The MG TF never had it easy. This British sports car had all the right ingredients - a mid-mounted naturally aspirated engine, rear-wheel drive, a two-seater drop-top body - yet it never really took the market by storm, thanks in part to the shadow cast by the Mazda MX-5 and Toyota MR2.
But now, with prices for well looked after cars having dipped below the £3000 mark, isn’t it time we gave MG’s last model (in the pre-SAIC Motors years) another chance?
After all, it’s not like the car was thought bad in the first place. When it arrived in 2002 as the F’s replacement, the mid-ship drop-top, which borrowed its name from the MG TF Midget of the 1950s, was celebrated by motoring journalists for its sweet balance, decent steering and - particularly in higher-specification variable valve format - its revvy K-Series engines.
True, owners later realised that these engines were prone to head gasket failure, but now in 2018, it’s at least reassuring to think that for the cars to have survived this long they're probably running with the improved component produced to fix the issue. (Although we’d recommend you make sure of that before handing over any cash…)
Base level TFs came with a 1.6-litre motor that provided 116hp at the rear wheels, while mid-range models used a 1.8-litre offering as much as 136hp. The most potent, however, used a 1.8 VVC unit offering a respectable 159hp, enabling a 6.9sec 0-62mph sprint that was eight tenths better than both the Mk2 MX-5 and Mk3 MR2 in their quickest guises.
The TF’s structure was also stiffened by 20% compared to the F’s, helping to reduce the skuttle shake that plagued the earlier car. There was also an all-new suspension setup that ditched the F’s Hydragas suspension for a more conventional (and reliable) coil spring system.
Admittedly, the sports car fell short of the the MX-5 for usability, with smaller storage space thanks to the location of its engine, while a comically high seating position left taller drivers with the tips of their heads exposed to the wind. Build quality was also down on its Japanese rivals. Be that as it may, many of these issues can be regarded more generously as the TF matures from daily driver to weekend toy.
Surely no better example of the breed exists than this £2750 example, which comes with the top-end variable valve motor and is finished in British Racing Green. With 45,000 miles on the clock this 2002 car has probably passed its head gasket blowing years (although don’t forget our earlier advice), plus, there’s a fresh MOT and a colour-matched hard top thrown in for good measure.
Chances are your purchase is not going to be viewed by others with quite the same esteem they might've had for a 20-year-old MX-5. But for the buyer who snaps up our Spotted, they’ll still be landing themselves in a fine handling British sports car from yesteryear. And will have paid so little it’s unlikely they’ll care.
SPECIFICATION – MG TF
Engine: 1,796cc four-cylinder
Power (hp): 159hp@6,900rpm
Torque (lb ft): 128lb ft@4,700rpm
MPG: N/A
CO2: 179g/km
First registered: 2002
Recorded mileage: 45,412
Price then: £21,050
Price now: £2,750
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