I got this months C&SC in the post today. It says in next months there is a head to head test between the mk1 and an MGF. MGF! Hydragas, leaky head gaskets, parts bin interior and british build quality anybody??
Worth a read I reckon!
-did they use anybody here’s car for the test? (it’s a red UK car in the picture).
Depends which MGF later ones didn’t have Hydragas, but a decent coilover.
Still had weird steering though!
Agreed, I think Rover got it right in the end. After about 5 years of using the consumer for R&D!
My mother-in-law has a MG-TF Trophy 160 and this is a well-sorted car. Shame it took years to get it so good…
Hi
Just read this thread.
I had a 1997 MGF 1.8 for 9 years. Certainly had its build quality problems but nevertheless I used it daily (only car) without really being let down. It was different to the MX5, certainly a sports car, but different (or was that just character) and needed plenty of TLC.
The MX5 is nearer to being a ‘thoroughbred’ as far as the handling is concerned and I love the build quality, not a squeak or rattle anywhere. I always felt the MGF was a bit like driving a 1960’s car i.e. the plastic back window, the leaky hood, the windows that whistled in the wind etc and regularly stopped working. The MX5 (Mk3 in my case) is certainly a car of the 21st century. The hood fits perfectly, the heated glass rear window is magic and the heater (AC) is so controllable. At first I was a little concerned it was a sports car that lacked any character but as I got to know it the more I liked it. Certainly better than my previous car - a Mercedes - suspect build quality and reliability. German engineering does not live up to the legend.
I still use the MX5 daily for my 18 mile commute through the countryside. So far no problems with reliability and this week’s snow has not stopped me.
Ken
If they compare cars of a similar year then it’s another no-brainer.
The 5 will be more fun and will have survived the passage of time much better.
Well if they use the cars in the picture, the MGF is a '98 and the mx5 is a '91.
Not a fair fight, will be even more of a shame when the MGF take a whooping!!
And if the Mk 1 is a Eunos it’s even more of a spanking!! [:P]
Ironically the MGF looks too Japanese and it’s the MX-5 that has the British sports car look.
In theory the MGF should handle better (weight towards the middle) but sometimes this just gives snap oversteer. Also see Lotus Elise.
Probably comparing them on what you can get for the same money. MGF’s can be picked up dirt cheap.
I have a huge amount of respect for the K-series engine, I even don’t mind hydrogas suspension and I’ve had a fair bit of experience with both, but I still bought an MX5/Eunos, it’s just a no brainer IMHO.
Had an MGTF 2003 plate - I know I know but my wife liked the shape.
Ok to drive - better than a standard car but nothing like the 5.
I put only 2000 miles on it in 2.5 years…waste of time and money got rid last week.
5 everytime!
K-series lump is good, but needs to be wrapped up in a Lotus Elise to really shine.
I notice they have re-heated the MGF again, only now they have fitted a proper head gasket and call the engine an N-Series. Best bit though, the car is £16,500 list! Yeah right…
I would have like to have seen a brand new MGF-TF-Made-in-China special tested against a mk1 mx-5.
Classic and Sporscar rarely slag cars off, so I’m sure they will glance over the F’s foibles and the 2 cars will be judged as being about equal with the MX build quality being better.
We’ll See in 2 weeks !
What? I’ve never driven an MGF, so I can’t comment on them, but my Elise is the best handling thing I’ve ever been in. Makes my much tweaked turbo MX5 feel like it’s twenty years old. Which to be fair to the MX5, it is.
Some of the other mid-engined cars I’ve owned or driven have also been fantastic and freindly on the limit. Only the mk2 MR2 I had was set up to kill people. Still fun though, albeit scary fun.
Of course the Elise is a great handling car… one of the best of all time ! Of course you can carry more G’s through the corner, the grip is better, the steering feedback is better…(I’ve spent a fair bit of time in both) but on the limit you must agree that the mx5 loses the back end more progressively than the elise. You don’t see many people drifting Elises… whereas the MX5 chassis and engine position / rear drive lends itself to ar$e out action.
That’s just a fact of front engine/rear drive v’s rear engine rear drive cars.
The N-series is more than just a head gasket change (the was a delayed MG-Rover modification); I think the cylinder head has been worked on (by Ricard?) to make it Euro-IV compliant. The relaunched MG-TFs (so far, all special editions; its expected that a more ordinary version will be £10-12k) are all built at Longbridge, using a mixture of Chinese made parts (mostly panels; the ex-Mayflower operation essentially upped sticks and moved to China, same tools as used before. There was a delay to get the quality up to export standards. the vast bulk of the output is for either Rover 75s for China, or replacement parts for the UK), and Europe-sourced components. The original plan was to use more Chinese components, but Chinese subcontractors struggled to get the quality up to spec in time. Don’t dismiss Chinese made parts; quite a few bits in the present MX5 are sourced from China, and other places. Mazda have an engine plant in China churning out MZR engines, but I’m not sure these are only for the Chinese market or not. There are no plans to export Chinese made MGs to the UK or Europe. It seems the only export markets for Chinese MGs will be certain South American markets. MG has just launched a new model in Chile (about 2-3 years ahead of a related model going on release in Europe).
Generally reviews of the relaunched MG-TF have not been too bad, for such an old model. Its well equipped, and quality seems better than before (overall, though the dials are disliked, though these were an update that MG-Rover designed, but never released). One of the magazines did compare it against the Mk1. However, remember Fifth Gear compared the Mk1 to the Mk3, and like the Mk1 better.
I’m sure the new MG-TF is a good car now. Problem is if it is compared to new rivals (MX-5, MR2, etc) it will probably suffer. There is a lot of fondness for MG as a brand so it will probably be a success, maybe tapping into the mini/fiat 500 retro-cool market?
The British car manufacturers certainly deserve a bit of a boost.
Although quality/finish has been an issue, we had a 2 year old Rover 25, sold it after 4 weeks and bought a VW!
Phew, I though you were comparing the Elise to the stodgy/spinny thing the MGF is supposed to be (at least according to internet rumour, I’m keeping out of that debate until I’ve driven one).
Anyway - MX5s rock. I wouldn’t swap mine for anything.
In the past, I’ve had an MGF, which I sold to buy an Elise. The MGF was possibly the worst car that I have ever sat in although I do love the shape. The Elise was also short lived with me, even though I loved the whole owning experience, there was always too much unwanted attention from the local scroats. One of the main drawbacks of the Lotus was the lack of communication between chassis and driver, if you took a corner too fast (Track day) the car stopped being a device to transport you and one other from A to B and became a waltzer! I have a friend who used to work for AFN Porsche and on many weekends he would have use of one of the company cars. Yes, driving a Porsche is super good for your ego, but for the real british sports car feel it’s gotta be the MX5.
I can’t believe that is the same car as mine. Little thing, looks like a beach buggy, says “Elise” on the back? Mine is, for want of a better word, perfect. Apart from looking like a beach buggy, obviously, which they fixed with the S2. Chassis feel is the best thing about it. Maybe I don’t drive it properly.