MGF/ MX5

[stevecrx]

Had one, enjoyed it, scrapped it when it got too unreliable/costly to fix.

I can echo what's said on here - the handling up to the limit is great fun, step over the limit though and you'll be facing the opposite way with a need for new pants.

Mine wasn't rusty and it didn't kill it's head gasket; I did up-rate the coolant system though with a front mounted Land Rover thermostat and stainless coolant pipes.

I didn't find it overly difficult to work on, there's good access from above and below and everything bar the thermostat was easy to get to.

If your dead-set on an 'F check for leaks on the suspension as the Hydrolastic shockers are no longer made and all supposedly new stock is old. Also get an emissions check done on it - mine always ran rich, even with a new Bosch Lambda sensor.

In all, ownership for me was a positive experience; good cheap fun, and the K-series is a lovely sounding, pokey little lump.

[SmokeEm]

Have you considered a Honda S2000 Dan? Bullet proof and so much fun!

[MiataMark]

As a MX5 owner I'd say go for the MG-F and be a bit different, unless you want to do track days then go for the MX-5. Unless you're really taking it to limit I don't think you'd be too bothered by the diferences and for top down weekend fun either is as good as the other.

Re the Z3, all the above applies but the 4 cylinder ones don't do it for me and the 2.8 is probably out of budget. there seems to be a lot of snobbery about the Z3, basically it's an E30 with an E36 front and look at how well regarded E30's are. Although back when they were new U had a 328 Tourer and borrowed a Z3 2.8 for a day and the 328 handled much, much better! But my then primary age daughter loved getting picked up by a car with an electric hood :-)

Funnily I have a neighbour with an immaculate MG-TF that gets used as a runabout and another neighbour with an immaculate Z3 2.8 (which may have seen a track day) and I have a shed of a MX5 that has been on the track. I wonder who has most fun.

[Mercdan68]

Thanks for the great response guys,, had a look at the suggestions, bmw?? I'm not keen on the shape of them, mr2 does look a good option,,,, but I've looked at mgf cars over the last couple of summers and like what I've seen , as it's going to be a pampered car , and only doing minimal mileage me and the wife are going to start looking at some cars over the coming months, if I can find a nice early one it'll be in our garage by xmas

[qwerty]

MGF's are very tyre sensitive. Theres lots of things you can do to them and they're very cheap.

For me it would be MGF. In fact I bought one this year and then sold it on. Next year I shall be getting another.

[Deleted]

Having had both - still got an MGF - the MX5 is 'simpler' to live with, but it's thirstier - particularly at speed - less refined, more cramped, and I've seen some absolute horrors of rust under Mk 2 models. Not the obvious sills, far worse structural rot.

The MG F has excellent ride & handling - VVC is faster than it needs to be. My MG F is rotten, but that's due to hideous bodging - chickenwire & filler sills. Working on them can be unpleasant due to the access.

I prefer the SLK over both, for long distance/living day to day with it. I'd also look at the SW20 MR2 - late revisions in particular. They're easier to work on than the MG F, still feel very mature and solid, and have good luggage space for the configuration.

[stonyray]

MX-5,MX-5,MX5,MIATA,EUNOS ROADSTER!

I was offered an MGF for free last year. I declined. It was more than I wanted to pay.

EDIT: on a serious note, the MG's have questionable reliability, are curse word to work on and some of the rear suspension bits are astronomically expensive.
MX5's got rotten in odd places (the rear towards the middle to name but 1). And resale on a good MX5 is better than the F.

[chrissyb]

To be honest I don't mind slinging a sill patch on every 3 years. Rather than wondering if my car is going to leave me stranded with steam everywhere. If you spend a bit more an early import MX5 is usally pretty rust free. The later UK cars can be crusty.

case in point I was behind an MGTF yesterday with steam coming from the engine bay everytime he accelerated...

[Mercdan68]

Lots of feedback which is appreciated, we have the funds in the bank, I think the nearer to Xmas the better bargains may be had, tbh we've narrowed it to either an mgf or mr2 , but we've both liked the mgf models for a long time, and as it's going to be a third car we will probably look for one to buy with history and head gasket history too!

