Are MGFs rubbish?

Are MGFs rubbish?

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swiftpete

Original Poster:

1,894 posts

192 months

Monday 12th September 2011
quotequote all
S3_Graham said:
I should of said that it is a 2004 MGTF we are selling for £1500
Have you listed an ad anywhere so I can have a look?



divvyd

42 posts

212 months

Monday 12th September 2011
quotequote all
No, they're not rubbish. I think these threads are the only ones I ever comment on.

I bought mine cheap when it was about 7 years old and it hadn't been looked after very well. I have to admit, it drove terribly when I first bought it and did wonder if I'd done the right thing.

I thought I'd give it a chance, and bought some decent tyres and replaced some of the suspension bits such as bushes and shocks.
The difference was amazing! Very grippy with nicely weighted steering and a comfortable ride.

I wouldn't say it's better than an MX5 as I've never driven one, but a friend of mine has driven both and he preferred mine describing the MX5 as boring and slow in comparison. I'll have to try an MX5 and see for myself.

You only have to look at press reviews from the 90's and the MGF was quite well received, so I don't think they're really as bad as people make out. Just make sure you get one that's been looked after. They don't tend to rust as far as I know.

I'm a large 6'2" btw and although I probably looked a bit silly I found it quite comfortable.




Twincam16

27,646 posts

257 months

Monday 12th September 2011
quotequote all
The MGF isn't rubbish, and should be reliable if it's fitted with an XPart mild steel head gasket and low coolant warning kit (a fairly affordable upgrade from any XPart AutoService centre), that effectively upgrades the engine to normally-aspirated N-series spec.

Just keep a bottle of coolant in the car and be prepared to top it up when it starts registering low. I don't see how this is any different to a wankel rotary or Alfa twin-cam owner keeping a bottle of oil in the boot.

swiftpete

Original Poster:

1,894 posts

192 months

Monday 12th September 2011
quotequote all
Thanks everyone. I'm not the sort to be put off cars that a lot perceive as being crap, I have had several alfas and currently drive a fiat coupe... Just want something that will do the job for her rather than break.


2thumbs

913 posts

185 months

Monday 12th September 2011
quotequote all
swiftpete said:
Thanks everyone. I'm not the sort to be put off cars that a lot perceive as being crap, I have had several alfas and currently drive a fiat coupe... Just want something that will do the job for her rather than break.
Sorry for the O/T, but how do you find the Coupe? I bought my wife one recently, a 5 pot non turbo, & it feels fantastic to drive! perfect driving position, beautiful handling & a glorious noise! It also feels very nicely screwed together compared to most Fiats I've driven.I steal it whenever possible biggrin

swiftpete

Original Poster:

1,894 posts

192 months

Monday 12th September 2011
quotequote all
I like it. Mine is a turbo, it has been modified a bit although only no cosmetic modifications so it doesn't look different from standard, just various engine/suspension etc mods. Its not far off 300bhp. I find that it feels a tad heavy in comparison to some more flickable cars, but it goes well enough. The only thing that I don't like is that it doesn't really have any torque before the turbo is engaged, which is a bit of a pain when you just want to nip about round town. But I guess that's what older turbo cars are like. Ideally it'd have the instant pick up of my old alfa 33 twin carb, but with the mid range power that it has now and be 2-300kgs lighter smile




Ozzie Osmond

21,189 posts

245 months

Monday 12th September 2011
quotequote all
They must be good - the Chinese built/are still building new ones at Longbridge!

g3org3y

20,606 posts

190 months

Monday 12th September 2011
quotequote all
Ozzie Osmond said:
They must be good - the Chinese built/are still building new ones at Longbridge!
biggrin

S3_Graham

12,830 posts

198 months

Monday 12th September 2011
quotequote all
swiftpete said:
S3_Graham said:
I should of said that it is a 2004 MGTF we are selling for £1500
Have you listed an ad anywhere so I can have a look?
Nothing listed at all. It's not officially for sale yet. Basically the gf's new car arrives sometime in October and we can't really do without a car for long so I'm just putting out the feelers currently.

It will be advertised for £1850 but I'll take 1500.

Pm me if your interested and we can have a chat about it.

