MGA or TR4 pro's and cons
Discussion
I am looking at changing my Spitfire MkIII, or potentially adding to the garage, for either a TR4 or an MGA. What are people's opinions on owning and selecting either of these vehicles?
Previously I had lusted after TR2, 3 and 3A but having spent time driving a 3A I discovered just how cold, even on a roasting hot summers day, driving a side screen car with low doors can be. I was gutted in all honesty but it was a lot better to find this out in a hire car than having bought one and finding that I didn't use it as often as I should. The Mrs moaned a lot about the wind whistling around her lower back.
I like the basic nature of 50's cars with the build your own tent hood style so I am tempted by an MGA but having read all Piggots books on side screen TR's I feel as though I am abandoning the mark by even thinking about an MGA. But a TR4 is a 60's car with more home comforts.
TR4's appear to me to have fewer scare stories about buying a lemon than MGA's so that aspect of buying an MGA is worrying me also. I would be looking to buy the best car I can afford for less than £15k which I know gets you a good TR but I am unsure about the quality of MGA's for that money.
Has anyone on here had either car, maybe both, and can provide some words of wisdom?
Previously I had lusted after TR2, 3 and 3A but having spent time driving a 3A I discovered just how cold, even on a roasting hot summers day, driving a side screen car with low doors can be. I was gutted in all honesty but it was a lot better to find this out in a hire car than having bought one and finding that I didn't use it as often as I should. The Mrs moaned a lot about the wind whistling around her lower back.
I like the basic nature of 50's cars with the build your own tent hood style so I am tempted by an MGA but having read all Piggots books on side screen TR's I feel as though I am abandoning the mark by even thinking about an MGA. But a TR4 is a 60's car with more home comforts.
TR4's appear to me to have fewer scare stories about buying a lemon than MGA's so that aspect of buying an MGA is worrying me also. I would be looking to buy the best car I can afford for less than £15k which I know gets you a good TR but I am unsure about the quality of MGA's for that money.
Has anyone on here had either car, maybe both, and can provide some words of wisdom?
If you're looking at 15k, then you'll get a lot of MG A for your money, even a twin cam.
The best of the MG As is a 1600 deluxe, which has the twin cam wheels. The chassis does flex a little when pushed, but you're still looking at side screens for the low doors, so there's only a little bit better weather protection than a TR2.
A few of the As have been converted to a ford 5 speed box with a prospeed type selector, which makes the gear shift short and snappy and completely unlike the normal ford porridge stirrer. If you're spending time on dual carriageways / motorways, then this is very useful and easy to exchange back when you need to sell it.
Twin cams are great and very quick. You could get one on your budget, but the engine needs specialist oil and a close eye on it.
If I was you, I'd be looking at a TR4A with the independant rear suspension or even a TR5; just as pretty, but with excellent modern day performance. You'll get a good one (non-con cours), but condition 1 for the sort of money you're thinking of spending.
The best of the MG As is a 1600 deluxe, which has the twin cam wheels. The chassis does flex a little when pushed, but you're still looking at side screens for the low doors, so there's only a little bit better weather protection than a TR2.
A few of the As have been converted to a ford 5 speed box with a prospeed type selector, which makes the gear shift short and snappy and completely unlike the normal ford porridge stirrer. If you're spending time on dual carriageways / motorways, then this is very useful and easy to exchange back when you need to sell it.
Twin cams are great and very quick. You could get one on your budget, but the engine needs specialist oil and a close eye on it.
If I was you, I'd be looking at a TR4A with the independant rear suspension or even a TR5; just as pretty, but with excellent modern day performance. You'll get a good one (non-con cours), but condition 1 for the sort of money you're thinking of spending.
I bought my TR4 around a year ago after a 6 month search & it has proved reliable & great fun. The car was restored about 8 years ago & so is in great shape but not concours - which is ideal for me as I want a car to use a couple of times a week when its dry & salt free, not a garage queen. All that has gone wrong so far is a clutch slave cylinder & a carb float that sank, in over 2000 miles!
Your budget will buy you a concours TR4 if you want, or pay less for a well executed older restoration. Buy the TR4 instead of the TR4a as the 4 has a stronger chassis. The TR Register mag, TRaction is a good source of ads.
I don't know much about MGAs but was never really taken by them. For either car though ensure you have a photographic record of the restoration (assuming it is not mint original). Ensure that the photos are associated with your car, & not someone else's resto job. With a 4, panel gaps & lineup will be very indicative of the resto quality, particularly in the sill/wings interfaces where a good result pays tribute to the restorer. Do not compromise on this. Also, on a 4 try to make sure you get overdrive which was an option & which many others had retrofitted.
