Considering purchasing an MG TF as my next car...

[FrozenShivers]

Hello guys, well I've just finished my first years ownership of my 1996 1.8 MK1 MX-5 Merlot Edition, great little motor, but I'm considering trying something different in around a year or so (need to save the money first!), was considering going for an MG TF, the car will be used as a dailey driver (as is my MX-5), I do around 6-8K miles per year, and I don't do much motorway, 80% city driving with the scenic routes coming home if the weather is nice! Fancied a wee change and something a wee bit more modern, electric windows/central locking etc. My budget will be a maximum of around £2,000, was looking at the 135 or possibly even a 160, the MPG on the MG's seems to be superior to my 1.8 MX-5, even the 160! Not sure how the insurance would compare though, anyone who's owned both got any idea? I've obviously heard of the HGF issue, but are they generally solid cars if a good one (MLS I think it's called?) is fitted?

Here's my possibly unrealistic look at the pro's and con's:

+ Electric Windows/central steering etc
+ Better economy (when driven with care)
+ More power (when driven without care!)
+ Less chance of rust due to them being newer
- HGF
- Possibly higher insurance/tax?

Any advice would be great, thanks guys...

[MGgeordie]

We have both, a 1989 MX5 Eunos 1.6 & a 2000 MGF 1.8VVC SE.

The MX5 just tends to be washed, service & driven gives little or no probs at all in the 8 years I have had it. The MGF is a better car in my opinion but is a bit of an 'Allegro with a hood'. Whilst it hasn't ever broke down it seems to always have a weekly niggle that I have to deal with. Squeaky suspension needs greasing (yes it has greasing points!), fan belt needs tightening every 3 months and other little annoying things. All easily fixable but I can do without our lass saying "Oh my car is doing this, Oh can you have a look at my car its squeaking etc etc" every other week! To be honest I'm probably painting it in a bad light, I actually prefer the MGF. Engine wise things are a lot harder to get too though with it being mid engined so even changing the plugs, air filter becomes a right faff!!

The MG is a lot FASTER & better on fuel.

[Butter Face]

Wife has had 1 MGF and now 2 MGTF's.

Great cars, they are quite capable (the TF moreso than the F IMO) and good fun.

We've only had a HG fail on the F (touch wood) but not on either of the TF's.

They're not the highest quality car ever built but they have 'charm'

[FrozenShivers]

Sounds good so far guys, thanks for the input! To be fair my little old Mazda hasn't been problem free either, she is 17 years old now mind you but I've had to get a slave cylinder, front shock, and a weld on one of the sills

[300bhp/ton]

I've had 2 F's and my brother had an F too. No TF's though.

Loved all of them. Niggles... but a good car none the less.

[Electric Beaver]

MGgeordie said:

fan belt needs tightening every 3 months faff!!

Fan belt?

[300bhp/ton]

Probably means alternator belt. It's a bit of a bugger even when the engine is in a Rover 200. So I can imagine the pain it must be in an F.

[onyx39]

Did you buy one?

If you haven't and intend to, might be worth joining joining either of the following if you haven't already:

http://www.the-t-bar.com/en/

Or mg-rover.org, a lot of good guys on there who are extremely knowledgable, you may if your lucky find someone who is knowledgable who will be willing to come with you and look for any of the many things to look for.

[Cooky]

my daughter has just bought an 04 TF 160, it's rude how much you can pick these up for atm. amazing fun and plenty of power, handles pretty well too, fantastic value. now where can I get a new head gasket for it, it's just coming up to 40k and i think i'ts well due.

[exgtt]

Cooky said:

my daughter has just bought an 04 TF 160, it's rude how much you can pick these up for atm. amazing fun and plenty of power, handles pretty well too, fantastic value. now where can I get a new head gasket for it, it's just coming up to 40k and i think i'ts well due.

http://www.mg-rovermobilemechanics.com/menu.html#


K-SERIES VVC HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENTS

£325.00

MLS uprated triple layer gasket with shim
Both Cambelts
Waterpump
Inlet Manifold Gasket
Exhaust Manifold Gasket
Oil
Oil Filter
Coolant flush and refill with fresh O.A.T Antifreeze
Cam Oil Seals where needed
Head Bolts where needed

Also includes: Service book stamped (if available) and 3 months/3,000 mile warranty on labour, 12 months on parts.

