RE: Supercharged MG TF | Spotted
Discussion
The comments on here about losing money on modified cars is the general rule; my opinion is anyone mod'ing a car is doing it because they love it. They mostly know that they're throwing far more money at the car than they're ever going to get back, but that's ok with them.
To be blunt, that's the same for most production cars too - how many £'000s are lost every year in depreciation alone??
My issue with this car is £25k sounds like they're trying to at least cover all their costs, possibly get a profit too. On an MG TF. Not exactly an exotic base to start with!! And raises the question I'd why they did it in the first place. If it was to showcase their skills, great. Get the publicity, do some press/promo days then either break for parts or flog it for a realistic sum. But if it was to turn a profit, I just don't see a TF as being the exotic base they'd need to start with where the end product would be rare enough and still super desirable that they could do so.
To be blunt, that's the same for most production cars too - how many £'000s are lost every year in depreciation alone??
My issue with this car is £25k sounds like they're trying to at least cover all their costs, possibly get a profit too. On an MG TF. Not exactly an exotic base to start with!! And raises the question I'd why they did it in the first place. If it was to showcase their skills, great. Get the publicity, do some press/promo days then either break for parts or flog it for a realistic sum. But if it was to turn a profit, I just don't see a TF as being the exotic base they'd need to start with where the end product would be rare enough and still super desirable that they could do so.
996GT3_Matt said:
The appeal in this car is obviously very niche, but for a turn-key conversation (by a well respected outfit no less) the price seems pretty reasonable to me.
Professional installation of a supercharged K20 in an Elise is £16k inc VAT outlay. A half decent Elise is going to start at £12k? Maybe £15k for a nice example.
As with any conversion of this nature, unexpected costs will arise;
An old Elise will probably require a new alloy radiator and hoses, a new steering rack, 8 x ball joints etc etc. Having owned a an S1 Elise for 5 years I speak from experience.
Upgrade your Elise’s suspension and brakes in-line with this car and you’ll easily surpass £25k Easily..
The Elise is very different driving proposition however..
Just for reference I have a supercharged K20 Elise S1 with similar or better upgrades and managed it for considerably less than £25k. That said, the base car was an already stripped ex lotus cup car with no engine etc so started off in a good place and was lucky.Professional installation of a supercharged K20 in an Elise is £16k inc VAT outlay. A half decent Elise is going to start at £12k? Maybe £15k for a nice example.
As with any conversion of this nature, unexpected costs will arise;
An old Elise will probably require a new alloy radiator and hoses, a new steering rack, 8 x ball joints etc etc. Having owned a an S1 Elise for 5 years I speak from experience.
Upgrade your Elise’s suspension and brakes in-line with this car and you’ll easily surpass £25k Easily..
The Elise is very different driving proposition however..
Edited by JimboM3 on Friday 6th September 12:50
JimboM3 said:
Just for reference I have a supercharged K20 Elise S1 with similar or better upgrades and managed it for considerably less than £25k. That said, the base car was an already stripped ex lotus cup car with no engine etc so started off in a good place and was lucky.
Yeah finding a car with no engine (or a knackered one) is about the only way you'll achieve it. The work to convert an Elise to this sort of spec, including labour, will be about £20k (assuming a second hand engine from a written off Civic) so you need to find a £5k Elise. Obviously if you do the work yourself and don't count the value of your own time it can be done more cheaply. JimboM3 said:
Just for reference I have a supercharged K20 Elise S1 with similar or better upgrades and managed it for considerably less than £25k. That said, the base car was an already stripped ex lotus cup car with no engine etc so started off in a good place and was lucky.
You are forgetting that the Elise is tried and tested for the conversion; if you read the advert it mentions it being an engineering exercise - a lot development work must have gone into this car.Edited by JimboM3 on Friday 6th September 12:50
I personally don't believe this is been put up to make profit, I imagine it's done for cost. That's not to say it's worth £25,000, but I can imagine it costs far more than that in parts and labour.
I just wonder the business case for Maidstone bothering, given you could do it to an Elise or VX and have a better car for no more money. It's not like they don't know their Elises either!
thelostboy said:
You are forgetting that the Elise is tried and tested for the conversion; if you read the advert it mentions it being an engineering exercise - a lot development work must have gone into this car.
