Are MG a good car?

This news of the 5 points for no NCT is making me change car a couple of months earlier than planned.. I drive a 96 Ibiza and NCT is up in June. I hadn't planned on changing till August..

So having a quick look at the obvious ones, some Focus', Golfs, A3s.. willing to spend maybe 7k.



Stumble upon MG and really liking what I see..

http://pistonheads.com/sales/987714.htm

I'm 21 with my full license than a year.. If I could get insured for less that 1600-1700, would the above be a good purchase?

2qk4u

NO

L1011

Think the 120+ is the diesel version? The diesel doesn't have the head gasket problem of the petrol engines

It, however, sounds like a tractor - or at least the one I test drove did. Runs about as smoothly...

eamon234

It's not an MG - it's a souped up Rover 25 with an MG badge on it.

L1011

Just checked, the 120+ is a downtuned 1.8 petrol engine. The bigger the K-Series engine the worse the problems with the head gasket were.... its the 115+ thats the diesel.

CarCity

Parts could be hard to source... the TF was a super car though

hmm not the response i was hoping for... how about this one here?

http://pistonheads.com/sales/940956.htm

Mycroft H

eamon234 wrote: »

It's not an MG - it's a souped up Rover 25 with an MG badge on it.

Which in itself is a rover 200, which is based on late 1970's tecnology

colm_mcm

7k gets loads of cars these days, despite being able to get a newer reg on an MG ZR, an older yet more modern car would be a better bet - unless the MG is seriously cheap.

can you throw out some ideas for 7k that wont break me on insurance?

i've a mental block here and can't think of any car that I want.....

CarCity

Deleted User wrote: »

can you throw out some ideas for 7k that wont break me on insurance?

i've a mental block here and can't think of any car that I want.....

VW Bora? (Jetta has since replaced it)

colm_mcm

Depends on what you want out of a car. insurance on anything decent will be a lot for you.

i thought of the bora for a while actually.. can look pretty good if done up nicely.

had a quick flick through pistonheads there but nothing jumped out at me.. i'd be fairly looks orientated when it comes to cars..

colm_mcm

colm_mcm wrote: »

Depends on what you want out of a car. insurance on anything decent will be a lot for you.

realistically i'd be keeping to a 1.4 or 1.6.. like the MG in the second link. I drive a weaker 1.4 now and am still happy enough with the power..

Luke Crowley

I'd see nothing wrong with either of the MG's you were considering, nothing like being a little different.

In terms of other possibilities; for something a bit more reliable but still interesting, how 'bout a Seat Ibiza?

NewApproach

http://pistonheads.com/sales/972130.htm

Luke Crowley

Luke Crowley wrote: »

I'd see nothing wrong with either of the MG's you were considering, nothing like being a little different.

In terms of other possibilities; for something a bit more reliable but still interesting, how 'bout a Seat Ibiza?

driving a 96 one now :P great cars but would rather change car maker out of principle really... love the idea of the MG cause they are quite rare, but that itself is the issue with parts.

NewApproach wrote: »

http://pistonheads.com/sales/972130.htm

very nice choice.. i'll have a look at a few now :P

Terrontress

I think they are quite rare because they didn't sell well and because Rover went bust because they didn't sell well. And why did they not sell well...?

Sqaull20

Wouldn't buy the petrol one's, they have known head gaskets problems and other little niggles, diesels might sound a little crude but they are very reliable.

Diesels can be bought and brought in cheap from the uk and with a remap they are very quick little car, with loads of torque and great handling.You have to go 3dr as well, not the same with 5.

http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/ni/cars_popup.jsp?searchform=&modelexact=1&lid=search_used_cars_full&photo=1&state=block&sort=&hassearched=Y&make=MG&min_pr=75&source=0&model=ZR&max_pr=&miles=1500&agerange=&mileage=&postcode=m52ty&variant=&bodyid=0&trim=&fuelid=2&colour=&transmissionid=0&keywords=&ukcarsearch_full.x=0&ukcarsearch_full.y=0&start=3&distance=132&adcategory=CARS&channel=CARS&id=200911330318583

115bhp + torque in an Mg zr would feel very nippy, they are very nippy as a 1.4, remapped to 150bhp they would be great fun.

Fabia VRS and Seat Cupra are worth looking at as well.

