New member in need of advice please
Discussion
Hello
I have never bought an MG before but have taken a 1998 R reg 1.8 VVC MGF out for a test drive and have fallen in love with it. It had had the cambelt replaced and a new triple head gasket as well as the valves looked at. It is from an MG specialist. Everyone is warning me off it and saying they are bad cars, but my heart says do it. can anyone advise me please?
Thanks
I have never bought an MG before but have taken a 1998 R reg 1.8 VVC MGF out for a test drive and have fallen in love with it. It had had the cambelt replaced and a new triple head gasket as well as the valves looked at. It is from an MG specialist. Everyone is warning me off it and saying they are bad cars, but my heart says do it. can anyone advise me please?
Thanks
There not bad cars just a lot suffered from owners who were unaware of the problems and warning signs and also suffered from poor / incorect repairs at garages. If its what you want go for it just make sure the head has been done properly by a garage or mechanic who knows the job but as you said it was a tripple layer gasket then hopefully this will be the case. Ask lots of questions, get all the paperwork and dont pay over the odds (you can get a very good 1998-2000 car for around £1500 - £2000) and all will be fine. Yes the build quality is not up to German or Japanese standards but there fun cars and ive found my MG's cheap to run and easy to maintain.
Ash
Ash
Edited by hearselover on Wednesday 19th May 15:49
Also.. parts are relatively cheap too and if you get a workshop manual, you will be amazed at what you can do yourself.. Changing out disks and pads is a fairly quick job, spend more time taking the wheels on/off and jacking than doing the work... there is a thread on this front page called "Cheap MGF" have a look as lots of buyer information here and links. I've put a load on that one myself. 
As for Japanese, well having had x2 MK1 MR2's they are great mechanically but can too suffer with cooling issues as the engine is mid-ship and the radiator is in the front, so the system should be working well and I still spent some time/money getting them sorted. The big hurt was bodywork!! every panel rusts on these. I prefer mechanical fixes and upgrades any day over doing panel and paint work!!
As for Japanese, well having had x2 MK1 MR2's they are great mechanically but can too suffer with cooling issues as the engine is mid-ship and the radiator is in the front, so the system should be working well and I still spent some time/money getting them sorted. The big hurt was bodywork!! every panel rusts on these. I prefer mechanical fixes and upgrades any day over doing panel and paint work!!
Possibly the best advice I ever saw re the K series engine (the one in your target car) was, start the car and let it warm up before you start to enjoy it!
And I drove my son's MG TF160 and MX5 back to back a couple of years ago
The MG was far and away the better drive of the two, the Mazda felt really sluggish, comparitively. (nice car, but I'd take the MG every time)
And I drove my son's MG TF160 and MX5 back to back a couple of years ago
The MG was far and away the better drive of the two, the Mazda felt really sluggish, comparitively. (nice car, but I'd take the MG every time)
Thank you very much indeed for your advice, very kind of you indeed. I am lucky that the MG specialist is very well known and respected (MG Mecca in Norfolk) so I do feel confident that I am not buying a lemon. Neither me nor my boyfriend are mechanically minded at all, we just want to have some fun and have a car that we can look after and enjoy.
Thanks again.
Thanks again.
jimmles said:
Thank you very much indeed for your advice, very kind of you indeed. I am lucky that the MG specialist is very well known and respected (MG Mecca in Norfolk) so I do feel confident that I am not buying a lemon. Neither me nor my boyfriend are mechanically minded at all, we just want to have some fun and have a car that we can look after and enjoy.
Thanks again.
You dont need to be mechanicaly minded, if you dont know how to check the oil and water im sure they will show you and as long as a K series has oil and water in it will run fine but do not let them drop below the correct levels. Good luck and im sure you will ahve lots of fun with the car I know I have.Thanks again.
Ash
Edited by hearselover on Thursday 20th May 09:29
And now the sun is here - YES!! having a very enjoyable time with your roof down.
As a noting point your Oil Temp should sit at 120C, touch over if its a hot day - if it rockets to the redline, then this is possible HGF time. The engine temp gauge (left of binnacle) should sit just below mid-point and you want to hear the electric cooling fans kick in if sitting in traffic too.
Oil and Water, yep sure - but make sure the coolant resovoir (Right Hand Side of Access Panel in Rear Boot)is either showing as a Dark RED, BLUE or GREEN in colour! If its clear, then thats just water and you will get issues. The fluids should be at the indicator too - pop the cap and look inside the tank to make sure its not full of cr-ap either..
As a noting point your Oil Temp should sit at 120C, touch over if its a hot day - if it rockets to the redline, then this is possible HGF time. The engine temp gauge (left of binnacle) should sit just below mid-point and you want to hear the electric cooling fans kick in if sitting in traffic too.
Oil and Water, yep sure - but make sure the coolant resovoir (Right Hand Side of Access Panel in Rear Boot)is either showing as a Dark RED, BLUE or GREEN in colour! If its clear, then thats just water and you will get issues. The fluids should be at the indicator too - pop the cap and look inside the tank to make sure its not full of cr-ap either..
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