Sam_68

9,939 posts

244 months

Monday 12th September 2011
quotequote all
My experience of the MGF is that it's a lot better than most people make out.

I own an MX5, but I'd be quite happy wth and MGF as an alternative. smile

Ozzie Osmond

21,189 posts

245 months

Monday 12th September 2011
quotequote all
To my eye the biggest oddity with MGF is it's a mid-engined car which doesn't look mid-engined. The distance between the base of the windscreen and the road is so great it looks as though the engine's at the front.

J4CKO

41,284 posts

199 months

Monday 12th September 2011
quotequote all
I think sometimes the reality and the internet lore get mixed up, sure an MX5 is better but I remember at the time they came out, tests put them not that far apart.

I think reading about stuff on here sometimes colours your judgement and polarises your opinion a bit more than it should. I tried one briefly but at just over 6ft, I could only see the windscreen surround, otherwise for £500 it looked like fun, top down I cant imagine its that bad.

SiF

17 posts

173 months

Monday 12th September 2011
quotequote all
300bhp/ton said:
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.
rolleyes

Btw you're wrong on both counts.
Apart from subframe, suspension, engine (k series) and some switchgear you mean.

I tried one out as I am a MG/Rover fan, but found it a bit devoid of character (a sporty hatchback really). And cramped for a 6 footer (later ones have adjustable steering). Design and build of earlier ones appear poor (they were designed for a fraction of the normal engineering development cost). Nice classic lines though.

theironduke

6,995 posts

187 months

Monday 12th September 2011
quotequote all
Have driven one and close family own one.

I'd have an MX5 (and did in fact) is it was my money.

Biker's Nemesis

38,536 posts

207 months

Monday 12th September 2011
quotequote all
SiF said:
300bhp/ton said:
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.
rolleyes

Btw you're wrong on both counts.
Apart from subframe, suspension, engine (k series) and some switchgear you mean.

I tried one out as I am a MG/Rover fan, but found it a bit devoid of character (a sporty hatchback really). And cramped for a 6 footer (later ones have adjustable steering). Design and build of earlier ones appear poor (they were designed for a fraction of the normal engineering development cost). Nice classic lines though.
And them boiling over due to the pitiful amount of water they hold. (twizellb told me this)

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

189 months

Monday 12th September 2011
quotequote all
Jasandjules said:
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.
They are no cheaper inside than anything else of similar money or target market. Almost nothing Jap (inc an MX-5) or French is any less cheap and nasty inside.

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

189 months

Monday 12th September 2011
quotequote all
g3org3y said:
Ozzie Osmond said:
They must be good - the Chinese built/are still building new ones at Longbridge!
biggrin
Quite, just as Lotus are still building the equally as old Elise still but in Norfolk wink

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

189 months

Monday 12th September 2011
quotequote all
swiftpete said:
Thanks everyone. I'm not the sort to be put off cars that a lot perceive as being crap, I have had several alfas and currently drive a fiat coupe... Just want something that will do the job for her rather than break.
£1500 is bargain basement pretty much. And the age of it, it'll be ripe for suspension replacement parts. This isn't unreliable, just regular maintenance that most cars need, although the m/r layout does show this up more so than many other cars.

Hoods can leak, but blame Mazda for that as they supplied them to Rover, but overall they are pretty good. Also all the rest is Rover 200 or 100, so easy to get parts.

HG failure is a potential hazard, but as said earlier, do your research first and know what to look for.

MGF's have hyrogas suspension, these can need topping up and might even leak, but they ride better than the regular spring/shock setup on the TF's.

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

189 months

Monday 12th September 2011
quotequote all
Ozzie Osmond said:
To my eye the biggest oddity with MGF is it's a mid-engined car which doesn't look mid-engined. The distance between the base of the windscreen and the road is so great it looks as though the engine's at the front.
confused

If that's true, then the same is true for a MK1 MR2, MK2 and MK3 MR2's, smart Roadster, Ferrari 348, 355, 360

Mr2Mike

20,143 posts

254 months

Monday 12th September 2011
quotequote all
Janesy B said:
I wouldn't bother. Get a Puma.
Yes, get one of the mid-engined, RWD, convertible Pumas. They are exactly what you should be looking at if you are interested in an MGF/TF.