2nd attempt at MGF ownership!
Discussion
After buying an early MGF last year (which turned out to be someones track car!), I am having another bash! Here is my story...
To begin with, I do not rate the MX5. I looked at them, and tried to convince myself that they were "reliable", "solid" and "safer than an MG". Its frankly not all that true! As a former MGF owner, there is so much more personality in the MGF than the MX5, and so I am letting my heart rule my head. God help me!!!
My first attempt ended when the car developed clutch trouble, which in turn revealed stretched gear cables and more rust than I was happy to ride about on. It was a shame, because the car itself was only on 74000 when I sold her, and I sold her with interesting tweaks left in place, something I regret!
MGF 1 (R665 LSS)Was a 1.8 VVC. She had a 52mm throttle body and K&N 57i with the intake strapped to the hydragas strut under the car... She also had uprated cooling pipes, big brake disks & Green stuff pads, new HG, riding on Proxes, and a long service history at the hands of a gentleman of a certain age. She also came with a list of the times she had posted at MG Owners Club events (MGOT). Unfortunately,I heard a bang, followed by a series of bangs. I had snapped the anti roll bar linkage, so up on a ramp she went. I then realised the front panels were red underneath, while she was green! She also had panel gaps which were not even remotely even, and underneath she showed signs of a major front ender. Rust was seeping through at the edge of the wheel arches, and after a few happy months, she was sold on, with a warning to her new owner "She needs a clutch, soon!". That took place over May 2011 to July 2011.
MGF 2, well, after a winter of trying to forget her by trying other performance cars on for size (E36 2.8i Sport, Phase 2 Clio 172, Alfa GTV 2.0, Celica T Sport), I settled on a sensible diesel for my commute, and a serious search for another MGF. For me, nothing feels as good through the twisties, and driving with the roof down is just bliss...
I have now found one, in Birmingham (spiritual home, and grave of MG). Owned by an enthusiast who has her garaged in the winter, she has done 111000 miles, has a pretty good history, as well as the new HG, overhauled 20k miles ago, and is on OK(ish) tyres. With 11 months of MOT and no rust, she looks a fairly safe bet for keeping, modifying and having fun with.
I have already located a 52mm throttle body and Pipercross Viper, which will be going on as soon as I can find an MG specialist in Southampton!! I plan to upgrade the brakes, poly bushes and fit the TF spec strut brace for starters.
I have even persuaded my girlfriend to have a go. She is just not interested in cars at all, but seeing me at a party last weekend, chatting to a TVR owner, an MX5 owner and Mini Cooper Works owner, she seems to be getting slightly excited now.
So this is just the beginning...
To begin with, I do not rate the MX5. I looked at them, and tried to convince myself that they were "reliable", "solid" and "safer than an MG". Its frankly not all that true! As a former MGF owner, there is so much more personality in the MGF than the MX5, and so I am letting my heart rule my head. God help me!!!
My first attempt ended when the car developed clutch trouble, which in turn revealed stretched gear cables and more rust than I was happy to ride about on. It was a shame, because the car itself was only on 74000 when I sold her, and I sold her with interesting tweaks left in place, something I regret!
MGF 1 (R665 LSS)Was a 1.8 VVC. She had a 52mm throttle body and K&N 57i with the intake strapped to the hydragas strut under the car... She also had uprated cooling pipes, big brake disks & Green stuff pads, new HG, riding on Proxes, and a long service history at the hands of a gentleman of a certain age. She also came with a list of the times she had posted at MG Owners Club events (MGOT). Unfortunately,I heard a bang, followed by a series of bangs. I had snapped the anti roll bar linkage, so up on a ramp she went. I then realised the front panels were red underneath, while she was green! She also had panel gaps which were not even remotely even, and underneath she showed signs of a major front ender. Rust was seeping through at the edge of the wheel arches, and after a few happy months, she was sold on, with a warning to her new owner "She needs a clutch, soon!". That took place over May 2011 to July 2011.
