MG TF, Fun or run for the hills? :)

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DSM10000

Hardcore MB Enthusiast
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E32O CDi Sport, MX5 1.8 Sport, Range Rover 5.0 SC, BMW X1
A friend of ours wants (having tried our MX5) a "fun little car for summer" The main issue is a budget of no more than £1200.

At the moment they are set on a maximum of two seats and a manual hood (no T bar types) but otherwise are flexible.

The MG TF is a current favourite, it is a good looking car and there seems to be a number of reasonably priced ones around. I know they can have serious corrosion issues not just on the body but hidden deep in the rear and front subframes, I am also aware of issues with overheating and HG failure on some although most cars by now have had a HG change and a lot have had modified thermostats.

We have found some very useful buying advice so I think we have most things covered on what to look for, poke at and accept or walk away from but anything that the members here can add would be gratefully received.

The main question is: What are like to own and run? I understand that the later cars (circa 2003?) were conventionally sprung having dropped the hydragas of eralier version and are, consequently, a little stiffer in ride, anaecdotal evidence also suggests that they are quite sensitive to tyre type.

I think either the 1.6 or 1.8l egine would be acceptable so thoughts on either would be useful as well.

Thanks in advance!
 
SWMBO had a 2000 model. At the time it was a choice between the MX-5, MR-2, and MG F. We got the automatic.

(1) Avoid the auto. No it actually drives OK (despite what the journalists parrot) - but AIUI they start to cause problems as they get older.

(2) Luggage space is surprisingly good in the rear boot - despite it's small size it can be packed.

(3) The car is light at the front. With wider than average tyres this is not good news in snow and slippier conditions.

(4) We had a small oil leak and the plastic throttle body started sticking (hairy). Both were cheap to fix - but the risk of misdiagnosis can escalate costs - so having access to a decent indy that knows these cars is a good thing.

(5) Watch servicing. My recollection is that at 60K miles the cambelt needs changing.

(6) The rear screen in the hood crazes over. We got a polish that improved it a lot.

(7) The front screen washers used to ice up really easily (no warm engine under the front bonnect). We used to carry a water bottle in winter so we could stop and clear the windscreen.

(8) Engine access is not fun if there is anythng major.

(9) Regarding (3) it's easier to spin in poor conditions than most people realise.


All in all I thought the F was a nice little car but even more girly than a MX-5. The TF probably is a bit less girly.
 
HI I came from the MG forum a brilliant form and group of people and spent many happy hour modifying a MGTF160 you could pass on the Info. Look for "Eyes wide open" posts. great car but would not recommended a MG TF or F to any one unless you willing to spent time and effort. I loved my car and it was a car for ilfe but I could never trust the car and I spent a lot of time and money on it. I sold and bought a SLK 320 totally reliable car and fun too. Not guite the same gokart experience of the MG but Much better car the SLK. SLK 230 would be a better option.

Enjoy which ever route they take.

Ian :thumb:
 
Not guite the same gokart experience of the MG but Much better car the SLK. SLK 230 would be a better option.

SWMBO sold on her MGF and went for the SLK230.

The SLK230 is a heavy assault tank compared with the the MGF in terms of build. I would agree that a good late SLK230 might well be a better option compared with the MG unless the OP is against 2 seat heavy assault tanks.
 
HI I came from the MG forum a brilliant form and group of people and spent many happy hour modifying a MGTF160 you could pass on the Info. Look for "Eyes wide open" posts. great car but would not recommended a MG TF or F to any one unless you willing to spent time and effort. I loved my car and it was a car for ilfe but I could never trust the car and I spent a lot of time and money on it. I sold and bought a SLK 320 totally reliable car and fun too. Not guite the same gokart experience of the MG but Much better car the SLK. SLK 230 would be a better option.

Enjoy which ever route they take.

Ian :thumb:

Ian

Thank you for your input. It will be a strictly warm summers day car and prospective owner has no mechanical knowledge nor the desire to acquire any!

They do have a local garage that they know well and trust and although not an MG specialist the owner has worked on a few and seems quite sanguine at the prospect of another to look after :)
 
I've had 3 MGF VVC's and if I was after a cheap 2 seater I'd get another. A lot of head gasket issues are down to poor maintenance and letting it run out of coolant. There are a few coolant level sensors, but as the expansion tank is accessed via the boot it's not difficult to keep an eye on it.

Rust wise they're not bad. Only issue I had was the plate on the bulkhead which holds the wiper motor and clutch cylinder rots away, but they're easy to get hold of.

They're fairly easy to work on, and parts are cheap, but a lot of them will have been neglected, so better to pay a bit more for an enthusiast owned one.

Driving wise they're good fun. Driven in all weathers with budget tyres and never had any traction issues. Mid-engine, rear wheel drive is a good combo!

If the head does go, don't believe the horror stories, you're looking at around £300 to sort it. There are a few good mobile mechanics who cover most of the country doing them everyday.

Always preferred them to the MX5.
 
HI I came from the MG forum a brilliant form and group of people and spent many happy hour modifying a MGTF160 you could pass on the Info. Look for "Eyes wide open" posts. great car but would not recommended a MG TF or F to any one unless you willing to spent time and effort. I loved my car and it was a car for ilfe but I could never trust the car and I spent a lot of time and money on it. I sold and bought a SLK 320 totally reliable car and fun too. Not guite the same gokart experience of the MG but Much better car the SLK. SLK 230 would be a better option.

Enjoy which ever route they take.

Ian :thumb:

The SLK is a far superior car to the MGF but so it should be as it was a far more expensive one when new.

But with a budget of £1200 I wouldn't be looking at an SLK - that sort of money can buy a decent MGF but will only buy a very tired SLK.
 
prospective owner has no mechanical knowledge nor the desire to acquire any!

Quite frankly the only solution to that is the MX5!!!!! Not had an MGF but had a Rover 200 with the VVC and helped my neighbour replace the head gasket on his K series. The K series is rated by many as the finest 4 cylinder engine ever made, well ahead of the fabled Honda VVT, it's problems and solutions were known but sadly the bean counters prevented the engineers from fixing them.

That said, if the buyer is going to put the car into the garage for everything that needs doing I suspect they will quickly run up a big bill which they will not get with an MX5 (we have had a mk1, Mk2, and now a Mk3). The coolant carried on the K series is minimal and it doesnt take much loss of fluid to end up overheating and HGF. At this age the HGF may already have been done and a head skim will remove the surface hardening, which will make further work tricky.

Nothing wrong with the MGF or the K series, I just think that they need to be matched to an owner with some mechanical knowledge................
 
When I was looking for a small convertible a few years back I test drove a couple of MGFs and TBH I wasn't overly impressed. Either they don't take the miles well or they weren't very well screwed together to start with. I suspect it may have been a little of both.

I think your friends might be better off with a Eunos/MX-5 if they're not mechanically inclined. Or, as a left field choice, what about a Ford Streetka? Seems to fit the requirements, there's loads about and they're cheap as chips..

Cheers,

Gaz
 
I sold my MGF last year miss the forum. Mine was a MK 2. Non VVC I loved it it never gave me any trouble. Yes the engine is a pain to get to but all part of the fun IMO better looker than the older MX 5s especially from the rear with the twin exhaust pipes. Mine was a 1999 and had never had head gasket failure and if you don't give them any stick until the engine is hot the head gasket tends to be fine I only sold it because I got the E class coupe which only gets used at week ends so the MGF would of sat in the garage all year round I paid £1000 for it a few years ago and sold it for the same so had great fun and cost me nothing apart from fuel and road tax etc :)
 

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