ABS

[forsure]

I'm looking at buying an 'F' as a second car, for summer use.
The nicest one I've seen so far does not have ABS.
Anyone know if it's feasible to retro-fit such a system and, if so, how much it might cost?

[wildoliver]

It's possible yes.

It's easy.......no.

Seriously you don't need it, provided the cars brakes and tyres are in good condition, you drive sensibly, understand how to cadence brake and don't sit 3" from the person in front it is unnecessary. While I agree it reduces stopping distances in 'most' cases, it reduces drivers skill in an environment where driver skill is already seriously lacking.

[forsure]

Thanks, I suspected it wouldn't be straightforward.
I agree that it really isn't necessary - most of the time.
And, as I'm unlikely to take it out in wet or freezing conditions, I guess it's not really an issue.

[wadgebeast]

Mid-engine cars are less likely to lock up anyway. Something to do with the way the weight pitches forward helps rather than hinders the braking, unlike front engined cars where it can over do it.

Didn't have ABS on my mk1 MR2, used it as a winter car and had no snags or requirement for ABS.

[bigbadbikercats]

forsure said:

I'm looking at buying an 'F' as a second car, for summer use.
The nicest one I've seen so far does not have ABS.
Anyone know if it's feasible to retro-fit such a system and, if so, how much it might cost?

My F's a VVC, which comes with ABS as standard - I've driven it in all kinds of vile conditions (it's been a "daily driver" for the last 12 months and ~15K miles) on all sorts of hideous road surfaces and not yet provoked the ABS into action so, assuming you're more than half-way competent with the controls of a car (and if you're here I'm guessing you get enough pleasure and take enough pride in your driving to learn to do it something like right) I'm not sure I'd worry too much about its absence.

If you're sure you want it then I'd say your best bet is probably to restrict yourself to looking at the VVC model - as well as definitely getting the ABS you'll get one or two other little refinements (PAS, leather or half-leather trim, nicer wheels) and a lovely, crisp, high revving little gem of an engine too. There do seem to be a quite few nice examples running around so unless the car you're looking at really is an absolute bargain I wouldn't worry too much about passing it by and looking for one which ticks all your "must have" boxes.

Incidentally I'm married with 2 teenage sons and I/We bought the 'F' as a second car shortly after my wife belatedly passed her driving test on the basis that there was no point having 2 full-sized saloons in the family. So far the arrangement's worked out very well - we both find the 'F' completely civilised, we both love driving it (I'm using it for a weekly 130 mile commute at the moment leaving Rosalyn and the boys with our Audi A4 quattro), and it's got enough boot space for most "second car" jobs. All-in-all it makes a brilliant second family car and is a delightful, cost effective, entirely practical alternative to the generic small hatchback we'd probably have ended up with otherwise!

--
Jonathon

[forsure]

Thanks for the info and encouragement guys.

[wildoliver]

You are making a really good choice by the way, I love MGF's. Actually controversially prefer them to mx-5s.

[forsure]

wildoliver said:

You are making a really good choice by the way, I love MGF's. Actually controversially prefer them to mx-5s.

Wow, that is controversial. But I agree; working in the trade I drove several MX5s and liked them. Then I got got the chance of a five mile drive in an 'F'. I loved it.

BTW that non-ABS I was looking at has gone :-(
At £2k for a 98 S with 88k I'm not surprised really.

[bigbadbikercats]

forsure said:

wildoliver said:

You are making a really good choice by the way, I love MGF's. Actually controversially prefer them to mx-5s.

Wow, that is controversial.

In some areas of PH it could get you burnt at the stake.

forsure said:

But I agree; working in the trade I drove several MX5s and liked them. Then I got got the chance of a five mile drive in an 'F'. I loved it.

My wife and I drove both (as you would if you were looking for something of that ilk). We bought the MG...

For my money the bottom line is that the MX-5 is a bit more entertaining to drive (mostly because the steering "talks" to you a bit more) but the MG is more comfortable, more practical, generally more civilised and (for want of a better phrase) more livable-with - that it's quite a bit faster (in VVC trim anyway) and you get a nicer example for the same money is a nice bonus.

forsure said:

BTW that non-ABS I was looking at has gone :-(
At £2k for a 98 S with 88k I'm not surprised really.

We paid a bit over £3K for an 'R' with just under 40K miles on it - when I got in the car to drive back to my digs here in not-so-sunny Birmingham I noticed that it's actually now on 58K miles, making 18K miles in 12 months - I'm still very happy and as far as I'm concerned we've had way more than £3K of fun out of it already

--
Jonathon

[forsure]

[quote=bigbadbikercatsFor my money the bottom line is that the MX-5 is a bit more entertaining to drive (mostly because the steering "talks" to you a bit more) but the MG is more comfortable, more practical, generally more civilised and (for want of a better phrase) more livable-with - that it's quite a bit faster (in VVC trim anyway) and you get a nicer example for the same money is a nice bonus.
[/quote]

That's the way I see it. I'm not into track days or going sideways on public roads. Just want a comfortable soft-top for summer use and back-up if my T5 breaks.

But I won't be raising the subject in General Gassing!

Thanks again for your input.