Also on 4s, I believe the surrey top is more desirable but personally I prefer the straight convertable as I think an open surrey top does not look that great.
On 4s many people fit kenlowe fans, alternator conversions, unleaded heads, electronic ignition, etc, etc. These mods make the car more reliable & of course are reversable if needed.
Your budget will buy you a concours TR4 if you want, or pay less for a well executed older restoration. Buy the TR4 instead of the TR4a as the 4 has a stronger chassis. The TR Register mag, TRaction is a good source of ads.
I don't know much about MGAs but was never really taken by them. For either car though ensure you have a photographic record of the restoration (assuming it is not mint original). Ensure that the photos are associated with your car, & not someone else's resto job. With a 4, panel gaps & lineup will be very indicative of the resto quality, particularly in the sill/wings interfaces where a good result pays tribute to the restorer. Do not compromise on this. Also, on a 4 try to make sure you get overdrive which was an option & which many others had retrofitted.
Also on 4s, I believe the surrey top is more desirable but personally I prefer the straight convertable as I think an open surrey top does not look that great.
On 4s many people fit kenlowe fans, alternator conversions, unleaded heads, electronic ignition, etc, etc. These mods make the car more reliable & of course are reversable if needed.
Edited by volvos60s60 on Wednesday 9th May 11:16
An MGA is really a follow on from the MG TF series and as such is much older fashioned than the TR4. You mention the draughty side windows and you'll get that with the MGA for sure, so here the TR4 scores heavily. Go further and look at the engine comparison (unless you go for a pricey twin cam) and the TR scores again. Both have live axles unless you look for a 4A and if the weather is the problem then a surrey top (later pinched by Porsche and called Targa) car would be the complete answer to your problems. There's one in Classic & Sports car for £8,000 "since full restoration". I suppose an MGB isn't to your liking? A reshelled convertible will set you back about £10,000 since prices seem to be dropping. The world is your oyster.
Thanks for the info everyone.
lowdrag I don't like the MGB's which is actually why I have a Spitfire. Went test driving and the MGB just drove like a modern which wasn't what I was looking for. I assume this is due to the monocoque design. The separate chassis of the Spit gives it a very different and an older feeling drive when you consider the age of the car.
With respect to the side screens on the MGA and comparing them to the TR2/3 the issue for me is the lowness of the doors on the TR2 rather than the fact it has side screens.
Here's a pic of a TR3A
And in comparison an MGA
You can sit in the TR3 and touch the ground easily.
lowdrag I don't like the MGB's which is actually why I have a Spitfire. Went test driving and the MGB just drove like a modern which wasn't what I was looking for. I assume this is due to the monocoque design. The separate chassis of the Spit gives it a very different and an older feeling drive when you consider the age of the car.
With respect to the side screens on the MGA and comparing them to the TR2/3 the issue for me is the lowness of the doors on the TR2 rather than the fact it has side screens.
Here's a pic of a TR3A
And in comparison an MGA
You can sit in the TR3 and touch the ground easily.
Edited by Bennem on Wednesday 9th May 12:43
The surrey top may be more important than you think. Try a car before you decide if you go down the TR4/4A/5 route. I have a TR5 and without a surrey top the exhaust fumes drawn back into the cockpit are near unbearable. If you don't buy a car with a surrey top you will find it very difficult and expensive indeed to buy one separately. It took me three years to get one. As to not looking good, well its a matter of opinion. The TR rally cars had them. A much more comfortable drive.
They're both great cars, but very different to drive. Parts availability and repair cost are likely to be similar
At that price range how about a Healey or a Sunbeam Tiger, if you fancy a rolling resoration I've seen XKs go for that sort of money too (running MOTd etc but needing finishing)
Cheers
Ben
At that price range how about a Healey or a Sunbeam Tiger, if you fancy a rolling resoration I've seen XKs go for that sort of money too (running MOTd etc but needing finishing)
Cheers
Ben
I had this problem with a few cars, the worst of which was a Morgan +4, as their doors are so low.
Its easy to overcome. Just make the bottom portion of a side screen, the bit below the window, covering from the scuttle, to the bodywork behind the seat.
This duplicates the body line of an MG B door, & overcomes the frozen kidney problem. It also overcomes the exhaust rebreathing problem, as it does not suck as much air from behind as having the side screens up, at least on the Morgan +4.
Its easy to overcome. Just make the bottom portion of a side screen, the bit below the window, covering from the scuttle, to the bodywork behind the seat.
This duplicates the body line of an MG B door, & overcomes the frozen kidney problem. It also overcomes the exhaust rebreathing problem, as it does not suck as much air from behind as having the side screens up, at least on the Morgan +4.
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