MGF 2, well, after a winter of trying to forget her by trying other performance cars on for size (E36 2.8i Sport, Phase 2 Clio 172, Alfa GTV 2.0, Celica T Sport), I settled on a sensible diesel for my commute, and a serious search for another MGF. For me, nothing feels as good through the twisties, and driving with the roof down is just bliss...
I have now found one, in Birmingham (spiritual home, and grave of MG). Owned by an enthusiast who has her garaged in the winter, she has done 111000 miles, has a pretty good history, as well as the new HG, overhauled 20k miles ago, and is on OK(ish) tyres. With 11 months of MOT and no rust, she looks a fairly safe bet for keeping, modifying and having fun with.
I have already located a 52mm throttle body and Pipercross Viper, which will be going on as soon as I can find an MG specialist in Southampton!! I plan to upgrade the brakes, poly bushes and fit the TF spec strut brace for starters.
I have even persuaded my girlfriend to have a go. She is just not interested in cars at all, but seeing me at a party last weekend, chatting to a TVR owner, an MX5 owner and Mini Cooper Works owner, she seems to be getting slightly excited now.
So this is just the beginning...
Edited by thecleverbit on Wednesday 4th July 08:11
enjoy your new car drive it regularly
I'm all for good brakes and tyres but from my memory of the early Fs at least the standard brakes were very good, I've seen the cars are very tyre sensitive
it's great to see your enthusiam but slow down a bit and consider things don't just follow the crowd and popular ideas the biggest improvement you can make to any car is the driver and their attitude and style of driving and concerntrate on servicing and maintaining the whole car not just the sexy bits
have a great time, keep yourself or at least others safe
thecleverbit said:
After buying an early MGF last year (which turned out to be someones track car!) . . . She also came with a list of the times she had posted at MG Owners Club events (MGOT)
a clue perhapsI'm all for good brakes and tyres but from my memory of the early Fs at least the standard brakes were very good, I've seen the cars are very tyre sensitive
thecleverbit said:
Unfortunately, after racing (and beating) a Clio 172 on the way to Salisbury
I'm sure that must be the name of a corner on a trackthecleverbit said:
Owned by an enthusiast who has her garaged in the winter
not necessily as good a thing as it soundsthecleverbit said:
I have already located a 52mm throttle body and Pipercross Viper, which will be going on as soon as I can find an MG specialist in Southampton!! I plan to upgrade the brakes, poly bushes and fit the TF spec strut brace for starters.
I'd suggest you drive the car as it is for at least 6 months to find out what really needs doing and in case you need to use the money on more pressing itemsit's great to see your enthusiam but slow down a bit and consider things don't just follow the crowd and popular ideas the biggest improvement you can make to any car is the driver and their attitude and style of driving and concerntrate on servicing and maintaining the whole car not just the sexy bits
have a great time, keep yourself or at least others safe
Hey,
You make fair criticisms of what I said, however I do agree with what you say. I don't want to give the wrong impression either, so I will clarify what I meant...
I'm no racing driver, in fact I didn't even have a licence and hadnt driven till 2 years ago. Since then I have fallen in love with driving... For me it's about how a car feels, not about doing crazy speed on the ring or on the autobahn... So while I have owned some amazing machines, they have only ever been used at safe speeds. I have never had an accident, nor do I have any points on my licence. Never been stopped by the police either...
My motivation is to have a great little MGF, with lots of low end torque, great handling, and a nice engine noise for when I have the roof down on a B road in Somerset... She might see a track day too if I get around to it!
I'm not here to glamourise t
ttish driving, I'm sure we have all strayed a bit over sometimes but I hardly drive along like an idiot.
I hope that clears things up, hope I didn't offend anyone.
You make fair criticisms of what I said, however I do agree with what you say. I don't want to give the wrong impression either, so I will clarify what I meant...
I'm no racing driver, in fact I didn't even have a licence and hadnt driven till 2 years ago. Since then I have fallen in love with driving... For me it's about how a car feels, not about doing crazy speed on the ring or on the autobahn... So while I have owned some amazing machines, they have only ever been used at safe speeds. I have never had an accident, nor do I have any points on my licence. Never been stopped by the police either...
