MGTF 160 info please
- Thread starter Sneaky Peaky
- Start date
I've got one - sorry for the late post.
My advice is to go see one or two and see if you like it. The first time I drove it I hated it as I couldn't get to like how much feedback there was from the bumps and how sensitive and quick the steering was compared to my Prelude. The second time I drove it I really enjoyed it a lot more!
I found the driving experience with the steering and responsiveness of the engine to be very good. The engine power feels adequate, it is quite quick but does not give you the kick up the back that you get with VTEC or a turbo! Petrol consumption has been great for me and I regularly get 40+mpg! The 160's come with the bigger AP racing 4 pot brakes on the front which are meant to be very good - but i don't thnk they all that spectacular (I've not tried one with standard brakes to know). The ride is a bit harsh and bumpy at times but it is the choice between a car that feels great down a b road or something that can cruise the motorway.
The hood is simple and quite solid I think. I have not had any problems and it is just 2 catches and making sure it folds smoothly the get it up or down which takes around 10-15 seconds! I have however mucked up and cracked my rear screen a little taking the roof down in the cold. Inside like others have mentioned I think elbow room is a bit lacking and it is a bit plasticly around the various bits (mine seems to have the base interior with no fancy leather/wood/soft touch bits). This has made no odds to me as it has all been soaked a few times in the rain! The seats are comfy if not the most supportive and I find the seating position to be alright but sometimes a little high.
I bought it as a sensible head option rather than spend quite a bit more money on a similar vintage MX-5 or S2000. So I got a cheaper car - and yes nearly two years on I got the HGF. Black is nice I think on them, but white would have been my choice of colour.
My advice is to go see one or two and see if you like it. The first time I drove it I hated it as I couldn't get to like how much feedback there was from the bumps and how sensitive and quick the steering was compared to my Prelude. The second time I drove it I really enjoyed it a lot more!
I found the driving experience with the steering and responsiveness of the engine to be very good. The engine power feels adequate, it is quite quick but does not give you the kick up the back that you get with VTEC or a turbo! Petrol consumption has been great for me and I regularly get 40+mpg! The 160's come with the bigger AP racing 4 pot brakes on the front which are meant to be very good - but i don't thnk they all that spectacular (I've not tried one with standard brakes to know). The ride is a bit harsh and bumpy at times but it is the choice between a car that feels great down a b road or something that can cruise the motorway.
The hood is simple and quite solid I think. I have not had any problems and it is just 2 catches and making sure it folds smoothly the get it up or down which takes around 10-15 seconds! I have however mucked up and cracked my rear screen a little taking the roof down in the cold. Inside like others have mentioned I think elbow room is a bit lacking and it is a bit plasticly around the various bits (mine seems to have the base interior with no fancy leather/wood/soft touch bits). This has made no odds to me as it has all been soaked a few times in the rain! The seats are comfy if not the most supportive and I find the seating position to be alright but sometimes a little high.
I bought it as a sensible head option rather than spend quite a bit more money on a similar vintage MX-5 or S2000. So I got a cheaper car - and yes nearly two years on I got the HGF. Black is nice I think on them, but white would have been my choice of colour.
Cheers for the info - did they do a white ? never seen one..
Am very tempted with the one on PHI linked above. Really late model with the glass rear screen etc and low mileage but really unsure about the colour !
Am very tempted with the one on PHI linked above. Really late model with the glass rear screen etc and low mileage but really unsure about the colour !
Don
My dad has one of these in his fleet (80th anniversar edition). Im not quite sure why? I think he said it was at a silly price, with sub 20k miles, so he could'nt say no!
I borrowed it one weekend when my prelude was out of action. The roof was, erm, crap. Its like putting up a tent, has a million clips, and the mechanism needed to be worked back and forth a few times before it would close down totally.
Driving-wise, it felt nice and balanced, and I even managed a bit of bum out action in the dry on a large roundabout. Felt quite planted most of the time, and was not boring to drive, especially with the roof down
It seemed quickish (1.8 version), gearbox was a bit "agricultural" though, and the interior looked like it had had its parts lobbed together from whatever they had lying about in the parts bins (which i suspect is exactly how MG were making cars at that point!)