I personally don't believe this is been put up to make profit, I imagine it's done for cost. That's not to say it's worth £25,000, but I can imagine it costs far more than that in parts and labour.
I just wonder the business case for Maidstone bothering, given you could do it to an Elise or VX and have a better car for no more money. It's not like they don't know their Elises either!
Because bragging rights, especially in car modification and uniquely is what people really take notice of.I personally don't believe this is been put up to make profit, I imagine it's done for cost. That's not to say it's worth £25,000, but I can imagine it costs far more than that in parts and labour.
I just wonder the business case for Maidstone bothering, given you could do it to an Elise or VX and have a better car for no more money. It's not like they don't know their Elises either!
Not the Nth company that has done the NNNth stage 3 remap on a Golf R
Nothing quite like saying "first ever to do this or that" counts for more than you realise and probably gets them business.
Fair play I say and ignore the naysayers.
I own low mileage F I didn't anticipate having but actually its a fun motor and not half as bad as all the boring lot go on about.
Oh and its 19k and never ever had a HG changed
Its always nice to find something to pidgeon hole something
People on this thread even still going on about HGF for the sake of a good moan when the whole point here is they have changed the entire engine running gear lol.
Yet another thread full of supposed enthusiasts saying that they'd have the default Cayman/Boxter instead of something truly interesting and different.
The MGF/TF is a far more realistic daily driver than an Elise, and was a car which won plaudits and awards for ride and handling when released. True, the driving position wasn't great, but that's easily fixed with aftermarket seats. Perhaps people should drive a well sorted TF and see what they think instead of just slating them. If I could fit, I'd probably have one. People should also be pleased that there are companies doing this type of work still.
The MGF/TF is a far more realistic daily driver than an Elise, and was a car which won plaudits and awards for ride and handling when released. True, the driving position wasn't great, but that's easily fixed with aftermarket seats. Perhaps people should drive a well sorted TF and see what they think instead of just slating them. If I could fit, I'd probably have one. People should also be pleased that there are companies doing this type of work still.
R400TVR said:
Yet another thread full of supposed enthusiasts saying that they'd have the default Cayman/Boxter instead of something truly interesting and different.
The MGF/TF is a far more realistic daily driver than an Elise, and was a car which won plaudits and awards for ride and handling when released. True, the driving position wasn't great, but that's easily fixed with aftermarket seats. Perhaps people should drive a well sorted TF and see what they think instead of just slating them. If I could fit, I'd probably have one. People should also be pleased that there are companies doing this type of work still.
It appears that the seller of this has fallen for the old value of car + cost of modifications = sale price. As we all know this is never the case. The MGF/TF is a far more realistic daily driver than an Elise, and was a car which won plaudits and awards for ride and handling when released. True, the driving position wasn't great, but that's easily fixed with aftermarket seats. Perhaps people should drive a well sorted TF and see what they think instead of just slating them. If I could fit, I'd probably have one. People should also be pleased that there are companies doing this type of work still.
cerb4.5lee said:
I like the idea of this one. Are the standard cars as terrible to drive as everyone says? I'd like a go in one because they seem a nice cheap entry into open top motoring. Or are you just better off going for the MX-5 instead.
As is the PH way I think they are universally hated by people who have never driven one. I drove one of the low-powered ones and it was a really engaging drive - my father bought one new in 2003 and still has it. The TF suspension was much better than the F and it handled very nicely. It’s lightweight, mid engined and rwd- ticks all the boxes. Gasket issues now well sorted.One for the MG super fans.
As a previous TF160 owner in 2006:
As a previous TF160 owner in 2006:
- great fun to drive when it’s on the road. Make sure to get the right tyres (and that’s with 160bhp)
- two head gaskets done by 40k
- decent pace, 0-60 in about 7 iirc?
- crap 90s interior and build quality, seats aren’t *that* bad
- no kit - not even a low fuel light
- not much fun in winter, frost in the inside of the screen, hardtop window imploded. Heater worked nicely though
- usable - enough space for two to go away for a weekend
- have fun getting parts. An old lady drove into the side of mine. It took them 12 weeks to get a grille for the air intake so I spent that winter driving a top spec Mondeo for free
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