[retroade]

Sorry to throw a curveball this late in the day but if it's summer fun you want don't overlook the Del Sol. OK they're fwd, but you get vtec power and Honda reliability. Mine had done 170k and felt tight as a drum. It was my daily at one point! Watch rust on the rear quarters (I replaced mine - £500) as they rot from the inside, otherwise mine was trouble free in the five years I owned it. As with any old convertible manual roof is best as the trans top can be a nightmare if it goes wrong.

[lewis]

Wouldn't even consider an MGF, but I have always liked MX5s. I sold my 98 Integra Type R and bought a 92 Eunos Roadster, the Integra was rustier.

[customsinc]

MGF on 16" cup rims fitted with TF sub frames and GAZ coilovers

[rmad]

I've not had any experience with any of them (aside from a brief drive in a MK1 MX5 which was great fun), but I've noticed that the later MR2s are seemingly reaching the bottom of their price curve at the moment. Worth adding to the shortlist?

[retroandproud]

Two years ago I was bought a '96 MGF with 36k miles from new. Been sat for about 12 months, got it for £300. It was in really nice condition, spent about £100 total getting it through MOT and making it look pretty. Gave it to my parents, who love it to pieces. It's a fair weather car only, and Dad ( who's 70!) isn't shy about giving it a good kicking!!! The MX5 handles betters near or on the limit, but if you just want it for summer days fun then it's a perfectly capable little car. Fit the updated head gasket before the original lets go, keep an eye on back end rust issues, and enjoy it.

[qwerty]

Nov 2, 2015 13:18:04 GMT rmad said:

I've not had any experience with any of them (aside from a brief drive in a MK1 MX5 which was great fun), but I've noticed that the later MR2s are seemingly reaching the bottom of their price curve at the moment. Worth adding to the shortlist?

Thats quite a good shout. Very pretty little cars and supposedly excellent to drive. Wonder if they're elligible for classic insurance.

[Mercdan68]

Yes Simon that is a nice looking mr2 and have looked at a few on a few sites, and retro and proud you make a great point it is for the summer only thanks for more advice all,!

[peter96]

I've had both in the past. MGF was bouught at a few years old as wife was getting fed up waiting for me to get my Midget finished and was getting impatient for a rag top. It was great fun but did eat rear brake calipers. Even though they were greased I had to replace them twice in a year. I nad no problem with the head gasket though. The MX5 was a 1990 import complete with diff which was great fun on wet roundabouts. I really liked both and would have either of them again. Like myself you don't appear to be as interested in raking about so I think the F would be a better choice. Plus you can always join the MG Car/Owners Club and go out on Sunday runs with them wearing your cravat and string back driving gloves!!

[rapidyellow]

we had a mk1 mx5 1.8 for 6 years and driving wise it was spot on, the cab gives a lot of heat thtough which made it unconfrtable in town traffic with roof up or down, mechanically hardly anything went wrong but bodily we started spending a lot yearly on rusty underside, having it welded for mot's, we let it go

but during that time I was given for free an early MGF 1.8, mainly to do up and sell and the only time I drove it was to the mot centre [20 miles round trip] I found it to be utterly brilliant compared to the MX5, it pulled better, the cabin was more comfy and with the engine being behind you there wasnt the instrusion of heat, brakes and steering were superb but it wasnt possible for us to keep it so it was sold.

if I was after another two seater, I think I would go for the F, I love the K Series engines

[ettorebugatti]

If you can live with LHD a Fiat Barchetta could be a choice outside the box.

As it the Alfa 916 Spider.

Both are fwd, but they still have the Italian flair.

If you don't want Italian, you could look at the Audi TT Roadster. Very German and fwd.

A TF with a proper history and love is a bit of a bargain.

[Mercdan68]

A late bid on an early mgf owned for 12 years by its current owner and it's now mine!! Car is in Sussex about an hour from us,going down Saturday to collect it.......sounds and looks great, but will it be a bargain buy or a bad buy,?? watch this space, it's had the mls head gasket fitted and has 11 months mot owned by a mature gent,been after one for a while so can't wait to see what I've bought Saturday ,,don't normally buy blind but had a gut feeling about this one, will update Saturday ,not really retro but a car that's so cheap at the present time, they can only rise in price soon, wanted to get one before they rocket in price