They even come to you. Boomshakalak. Waiting list though.

[onyx39]

exgtt said:

Cooky said:

my daughter has just bought an 04 TF 160, it's rude how much you can pick these up for atm. amazing fun and plenty of power, handles pretty well too, fantastic value. now where can I get a new head gasket for it, it's just coming up to 40k and i think i'ts well due.

http://www.mg-rovermobilemechanics.com/menu.html#


K-SERIES VVC HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENTS

£325.00

MLS uprated triple layer gasket with shim
Both Cambelts
Waterpump
Inlet Manifold Gasket
Exhaust Manifold Gasket
Oil
Oil Filter
Coolant flush and refill with fresh O.A.T Antifreeze
Cam Oil Seals where needed
Head Bolts where needed

Also includes: Service book stamped (if available) and 3 months/3,000 mile warranty on labour, 12 months on parts.

They even come to you. Boomshakalak. Waiting list though.

Depends where you are, there are several mobile mechanics on .org, all of who travel.
These guys are good though, never heard bad reports.

I would not get the HG done until it goes.

[Cooky]

onyx39 said:

exgtt said:

Cooky said:

my daughter has just bought an 04 TF 160, it's rude how much you can pick these up for atm. amazing fun and plenty of power, handles pretty well too, fantastic value. now where can I get a new head gasket for it, it's just coming up to 40k and i think i'ts well due.

http://www.mg-rovermobilemechanics.com/menu.html#


K-SERIES VVC HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENTS

£325.00

MLS uprated triple layer gasket with shim
Both Cambelts
Waterpump
Inlet Manifold Gasket
Exhaust Manifold Gasket
Oil
Oil Filter
Coolant flush and refill with fresh O.A.T Antifreeze
Cam Oil Seals where needed
Head Bolts where needed

Also includes: Service book stamped (if available) and 3 months/3,000 mile warranty on labour, 12 months on parts.

They even come to you. Boomshakalak. Waiting list though.

Depends where you are, there are several mobile mechanics on .org, all of who travel.
These guys are good though, never heard bad reports.

I would not get the HG done until it goes.

Thanks guys, wonder if they'll venture out to the wilds of Exmoor? will give them a try, that price looks extremely reasonable, does that include skimming the head and new bolts if using a MLH?

edited to apologise to OP for thread hijack

Edited by Cooky on Wednesday 10th July 18:10

[AlexRS2782]

Another option on the mobile front is Mike @ MJS - http://www.mjsautoandmarine.co.uk/

He's just done the HG replacement on my mums ZR including new pump, thermostat, belts, gaskets, etc. Called him Monday to discuss & 2 days later it's done & my mum's happy her car is still on the road & she doesn't have to borrow my 205 GTI

Thankfully i've got her pretty clued up on cars so she noticed it nice & early as well so no unpleasant problems to fix, just a nice straight forward job

[onyx39]

Cooky said:

onyx39 said:

exgtt said:

Cooky said:

my daughter has just bought an 04 TF 160, it's rude how much you can pick these up for atm. amazing fun and plenty of power, handles pretty well too, fantastic value. now where can I get a new head gasket for it, it's just coming up to 40k and i think i'ts well due.

http://www.mg-rovermobilemechanics.com/menu.html#


K-SERIES VVC HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENTS

£325.00

MLS uprated triple layer gasket with shim
Both Cambelts
Waterpump
Inlet Manifold Gasket
Exhaust Manifold Gasket
Oil
Oil Filter
Coolant flush and refill with fresh O.A.T Antifreeze
Cam Oil Seals where needed
Head Bolts where needed

Also includes: Service book stamped (if available) and 3 months/3,000 mile warranty on labour, 12 months on parts.

They even come to you. Boomshakalak. Waiting list though.

Depends where you are, there are several mobile mechanics on .org, all of who travel.
These guys are good though, never heard bad reports.

I would not get the HG done until it goes.