My motivation is to have a great little MGF, with lots of low end torque, great handling, and a nice engine noise for when I have the roof down on a B road in Somerset... She might see a track day too if I get around to it!
I'm not here to glamourise t
ttish driving, I'm sure we have all strayed a bit over sometimes but I hardly drive along like an idiot.I hope that clears things up, hope I didn't offend anyone.
that's good stuff
I'm trying to help you - perhaps then you might want to edit the bit around the 172 Clio and I'll edit out this bit, I was being subtle but I can spell it out for you if you don't follow me
for some HT leads I've been very impressed with my set from performanceleads from Fast Lane who make leads and other stuff for other well known lead and other suff companies - http://www.performanceleads.co.uk/ - they're a good fit at cap and plugs which is important with the deep set plugs, poor fitting one can feel like they've fitted when they're not fitted well that can cause problems that are overlooked because they seem firm so are not taken off and inspected
I'm trying to help you - perhaps then you might want to edit the bit around the 172 Clio and I'll edit out this bit, I was being subtle but I can spell it out for you if you don't follow me
for some HT leads I've been very impressed with my set from performanceleads from Fast Lane who make leads and other stuff for other well known lead and other suff companies - http://www.performanceleads.co.uk/ - they're a good fit at cap and plugs which is important with the deep set plugs, poor fitting one can feel like they've fitted when they're not fitted well that can cause problems that are overlooked because they seem firm so are not taken off and inspected
There was a lovely TF 160 being worked on at Southways in Fareham when i was there last week, new coil packs i believe, there rates are reasonable to. www.southwaysautomotive.co.uk
The mileage does seem very high, and if it is on the original shocks and bushes, I would expect they would need replacing.
I have just 'upgraded' my wife's MGF Trophy 160 , almost £10k's worth, but mechanically, it's like new and drives and handles superbly (It has almost 170bhp now, but I am booking it in for a head porting and a few other minor tweaks by DVA Power - suspension and bushes were replaced first, followed by a complete overhaul of the cooling system, even including new SS everything, even jubilee clips - and then exhaust system and engine tweaks - with a new Quaife LSD for the gearbox.
(50k miles on the clock - and been back and forth from UK to Italy many times without a single problem before the end of last year)
Must be something about these cars, as I love it as much as the TVR - they must have something, otherwise I wouldn't have spent so much on it - and it's not even mine!
I have just 'upgraded' my wife's MGF Trophy 160 , almost £10k's worth, but mechanically, it's like new and drives and handles superbly (It has almost 170bhp now, but I am booking it in for a head porting and a few other minor tweaks by DVA Power - suspension and bushes were replaced first, followed by a complete overhaul of the cooling system, even including new SS everything, even jubilee clips - and then exhaust system and engine tweaks - with a new Quaife LSD for the gearbox.
(50k miles on the clock - and been back and forth from UK to Italy many times without a single problem before the end of last year)
Must be something about these cars, as I love it as much as the TVR - they must have something, otherwise I wouldn't have spent so much on it - and it's not even mine!
Interesting read as if the chap interested in the Mondeo takes it, one of these could be on the menu.
The throttle body & pipercross kit, they bad to fit yourself?
Had both on my ZR, and the TB was 15mibs to do, pipercross about an hour, of which 50minutes was spent getting the old airbox out
The throttle body & pipercross kit, they bad to fit yourself?
Had both on my ZR, and the TB was 15mibs to do, pipercross about an hour, of which 50minutes was spent getting the old airbox out
They are amazing little cars with a lot of soul... I honestly do not think there is a better bang for your buck ratio to be had on 4 wheels, although some people seem to be able to spend a fortune on making these already quick cars even nippier!
I would love to see what a 170bhp Trophy was like!
The best tip I can find it when you look at one, buy from an enthusiast, do your web research and know the common faults. Sill rust is a killer on these as that area is where the back (and engine) joins the front. Unless you want to impersonate Herbie, check your sills! Also, rust in the following locations is bad, as it **could** indicate previous damage:
As for little upgrades, the Pipercross and Throttle body can be done in about an hour and a half, there is a handy guide here:
http://www.mgf.ultimatemg.com/group2/DIY/throttle_...
