MG TF - Any views?

[SAR Boy Saint]

I fancy a bit of rag top fun, and like the look of the TF. I know about the head gasket issues, but apart from that they seem great fun.

 

Anyone had any experience of them, as £3k seems to get you quite a tidy motor?

[Colinjb]

Great little cars, I personally love them.

 

Check the usual things, rust in the wheel arches etc. As it's the TF it will not have that daft hydro-elastic suspension that the car initially shared with the Rover Metro/100 even though it is the same basic undertray.

 

Just be sure it's mechanically sound and it'll be great!

[buctootim]

Ive always liked them, though have never owned one. Got good reviews at the time, except by those who think a sports car has to have rock hard suspension and you have to feel every ripple in the road. Good fun car imo. Head gaskets should be replaced at 60,000 miles so check if one you want to buy has had that done.

[Saint Billy]

Following on from my car auction thread, one of these came up for bid and I was seriously tempted, it was a 98 and went for £850 but got my wife a cheaper escort instead.

 

Looked in really good condition but I do not know anything about these. My Mrs fell in love with it and keeps pestering me about getting one, so I would be interested to know about the good and bads if anyone had got any knowledge.

[doubleonothing]

Drove one on a track once. Seemed to go quite well and you could throw it around a bit.

 

I've not heard good things from owners though. Many have reported lots of problems and the build quality isn't great.

 

However the new 2010 TF is supposedly quite good.

[sotonjoe]

HAve a look on parkers.co.uk; not very positive reviews really.

[Chin Strain]

I wouldn't. If you want a rag top this would be one of the worst ones that you could buy. Friends had one from new and it was complete cack.

 

I had a Honda CRX around 10 yrs ago - great laugh. The obvious choice is an MX5, but if you could stretch a little bit further the Honda S2000 would give you everything you could want.

[St Chalet]

I wouldn't. If you want a rag top this would be one of the worst ones that you could buy. Friends had one from new and it was complete cack.

 

I had a Honda CRX around 10 yrs ago - great laugh. The obvious choice is an MX5, but if you could stretch a little bit further the Honda S2000 would give you everything you could want.

 

Having driven an MG and an MX-5 about 10 years ago the Mazda is a much better car. Not sure how much they are but the best of the lot then was the MR2, pretty sure it was rear wheel drive and was as much (well more as it wasn't my car) fun as my Boxster from memory.

[Saint Billy]

Having driven an MG and an MX-5 about 10 years ago the Mazda is a much better car. Not sure how much they are but the best of the lot then was the MR2, pretty sure it was rear wheel drive and was as much (well more as it wasn't my car) fun as my Boxster from memory.

 

Now you are talking, I had an MR2 about 10 years ago which was the T bar version. Had massive fun with it but I did my back in and could not get into it for 4 months. These are going fairly cheap now.

 

Btw, definately rear wheel drive, great fun but not too good in the winter.

 

Thank you guys about the advise on the MG TF, I think I'll leave well alone.

[SAR Boy Saint]

Mate of mine in the trade reckons that for £3k you can get a good model, with most of the problematic bits sorted, and the 160 version goes like excrement off an implement!

 

I'm still tempted, might be worth a punt!!

[Chin Strain]

Mate of mine in the trade reckons that for £3k you can get a good model, with most of the problematic bits sorted, and the 160 version goes like excrement off an implement!

 

I'm still tempted, might be worth a punt!!

 

Short term gain....long term pain.

Don't do it! I'd also be tempted by an MR2 - test drove the latest convertible when it first came out but opted against - poor driving position for me, but a good laugh. Looking at auto trader you can get a new shape convertible for your money. The engine should run forever too.

[surrey1saint]

Mechanic at local garage I use works on these (MG TF) a lot.Says they are rubbish,so steer clear imo.

[gaz]

All of these came with K-Series engines, so all the head gasket stories from Rovers apply to this MGF/TF too.

[swannymere]

You seem to have convinced yourself that they're a good buy, they're not. If you must have a hairdressers car get the original and the best a MX-5.

[Johnny Bognor]

The Honda S2000 is one of the best lower cost roadsters out there, but you are looking in the £6k region.