Thanks guys, wonder if they'll venture out to the wilds of Exmoor? will give them a try, that price looks extremely reasonable, does that include skimming the head and new bolts if using a MLH?

edited to apologise to OP for thread hijack

Edited by Cooky on Wednesday 10th July 18:10

[onyx39]

Cooky said:

onyx39 said:

exgtt said:

Cooky said:

my daughter has just bought an 04 TF 160, it's rude how much you can pick these up for atm. amazing fun and plenty of power, handles pretty well too, fantastic value. now where can I get a new head gasket for it, it's just coming up to 40k and i think i'ts well due.

http://www.mg-rovermobilemechanics.com/menu.html#


K-SERIES VVC HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENTS

£325.00

MLS uprated triple layer gasket with shim
Both Cambelts
Waterpump
Inlet Manifold Gasket
Exhaust Manifold Gasket
Oil
Oil Filter
Coolant flush and refill with fresh O.A.T Antifreeze
Cam Oil Seals where needed
Head Bolts where needed

Also includes: Service book stamped (if available) and 3 months/3,000 mile warranty on labour, 12 months on parts.

They even come to you. Boomshakalak. Waiting list though.

Depends where you are, there are several mobile mechanics on .org, all of who travel.
These guys are good though, never heard bad reports.

I would not get the HG done until it goes.

Thanks guys, wonder if they'll venture out to the wilds of Exmoor? will give them a try, that price looks extremely reasonable, does that include skimming the head and new bolts if using a MLH?

edited to apologise to OP for thread hijack

Edited by Cooky on Wednesday 10th July 18:10

One of them regularly flies to Germany!

[exgtt]

Cooky said:

Thanks guys, wonder if they'll venture out to the wilds of Exmoor? will give them a try, that price looks extremely reasonable, does that include skimming the head and new bolts if using a MLH?

edited to apologise to OP for thread hijack

Edited by Cooky on Wednesday 10th July 18:10

They carry a spare skimmed pressure tested head with em, if yours needs doing they bang theirs on and take yours away to be fixed for someone else. If yours can't be skimmed or is damaged they charge £150 for their head. Bloody great service.

[Cooky]

exgtt said:

Cooky said:

Thanks guys, wonder if they'll venture out to the wilds of Exmoor? will give them a try, that price looks extremely reasonable, does that include skimming the head and new bolts if using a MLH?

edited to apologise to OP for thread hijack

Edited by Cooky on Wednesday 10th July 18:10

They carry a spare skimmed pressure tested head with em, if yours needs doing they bang theirs on and take yours away to be fixed for someone else. If yours can't be skimmed or is damaged they charge £150 for their head. Bloody great service.

just booked her in for the 30th, sounds like a superb service, informative and genuine, will even fit the underfloor stainless water pipes if needed for a one'er all in, sounds as if they are doing it right so fair play and thanks again for the heads-up.
I really do find it hard to believe the price these lovely little beauties are available for, the handling is quite sublime and when pushed they do everything you ask of them, only criticism i can find is a bit too much brake fade (when hot granted) for my style but I'm sure something like pagid or mintex 1144 pads with goodridge's would gel nicely with those pretty little brembo's already issued but also there is a lovely little 'powerband' that is delivered just as you pull into 3 leptons corner... yes I do like driving this lovely little peach.

[AndyG-ZTT]

Cooky said:

the handling is quite sublime and when pushed they do everything you ask of them,

I agree, I keep the rear boot empty save a bit of clothing and the spare wheel and tools etc in the front.

I did a 10'27 secs on the Nürburgring(Nordschleife)

[Cooky]

^
that's very impressive, I wasn't much under that in the bloody TVR is was a bit too twisty for the Cerb though as the length of third and fourth gear are exceptionally long, it would make power all the way to the rev limiters, but the scuttle shake and unavoidable fishtailing would have contributed to not achieving a better lap time.
i reckon the MG would be fun around Le Mans, especially flicking through the chicanes down Mulsane?

[AndyG-ZTT]

Cooky said:

..................

I have done 12-13 runs around the ring and get better each time.

It took Clarkson 3 days to get the Jag to under 10 mins, and that was with Sabines training.