MG Midgets

Author
Discussion

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

60 months

Friday 2nd August 2002
quotequote all
could be a potential purchase.
swmbo likes the look of them, i rather fancy a tuned a series (hence would make entertaining sprint car) they are cheap and spares are easily available.....
can they really be daily drivers!? thoughts and past experiences welcomed.........

pete_w

646 posts

269 months

Friday 2nd August 2002
quotequote all
-had a Spitfire, bit bigger than the Midget, but very workable on a daily basis. Possibly better than the S2 in this respect.....

SBD

462 posts

277 months

Friday 2nd August 2002
quotequote all
My missus uses our 1500 Midge as her daily driver no problems at all. A nice 1275 would be even better as the 1500 lump is exactly that. We live up in Newcastle upon Tyne so it's quite capable of surviving the worst of the weather. They even have a usable boot especially if you take the spare out and replace it with a can of foam. Oh yeah no road tax and £150 pa fully comp isurance for the 2 of us with all the bells and whistles. A nicely tuned (but still perfectly drivable) 1275 will embarrass most hot hatches. Just drown it in Waxoyl every autumn.

ohidunno

506 posts

278 months

Friday 2nd August 2002
quotequote all
Had one for five days. Bought on the Saturday and rolled it on the Wednesday. I loved that car, but was too much of a wally at 17 to drive it properly.

scruff400

3,757 posts

267 months

Friday 2nd August 2002
quotequote all
MGBGT 3.5 V8

If you can find one!!

pete_w

646 posts

269 months

Friday 2nd August 2002
quotequote all
quote:

A nicely tuned (but still perfectly drivable) 1275 will embarrass most hot hatches.



-you're having a laugh, surely?

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

60 months

Friday 2nd August 2002
quotequote all
cheers all, i will probably wait until the autumn winter time and see if prices drop a bit! i can ddefinately feel a purchase coming on though!

mhibbins

14,055 posts

285 months

Friday 2nd August 2002
quotequote all
I bought my wife a 1500 midget to use as a daily driver for a year. She loved it. The only things we had to replace were the battery and the front shocks. Bits are cheap as is insurance. She was gutted when she had to sell it to get something more modern as I was going to have to start working away from home (especially as the more modern car was less reliable and much more expensive to run). We even sold it at a profit.

I have to say though that I didn't like driving it at all as I found it too small (I'm 6'2") and it was too slow and 'busy' for long distances.

Mark

>> Edited by mhibbins on Friday 2nd August 14:58

simonelite501

1,440 posts

274 months

Friday 2nd August 2002
quotequote all
Paul, I have a 5 page magazine article on Modified Midgets that you really should read, Give us your Email address and I can spend an hour or two typing it out or meet me somewhere today and you can borrow it, Simon.

>> Edited by simonelite501 on Friday 2nd August 15:01

SBD

462 posts

277 months

Friday 2nd August 2002
quotequote all
Nope, A series can be tuned for reasonable power then factor in rear wheel drive and the fact it weighs about as much as a biscuit tin!

pdv6

16,442 posts

267 months

Friday 2nd August 2002
quotequote all
quote:

I have to say though that I didn't like driving it at all as I found it too small (I'm 6'2")



Same here. Main problem, though was narrow pedal box - always hitting brake & accelerator pedals at the same time with me size 10!

guysh

2,254 posts

289 months

Friday 2nd August 2002
quotequote all
A friend of my brother tried to squeeze a V8 into one but I'm sure if he managed - might of been a giggle!

simonelite501

1,440 posts

274 months

Friday 2nd August 2002
quotequote all
I have the same problem with the Lotus, I just have a thin pair of trainers to drive in. Apperently the close pedals make Heel and toe driving a lot easier, but I can't do it, and whats more can't be bothered to learn how to!

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

60 months

Friday 2nd August 2002
quotequote all
quote:

Paul, I have a 5 page magazine article on Modified Midgets that you really should read, Give us your Email address and I can spend an hour or two typing it out or meet me somewhere today and you can borrow it, Simon.

>> Edited by simonelite501 on Friday 2nd August 15:01



thanks, whereabouts in the south west are you?, as i live in the centre of bristol i'll be more than happy to collect it.

simonelite501

1,440 posts

274 months

Friday 2nd August 2002
quotequote all
I live in Yatton, meet you anywhere, but will have to be today/this evening.

joe90

140 posts

281 months

Friday 2nd August 2002
quotequote all
Had a 1275 in the eighties while a student. It was hideously f----d but I loved it. Have driven them since and they are still hilarious fun to drive, get one immediately!

One tip, put your hand down the wheel arch from inside the engine bay and make sure the front six inches of the sill has a top to it. A common bodge is to leave the outer wings on while changing sills and to do this one must cut off the sill top leaving the car dangerously weak.

Nearest newer equivalent I know is the Cappuccino if you can find and afford one. Same size, weight and power and as much fun to drive but with air con and reliability. Top is not so easy to remove though. In a Spridget you don't have to even get out of the driver's seat. In a Cappuccino it takes about 5 minutes.

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

60 months

Friday 2nd August 2002
quotequote all
excellent, i'll leave you to name a place and a time, i'll be in the centre till about half six and then home and free!......

simonelite501

1,440 posts

274 months

Friday 2nd August 2002
quotequote all
OK then, how about 7.00pm at the Cottage pub by the Harbour masters office on Cumberland Rd?

>> Edited by simonelite501 on Friday 2nd August 16:21

ohidunno

506 posts

278 months

Friday 2nd August 2002
quotequote all
The integrity of the bulkhead is very important.

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

60 months

Friday 2nd August 2002
quotequote all
its a date, i'll wear a red carnation....