MG TF - more hassle than their worth?

pandamoanium

The MG TF caught my eye recently and you can pick them up fairly cheaply nowadays, however would it just be throwing good money after bad with them?

I know that MG/Rover have a lot of issues with headgaskets blowing on the petrol models and the TF seems to be no different.

Does anyone know of any other notable problems with them?

Has anyone here actually owned one?

Any stories good or bad to tell with them?

Cheers!

homer90

probably not the answer you want to hear - but if I was in the market for something along those lines it would have to be an MX5, can be got for silly money too

Just my 2c

EPM

homer90 wrote: »

probably not the answer you want to hear - but if I was in the market for something along those lines it would have to be an MX5, can be got for silly money too

Just my 2c

+1

Far superior car in every way. No matter how cheap the MG is you will propably get an MX-5 for that price somewhere (probably be older) but the difference is someone might actually want the MX-5 when you're finished with it

Quigs Snr

I had an MGF several years ago. Basically the same car. Anyway, Head Gasket Blew at 29k, engine replacement required. That hurt. Several months later the clutch went (not standard failure, the entire mechanism sheared away from where it was anchored). Numerous problems with leaks. Dodgy electronics and of course getting ripped off. Went into a Rover/MG dealer and asked for a brake light switch for an MGF - There you go sir 25 euro. Hmmm, its in a rover box, how about a brake light switch for a Rover 25 ? Cue handing me the same box, here you go sir, 8 euro.... You couldn't make it up.

All that said ? Loved the car - a lot of this could be my nostalgia for the older MGB's. Nice to drive, liked how it looked etc... (I was young at the time!). Was sorry to see it go but it just wasn't economically viable it was spending too much time off the road and was costing me a fortune.

Anan1

Quigs Snr wrote: »

and of course getting ripped off. Went into a Rover/MG dealer and asked for a brake light switch for an MGF - There you go sir 25 euro. Hmmm, its in a rover box, how about a brake light switch for a Rover 25 ? Cue handing me the same box, here you go sir, 8 euro.... You couldn't make it up.

That is mad.:D

+1 for the MX-5

kona

Id take the MG, bit rarer, IMO looks better and if your a fella, your mates wont be taking the mick due to some bull**** about it being a womans car.

Youd swear EVERY K-series Blew the head gasket, they modified the gasket, so id imagine if its had this mod done it should be fine.

Although it is british so they aint the best engineered cars in the world, but they have lots of character.:)

CarCity

On looks would defo take the TF over the MX5.

However as mentioned, the TF will not be as well put together, have you considered the Toyota MRS?

niceirishfella

kona wrote: »

Id take the MG, bit rarer, IMO looks better and if your a fella, your mates wont be taking the mick due to some bull**** about it being a womans car.

Youd swear EVERY K-series Blew the head gasket, they modified the gasket, so id imagine if its had this mod done it should be fine.

Utter Utter Bollix Kona. The MG TF is a complete 100% piece of automotive sh1t. MGF stands for Major Gasket Failure itself. And if you are a bloke, you'll look like a right pussy in one.
1000% avoid.
Carcity, you mean an Mr2.
BTW - the mg also leaks like an old boat. The roof on them is rubbish.

kona

niceirishfella wrote: »

Utter Utter Bollix Kona. The MG TF is a complete 100% piece of automotive sh1t. MGF stands for Major Gasket Failure itself. And if you are a bloke, you'll look like a right pussy in one.
1000% avoid.
Carcity, you mean an Mr2.
BTW - the mg also leaks like an old boat. The roof on them is rubbish.

Youd look like a bigger pussy in a mx5 but that neither here nor there.

Do you own a MG or ever owned a british car? I seriously doubt that they are that bad, especially if the are going back into production. K-series engines are used in kit cars notable in many catherhams, they are thrashed on track days, and yet still are popular engines, I doubt people who actually build their own cars or modify cars with engine swaps, would bother doing that much work if the head gasket blows every time you put the car into gear?

As i said there is a modded Head gasket that has reduced the problem.

Can you explain to me in technical terms why the head gasket goes on a k-series?

niceirishfella

kona wrote: »

Do you own a MG or ever owned a british car? I seriously doubt that they are that bad, especially if the are going back into production. K-series engines are used in kit cars notable in many catherhams, they are thrashed on track days, and yet still are popular engines, I doubt people who actually build their own cars or modify cars with engine swaps, would bother doing that much work if the head gasket blows every time you put the car into gear?

As i said there is a modded Head gasket that has reduced the problem.

Can you explain to me in technical terms why the head gasket goes on a k-series?

Yes, I have owned/traded/sold many sports car,and worked on british made one's - much to my mental torture.:(
Any kit car with the k series fitted saw changing of the the dowels,and the fitting a lotus head gasket,it solves it to nearly never happening....but this is not the case with production cars.
Later K series production engines were modded, but even then the car is sh1te anyway, btw - did I mention the dodgy electrics (typically English)
The head gaskets go because the cylinder liners are not well matched to the engine block.
Lotus/catherham however sorted the engine when they got their hands on it for their cars.:)

x in the city

tbh a lot of gasket failures are down to the owners not doing basic maintenance than the actual engine itself

oil and filters and water cooling all need to be looked after, not just the tank filled up with petrol.

EPM

kona wrote: »

I seriously doubt that they are that bad, especially if the are going back into production

That was the best laugh of the day for me:D

It's been put back into production by the chinese, a nation known for building somewhat questionable cars at the best of times





and who can forget this little floozy...