the back.
That made it interesting in the wet, and it took me an embarrassingly long time to figure it out, all the tyres had very good tread and were a proper makr (Vred Sportrac IIRC) so it never crossed my mind to check the bloody sizes!
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