Are MGFs rubbish?

[Simbu]

Know someone who had one; the cooling system fell to bits. He got it fixed, and then a transit backed into it!

I'd get an MX5 or a leggy mk3 MR2. Both will most likely be more reliable, and better to drive.

[2slo]

S18DMW said:

You are aware the MGF is rear wheel drive also....

Ok, poorly worded, I should have said front engined RWD. As compared to mid engined.

[CaptainSlow]

kambites said:

and crucially is much cheaper for the same aged car.

hmm there is a reason for that.

[kambites]

CaptainSlow said:

hmm there is a reason for that.

Yes. Everyone thinks they're far more unreliable than they really are.

Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't buy an MGF (I'd scrimp until I could afford a mk3 MR2), but they're nowhere near as bad as people make out.

Edited by kambites on Monday 12th September 16:27

[Harry Flashman]

A friend has one, and it's awful.

That said, to buck the trend, another friend had a Trophy 160 one. It was like a different car - really quite fun!

[Toffer]

Frog Dog said:

My wife has had one for 3 years having just replaced it because she needs 4 seats for work.

Imo its a great car, loads of fun and if you get a good one they're pretty well put together.

Hers has had a head gasket and a new roof, new rear window and tidied up a lot so looks almost new.

Head gasket? They all do that sir!

Never mind £1500...for only £1000 a Focus is a much better car and will still have life and fun left in it!

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

[Rammy76]

S18DMW said:

I've driven one, would never in a million years recommend it. Bit of a PH cliche, but why not go for an MX5? Better car in every way.

S18DMW said:

Not driven an MX5, but I know a couple of people who have and they love them. Negatives with the MGF - the driving position is terrible, I'm not a tall person and I couldn't get comfortable in any way, and you sit really high up. I thought the steering felt very weird, just not connected with the car. MPG wise, I think they're about the same. Insurance is about the same. Obviously the MGF has the possible head gasket issue...

No offence, but if you haven't driven an MX5 then I don't think you're in the position to make the above comments regarding how much better a car it is!

As for the MGF, they drive quite well and I found the driving position OK. Then again I'm not over 6ft so that certainly helps. I found it nippy, quite fun to chuck around and economical for what it was. Just don't expect it to be as well built as the MX5, especially regarding trim etc. Not sure if the TF was improved in this respect?

I certainly wouldn't call them rubbish for the money!

[GenePoolReject13]

I've had both a mk2 MX-5 1.8iS and an MG TF 1.8 135. I couldnt fault the mazda, superb car, would happily take on my current 50mile per day motorway commute in it. Once I can afford to swap cars again, I shall have another. I've also driven a mk1 (probably a better choice of cars for your budget) A little less space but as much fun to drive and pop up headlights!

The TF only had to redeeming features, 1) I could pop the roof down and enjoy the occasional sun. 2) at low revs, the noise from the k-series from those exhausts was actualy rather nice for a 4 pot.
The TF didnt handle very well, terrible understeer despite driving like a pillock at times trying to get it sideways (and hopefully crash it) It wasn't built very well, it wasn't comfortable and had a weird stiff yet bouncy ride.
I also didn't choose wisely and bought a bit of a lemon so it numerous other niggles as well as over heating issues and with in 3 days of buying it the throttle cable snapped. I will never buy another! Ok so my experience my be blighted by the fact I didn't buy a good one but I didn't enjoy driving it even when it was working.

Edited by GenePoolReject13 on Monday 12th September 16:45

[S18DMW]

To be honest at £1500 I'd buy one something like this -

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3209244.htm

[300bhp/ton]

swiftpete said:

My OH needs another car. Budget prob about £1500. She gets a lift to work most days, but sometimes has to drive. Probably 1 day a week. On those days she has a 100 mile round trip, all motorway miles. I know this is probably a completely wrong car for this, but what are MGFs like?
Cheers.

I liked both of mine. Brother liked his too. Just read up and know about the k series engine and other MGF foibles. Good fun cars otherwise.

[2slo]

doogz said:

At £1500, the "genuine reason for sale" is probably that it's well and truly fked.