I managed to get my (huge) hockey stick bag into the boot without issues, and the seats were not terrible, although I dont think i would have enjoyed any long journeys in them.
Overall, not a car I would run out to buy, but at the prices they seem to go for, it might be a canny second-hand bargain now. It was quite capable, and if you are looking for a mid-engined, British, open topped sports car... Its probably perfect
I borrowed it one weekend when my prelude was out of action. The roof was, erm, crap. Its like putting up a tent, has a million clips, and the mechanism needed to be worked back and forth a few times before it would close down totally.
Driving-wise, it felt nice and balanced, and I even managed a bit of bum out action in the dry on a large roundabout. Felt quite planted most of the time, and was not boring to drive, especially with the roof down
It seemed quickish (1.8 version), gearbox was a bit "agricultural" though, and the interior looked like it had had its parts lobbed together from whatever they had lying about in the parts bins (which i suspect is exactly how MG were making cars at that point!)
I managed to get my (huge) hockey stick bag into the boot without issues, and the seats were not terrible, although I dont think i would have enjoyed any long journeys in them.
Overall, not a car I would run out to buy, but at the prices they seem to go for, it might be a canny second-hand bargain now. It was quite capable, and if you are looking for a mid-engined, British, open topped sports car... Its probably perfect
Cheers again for the info
Am in discussions with Ralph on his low mileage bittersweet one
exactly the same as this one - only 4 made in this colour apparantly !
Am in discussions with Ralph on his low mileage bittersweet one
exactly the same as this one - only 4 made in this colour apparantly !
Last edited:
Caporegime
Cheers again for the info
Am in discussions with Ralph on his low mileage bittersweet one
exactly the same as this one - only 4 made in this colour apparantly !
Excellent!!!
Wait till you go see it, theres an MG SV-R parked next to it
um how? - there are only the two clips on the front of mine. The cover that goes over the hood when it is down is a pointless waste of effort to do imo.
As for the mechanism there are two straps on the inside that are meant to pull a bar back when putting the roof down, unfortunately they work loose, and on cars after about 2004 when the cost cutting went on they were taken out altogether! Silly Rover removed some of the nice little things in the cost cutting and called it project Drive (or dive as it is now known). Anyway if it locks when you are putting it together I just reach under and push the bar back manually!
What I will say as well is that the enthusiast sites although really biased are full of great information and easy fault fixes!
This site is full of data: http://www.mgf-tf-central.co.uk/
Soldato
I thought he was just being cheeky for a minute.. but I've been in 5 or 5 MGF/TF's and unclip the two main windscreen clips, and with one hand simply arc the roof back in a couple of seconds.. nothing more to do? unless you have a knackered roof, or decide you want to put the tanneau cover on?
If you don't like the MGF roof, you aren't going to get on with the majority of these types of car.. (electric roofs aside)
Don
I was referring to the total number of clips, and I did fit the cover.
So, sorry about that....
I didnt exactly do a load of research, just drove it for a couple of days. I found the bar thingy on the roof very annoying!
Associate
Same Sneaky Peaky that owned that REALLY nice Impreza
If you're looking for summer drop top fun. £7k gets you FI Mk2 MX5's (200-250bhp) or even S2000's now I think?
I really am baffled!
If you're looking for summer drop top fun. £7k gets you FI Mk2 MX5's (200-250bhp) or even S2000's now I think?
I really am baffled!
only a 135 though http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/959615.htm
Same Sneaky Peaky that owned that REALLY nice Impreza
If you're looking for summer drop top fun. £7k gets you FI Mk2 MX5's (200-250bhp) or even S2000's now I think?
I really am baffled!
Agreed
Same Sneaky Peaky that owned that REALLY nice Impreza
If you're looking for summer drop top fun. £7k gets you FI Mk2 MX5's (200-250bhp) or even S2000's now I think?
I really am baffled!
Unfortunateley yes 'tis me. Scoob was great but totally impractical for my day to day commute, hence selling and getting a diesel Mondeo and something cheap but fun..
Never been a big fan of the MX5's but will go and have a quick look at them. Had a look at S2000's and 7k will get you an older car with high mileage and I'd be looking to spend 10k for one I'd want which is out of budget at the moment..