It seems to give more torque, although I have seen figures quoted that the TB increases airflow by 17% and that a decent filter on the MGF adds 7 to 9 BHP depending on the state of your engine. The first car I owned was modded in this way and apparently could mix it with the standard 160 Trophy models without too much fuss (although they had the same 52mm TB as a standard part...).
I am going to take a tip from a previous reply and drive her for a few weeks standard, before changing all 4 tyres, TB and Pipercross in one hit. That way I will appreciate them more. I am also considering changing the shocks, but that will be upgrade Part 2. I need to get back into the feel of the car, and decide what to do with her.
I would love to see what a 170bhp Trophy was like!
The best tip I can find it when you look at one, buy from an enthusiast, do your web research and know the common faults. Sill rust is a killer on these as that area is where the back (and engine) joins the front. Unless you want to impersonate Herbie, check your sills! Also, rust in the following locations is bad, as it **could** indicate previous damage:
- Where the front arch meets the bumper
- Where the front bumper and wing meets under the headlamp
- Where the rear arch meets the bumper
As for little upgrades, the Pipercross and Throttle body can be done in about an hour and a half, there is a handy guide here:
http://www.mgf.ultimatemg.com/group2/DIY/throttle_...
It seems to give more torque, although I have seen figures quoted that the TB increases airflow by 17% and that a decent filter on the MGF adds 7 to 9 BHP depending on the state of your engine. The first car I owned was modded in this way and apparently could mix it with the standard 160 Trophy models without too much fuss (although they had the same 52mm TB as a standard part...).
I am going to take a tip from a previous reply and drive her for a few weeks standard, before changing all 4 tyres, TB and Pipercross in one hit. That way I will appreciate them more. I am also considering changing the shocks, but that will be upgrade Part 2. I need to get back into the feel of the car, and decide what to do with her.
T66ORA said:
There was a lovely TF 160 being worked on at Southways in Fareham when i was there last week, new coil packs i believe, there rates are reasonable to. www.southwaysautomotive.co.uk
Thank you for the advice... Car booked in for PiperX and Throttle body in a few weeks, as well as a thorough check over... They sound very knowledgable!If the MGTF you saw is the one they have in, its a bit ruined, as apparently the VVC unit failed and caused serious mishaps in the engine bay... A long term project I think!
Hi, good choice of car! Hoping to get mine back on the road after a long period of absence.
It's worth joining http://www.mg-rover.org/index.htm? As there are some very knowledgable people on there. There are also three mobile mechanics on there who come highly recommended ( I have used wo of them), and there are a lot cheaper than many garages.
Cheers
Jim
(thatone1967) on .org
It's worth joining http://www.mg-rover.org/index.htm? As there are some very knowledgable people on there. There are also three mobile mechanics on there who come highly recommended ( I have used wo of them), and there are a lot cheaper than many garages.
Cheers
Jim
(thatone1967) on .org
Getting to know you ... as Julie Andrews once sang... 
That advice about running the car for a month or three before changing things is very sound. Once you have confidence in the car and really know it better, its good and bad aspects which need attention, then you can consider modifications and upgrades.
Before all that, a good comprehensive service by yourself or by someone who really knows these cars checking key areas will be very beneficial.
Quite often, simple but thorough TLC to return a car to its original well maintained condition can transform how a car feels and behaves for the driver. Done well to a car which has had indifferent care in previous ownership can give the feel of a decent upgrade.
That advice about running the car for a month or three before changing things is very sound. Once you have confidence in the car and really know it better, its good and bad aspects which need attention, then you can consider modifications and upgrades.
Before all that, a good comprehensive service by yourself or by someone who really knows these cars checking key areas will be very beneficial.
Quite often, simple but thorough TLC to return a car to its original well maintained condition can transform how a car feels and behaves for the driver. Done well to a car which has had indifferent care in previous ownership can give the feel of a decent upgrade.
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