MGF/ MX5

[Mercdan68]

hi all as the summers now long gone me and the good lady wife want to but a two seater sports car, I've long said I want one and now the cheapest time to get one?
I've admired the early mgf models for a long time, and I think with a decent head gasket they are a good buy right?, I've looked at a couple of mx5 mazdas but they just don't do it for me, although they may be a better car? Looking at some mgf models locally, anyone had one, own one or any advice on them,? ,,I realise these aren't RR type cars but this place is always the best place to get honest opinions, cheers Dan

[trouble]

MX5's are great, but rust kills a good few of them

MG TF too expensive for you?

[Mercdan68]

I'm not keen on the looks of the TF, I have seen some in our budget, but would prefer an mgf

[Ryannn]

The feedback I've had before is that the MG is an "adults" MX5 lol. I didn't really get on with the driving position in mine but it was more fun to drive than the Mazda.

I'd much rather fix a head gasket every year than be battling the dreaded rust!

[Jem45]

The time will come when we'll be shaking our heads in disbelief that in 2015, for not much north of £500, you could pick up an MOTd MGF with VVC. And you can, 'cause I've just missed two, both with uprated HGs fitted too. There's a couple around that have had a quasi-cafe racer look applied and look great.

Don't be thinking they don't rust though, because they can get quite bad underneath at the rear.


Goes off to find pics...

[Mercdan68]

Thanks fellas, so far the mgf is firmly in our sights! Will be looking between now and Xmas, no great rush but if the right car comes along may well have one here soon

[Ryannn]

Oct 29, 2015 20:50:14 GMT Jem45 said:

The time will come when we'll be shaking our heads in disbelief that in 2015, for not much north of £500, you could pick up an MOTd MGF with VVC. And you can, 'cause I've just missed two, both with uprated HGs fitted too. There's a couple around that have had a quasi-cafe racer look applied and look great.

I bought one earlier this year for £125, did some jobs on it and STRUGGLED to get £300 for it with 12 months MOT!!

[Mercdan68]

Seen a few £400 cars.....looking for something very clean ,it will be garaged and only used in the spring/summer months so good mileage and history is a must

[Jem45]

Oct 29, 2015 21:04:50 GMT Ryannn said:

Oct 29, 2015 20:50:14 GMT Jem45 said:

The time will come when we'll be shaking our heads in disbelief that in 2015, for not much north of £500, you could pick up an MOTd MGF with VVC. And you can, 'cause I've just missed two, both with uprated HGs fitted too. There's a couple around that have had a quasi-cafe racer look applied and look great.

I bought one earlier this year for £125, did some jobs on it and STRUGGLED to get £300 for it with 12 months MOT!!

You should've said! You're near me as well.

[southside]

MGF's deffinatly suffer from tin worm, it's just a metro in a dress and we all know much metro's can rust.

I've had an F and a TF and providing it's a good one they are good cars, never owned a mx-5 though so can't comment.

Things to look out for on the F is rust, HG issues and make sure they steering is accurate. If it feels a bit vague and like your constantly correcting yourself it's probably down to the electronic power steering losing its calibration. Quite common but can be re-calibrated yourself with a bit of patience.

Personally I prefer the TF, looks a little more manly if that's possible and it has proper suspension instead of the hydrolastic. Also the VVC is 160PS instead of the 143PS of the F's

[carledo]

The MX5 is a purer driving experience, both cars rot, the simple fact is that MX5s have been around an extra 5 years so there are consequently more rotten ones. I remain deeply suspicious of the "F"s on-the-limit handling, all the ones i've driven have a propensity for changing ends suddenly on wet roundabouts. the Mazda is much more predictable and is a real seat of the pants car.
On the upside, i've never had to change a head gasket twice on any K powered car and "F"s ARE stupidly cheap at present (but so are TR7s, even V8 ones)

Steve

[Rusted Pistons]

For me, it has to be the mx5. It depends what kind of driver you are really. The mx5s handling is superior to the mgf, you can push an mx5 to the limit and you always know what's going on underneath each corner, the steerings well weighted and the gear change rifle bolt. The mgf in the other hand, they feel a little 'wooly'. I've not felt particularly confident pushing one hard, they have an unpredictable feeling about them on the limit, and if the back end does slip away is very difficult to straighten up! They feel more plasticky inside too.

[Mercdan68]

Thanks for the replys the car will be a leisure vehicle really , at 47 my driving has slowed down significantly!! So it will cherished and as said on sunny days so I'm just looking for the cleanest low mileage one I can

[g40jon]

Just to throw a curve ball out there. BMW z3s are dirt cheap at the moment. I've toyed with chopping my mk1 mk5 in for a z3. Also considered the mgf at one point, but my neighbour constantly fixing bits on his put me off it! This is a point worth considering with the mgf. It is a complete pain to work on. Whilst I think about it mk3 mr2s are great little cars too and also very cheap.

[Nathan]

Owned both and loved both, but I'd say the MX5 hands down in all aspects.

[bob1957]

I've had two MGF's one brand new (the only new car I've ever bought). I love them for their practicality, comfort and design. There's just something different about have the excellent K-series a few inches behind your back. Have driven the TF and found it less comfy and not a great deal better in the handling department.

BUT... just don't treat the MGF as sports car - in standard form it just does not have the roadholding of even a modest family hatchback.

[Ryannn]

Oct 30, 2015 9:27:14 GMT g40jon said:

Just to throw a curve ball out there. BMW z3s are dirt cheap at the moment. I've toyed with chopping my mk1 mk5 in for a z3. Also considered the mgf at one point, but my neighbour constantly fixing bits on his put me off it! This is a point worth considering with the mgf. It is a complete pain to work on. Whilst I think about it mk3 mr2s are great little cars too and also very cheap.

You should only be considering a 6cyl Z3 though! Lol

The access concerns would put me off an MG or an MR2.

[Anthony]

It might be a little modern for this forum, but if you're considering an MGF and MX5, have a look at a MR2 Roadster too.

Some people don't like the looks and luggage space is pretty dire, but it runs rings around an MGF (and MGTF) in just about every way and really is a lovely car to drive. Having owned both I'd say it's probably a better drivers car than an MX-5 but being mid-engined it is more tricky on the limit and not as easy to slide around as an MX-5 if that your thing.

Early ones are pretty cheap now - not quite MGF cheap, but certainly less than a grand for a tidy one. Do be fussy as there's plenty out there and check the engine carefully as the pre-facelift ones can suffer ovalled bores and pre-cat failure, so run away from anything smoking, smelling of oil (or low on oil, suggesting it's burning it) or that seems down on power.

[Midland Performance & Retro]

Oct 30, 2015 10:52:39 GMT bob1957 said:

BUT... just don't treat the MGF as sports car - in standard form it just does not have the roadholding of even a modest family hatchback.

Having owned a lot of them, I'd have to disagree with that. They handle very well and have an very sharp turn.

Great cars. A little flimsy, many haven't been cared for properly and obviously the big HG problem, but most would have been cured now.

Find a good one, enjoy it, look after it, hold onto it and it'll only go up in value.

[GoJo372]

MGF is like driving a gokart...so much fun with the vvc. As long as the Hg is uprated you cant fault the bang for buck and smiles per miles lol