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/Top-Gear-clip-Skoda-Fabia_84232.htm

Masada

I wouldnt touch any of them MG's/Rovers if your looking for trouble free motoring. for 7 grand you could get something bulletproof like this,
http://www.cbg.ie/Car_Detail.aspx?ID=2886461#

although that one is a little suspicious since those headlights, bumper, grill etc were only released on the updated EP civic in 2004 yet that one was registered in 2003. either way, i bought a brand new one in 2004 and absolutely love it, never even hicuped on me.

not against the idea of a diesel at all.. i prefere lower down power and don't like high revs.

would a remap on a non-turbo diesel be worth it do you think?

Masada

Masada wrote: »

I wouldnt touch any of them MG's/Rovers if your looking for trouble free motoring. for 7 grand you could get something bulletproof like this,
http://www.cbg.ie/Car_Detail.aspx?ID=2886461#

although that one is a little suspicious since those headlights, bumper, grill etc were only released on the updated EP civic in 2004 yet that one was registered in 2003. either way, i bought a brand new one in 2004 and absolutely love it, never even hicuped on me.

a good choice but not really worth 7k in my opinion.. I'd probably go for an older accord if i was going honda?

if i knew the MG or Alfa would be fairly trouble free, i'd rather put the money there. no offense obviously, it's just asthetics..

NewApproach

Deleted User wrote: »

would a remap on a non-turbo diesel be worth it do you think?

AFAIK there are very few non turbo diesels, most are turbo's, probably for a reason...

If its the insurance your concerned about, when I was researching cars around a yeah ago they seemed to treat a 1.9td = to 1.6 petrol...

PM me if you wish, I have a 147...

Sqaull20

Deleted User wrote: »

not against the idea of a diesel at all.. i prefere lower down power and don't like high revs.

would a remap on a non-turbo diesel be worth it do you think?

You would love a torquey diesel with a good turbo then, its easy power.A standard Mg Zr 115 would be a 9sec to 60 car, your Ibiza is what 13sec?, so its not as if you need to remap it.

Its only good with turbo's.

caprilicious

I think they're good if they're well looked after.
My sis picked up a very clean MG ZR (1.4L) a few months ago, '03, under 40k on clock, NCT & for €3k

They are prone to head gasket problems alright, but you can uprate the gasket to a metal one.

I had an MGF & MGTF but neve found it a problem getting parts for either, especially as generally the Rover parts fit them.

They're a nice car & good value for the money

FearDark

An MG... are you serious, NO NO NO.

hmm, i'm liking the idea of a remapped diesel MG..

http://pistonheads.com/sales/989580.htm

something like that after vrt and a remap would be prob under 6k?

Fishtits

MG no longer exist. why would anyone buy one?

Some parts available at the moment, no guarantees for the future,

I'd drop it like a hot brick TBH,

Sqaull20

Fishtits wrote: »

MG no longer exist. why would anyone buy one?

Some parts available at the moment, no guarantees for the future,

I'd drop it like a hot brick TBH,

Lovely car to drive ( my brother has a ZS ), but I agree you probably are best getting something different.

Gti Peugeot 206 1.6 hdi is the job

http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/ni/cars_popup.jsp?searchform=&modelexact=1&lid=search_used_cars_full&photo=1&state=block&sort=3&hassearched=Y&make=PEUGEOT&min_pr=75&source=0&model=206&max_pr=&miles=1500&agerange=2&mileage=&postcode=m52ty&variant=gti&bodyid=0&trim=&fuelid=2&colour=&transmissionid=0&keywords=&ukcarsearch_full.x=0&ukcarsearch_full.y=0&start=3&distance=62&adcategory=CARS&channel=CARS&id=200915332187587

Quigs Snr

I had an MGF. Head Gasket failed after 29k. Blew so bad that the engine needed replacing.

Mate had the MG copy of the Rover 25 that was in the OP's original post. Went to about 50k before its head gasket failed. Another mate had the Rover 400, its head gasket went after about 60k. In short, if you like the car, get it. But do budget for the head gasket going (and it will.. !)

EPM

SEAT Leon? No picture but it would sounds like a nice one

http://www.pistonheads.com/SALES/985902.htm

Mr. Presentable

Looks like the OP has made his mind up to get MG whatever the advice. Me, I don't like the look of it, the rep of it, the quality of it. Get a Japanese or German hatch - even a French. But to buy a car by a defunct British builder is not sensible, unless the car is 40 years old.