It's also a 1.2

[300bhp/ton]

HellDiver said:

swiftpete said:

I know this is probably a completely wrong car for this, but what are MGFs like?
Cheers.

Like a Mini Metro in drag with an impossible to access engine bay.

Btw you're wrong on both counts.

[300bhp/ton]

S18DMW said:

Not driven an MX5, but I know a couple of people who have and they love them. Negatives with the MGF - the driving position is terrible, I'm not a tall person and I couldn't get comfortable in any way, and you sit really high up. I thought the steering felt very weird, just not connected with the car. MPG wise, I think they're about the same. Insurance is about the same. Obviously the MGF has the possible head gasket issue...

Driving position if fine. It's WAAAAY lower than that of a hatchback. Any lower and most people wouldn't be able to see out of the side windows. What is low is the steering column which makes the seat feel high. But it isnt if you gauge it against the top of the door.

Mpg is significantly better in the F compared to a MK1/2 MX-5. Boot is also a better shape and more practical than the Mazda's.

Remember HG failure is fixable and newer parts make it a lot mire robust. In most cases doing the HG is less money than a cam belt on a V6 Pug.

£1500 MX-5's often suffer terminal rust. This isn't fixible as a rule.

[Jasandjules]

I test drove one once. It felt awful. And it felt cheap and nasty inside as well. As that's the only one I drove however it could have just been a dog.

[SteveS Cup]

2slo said:

Ok, poorly worded, I should have said front engined RWD. As compared to mid engined.

An old colleague had an MX5... no issues. She then got an MGF and she spun it twice.

[swiftpete]

Thanks for all replies so far chaps. I should have clarified a bit more really. She is 5 foot tall so needs to be able to see over the steering wheel! Sportiness sadly isn't really much of a crunch point as she drives like a woman, ie slow. Rear wheel drive etc doesnt bother her, she used to drive my bmw 540i with no problems. She doesn't drive fast enough for it to be an issue.
Ideally she wants a bmw z4, but they're not in her budget, so that's why I thought I'd look at the cheaper end of the market but possibly still get something 2 seater and convertible. If not then I'll just get her a focus as its more sensible really, but they're not really very exciting cars.
She doesn't like mr2s after I crashed the one I used to drive with her in the passenger seat. She also doesnt want a clio. I know that mpg is one of her major considerations rather than sportiness, so I don't think the mx5 being better for powersliding round corners is really going to convince her, although personally it would go some way to persuading me.

Edited by swiftpete on Monday 12th September 17:19

[2thumbs]

I bought an MGF, it was a fantastic fun car & nothing went wrong with it. It also felt nicely put together. A few years later I bought another one, it was a heap! constant niggling problems & it never drove anything like as well as the first one.
So there are good ones & bad ones.

[swiftpete]

Not in budget unfortunately. There might be the odd one scrapes through the net at 1500 but I don't want to get her something thats shagged. Otherwise that'd be ideal.

[S3_Graham]

swiftpete said:

Thanks for all replies so far chaps. I should have clarified a bit more really. She is 5 foot tall so needs to be able to see over the steering wheel! Sportiness sadly isn't really much of a crunch point as she drives like a woman, ie slow. Rear wheel drive etc doesnt bother her, she used to drive my bmw 540i with no problems. She doesn't drive fast enough for it to be an issue.
Ideally she wants a bmw z4, but they're not in her budget, so that's why I thought I'd look at the cheaper end of the market but possibly still get something 2 seater and convertible. If not then I'll just get her a focus as its more sensible really, but they're not really very exciting cars.
She doesn't like mr2s after I crashed the one I used to drive with her in the passenger seat. She also doesnt want a clio. I know that mpg is one of her major considerations rather than sportiness, so I don't think the mx5 being better for powersliding round corners is really going to convince her, although personally it would go some way to persuading me.

Edited by swiftpete on Monday 12th September 17:19

I should of said that it is a 2004 MGTF we are selling for £1500

[2slo]

Go on, get her a Z4. It's only debt. Think how happy she'd be