box100 Posted July 13, 2021 Report Share Posted July 13, 2021 Something I’ve started wondering about lately is what a MGTF 160 would be like. I know a smaller car does feel faster and is more fun to drive. I note they only weight about a tonne. I believe they can be modded to 180hp quite easily as well. Im also aware compared to the 987 there would be a lot of downsides but wondered if anyone has any experience of both? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattman42 Posted July 13, 2021 Report Share Posted July 13, 2021 Not an MGF but recently sold a Mk1 MX5 - had one 20 years ago so perhaps rose tinted glasses but like an MGF they are really rather rubbish compared to the boxster. Slower (obviously), more noisy, rubbish spec compared to modern cars, manual roof and handling a bit fluffy - fun for the first week or so but after that I found it felt old and a bit of a faff. not driven an MGF for a very long time but imagine the experience would be similar to the Mx5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Menoporsche Posted July 13, 2021 Report Share Posted July 13, 2021 @Guvs 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoryD Posted July 13, 2021 Report Share Posted July 13, 2021 I had an MGF back in 1997 and was rubbish then, I can’t imagine time has been kind to it! Cheers Rory 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ringer250 Posted July 13, 2021 Report Share Posted July 13, 2021 (edited) We still own one from new in 2002. The ride is sharper than the MGF The engine loves to Rev and it now handles better thanks to a suspension upgrade to the shocks - called comfort pack as was standard on the very last TFs. Upgrades are popular including sports exhausts and exhaust manifold plus induction upgrades. Things to watch out for: Head Gaskets tended to let go due to weak material and fixings plus oil rails have been replaced with more robust items. The TF is very fussy on tyres. Original spec were Goodyear’s now NLA so the favoured choice is Toyos. Front and rear subframes can rust and be an MOT failure. Rust at the bottom of the wheel arches is common but replacement panels are readily available from MG specialists. There are various forums available so research material is plentiful. Edited July 13, 2021 by Ringer250 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bally4563 Posted July 14, 2021 Report Share Posted July 14, 2021 Was a passenger in one once, first thing I did when I got out, was to nail my testicles to a plank, and then tap dance! Just as painful but a lot more fun!!! 1 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ninesomething Posted July 14, 2021 Report Share Posted July 14, 2021 Friend of mine has had several. Tried hard to get me to not to buy a boxster because the TF was better. He did mention all of his had died due to the tinfoil headgasket phenomenon. The engine is apparently even harder to get out than a boxster so just not worth it when the headgasket goes. Not driven one but I understand they're fun. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huytonman Posted July 14, 2021 Report Share Posted July 14, 2021 I bought one in 1999, it was around 12 months old, low miles, nice spec, BRG etc and at the time I thought it should be decent enough and as I used to work for Austin Rover I still had a feeling of some sort of pride in buying British plus I had owned a midget, MGB, TR6 in the past so it was like a continuation in my mind. The drive home was about 40 miles, the car was for my missus mainly and I parked it in the driveway when I got back and said to her "you aren't driving that thing, I'm selling it". It really was a pile of junk, didn't feel safe, flimsy, uncomfortable, just rubbish and so disappointing - the best bit was the K series engine which for the time had decent power and liked to rev. Sold it for what I paid after a few weeks (they still had long delivery times for a new one so good second hand market). Bought a 1.9 Z4 brand new which was gutless but was at least well built and then swapped that for a new Z4 2.8 which wasn't gutless, was well built and handled like a pig and after three years that was displaced by my first Boxster. I've owned a couple of Mk1 MX5's since and can safely say that they are streets ahead of the MGF but they are getting old now and can rust - great little car though. As always though I eventually went back to Porsche...back in a 987.2 S now. Keith 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ninesomething Posted July 14, 2021 Report Share Posted July 14, 2021 4 hours ago, bally4563 said: Was a passenger in one once, first thing I did when I got out, was to nail my testicles to a plank, and then tap dance! Just as painful but a lot more fun!!! I've searched on youtube but I can't find the video. Are you sure it was a TF? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bally4563 Posted July 14, 2021 Report Share Posted July 14, 2021 1 minute ago, JonSta said: I've searched on youtube but I can't find the video. Are you sure it was a TF? That and a TR7 are the only cars where I have required the use of a plank and nails! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Menoporsche Posted July 14, 2021 Report Share Posted July 14, 2021 1 hour ago, JonSta said: I've searched on youtube but I can't find the video. Are you sure it was a TF? Why, what car appeared to be in the video that you found? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ninesomething Posted July 14, 2021 Report Share Posted July 14, 2021 Well there was a capri then an austin 1100 then a bedford van. After that I forget. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Takahashi Posted July 14, 2021 Report Share Posted July 14, 2021 went out in an MGF once, and was underwhelmed, had a mk1 mx5 (eunos), and it was best desbribed as 'raw' no air con (removed) no power steering (removed), no elec windows (replaced with manual), no stereo (removed), and rock hard suspension and roll cage, the 987 is like driving a cloud compared to either of those. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guvs Posted July 14, 2021 Report Share Posted July 14, 2021 You can get good Boxster's and you can get a bad Boxster same for the MG TF, as a comparison of one to the other they are in different leagues, Porsche Boxster Premiership, Rover MG TF league division 2, having said that I loved my MG TF's same layout as a Boxster just a smaller size all round, Mid engine rear, wheel drive, front and rear boots, similar to my 986 (if you leave the spare wheel out) cabin layout very similar, smaller engine, (but hasn't got to carry as much weigh as a Boxster) bit like a gambow with the suspension, similar to my 987 when you switch on the PASM, all in all it's a good little 2 seater fun car as soon as you've sorted the HGF out (that comes in around the 38k mark) I had one in 2008 then got converted to a 986, then I got a 987, and now a 981, but I always loved the MG TF and had to get another one in 2020, I just sold it and made money on it, not much I hasten to add but a lot more than I paid for it and I was sorry to see it go. Guvs 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lennym1984 Posted July 15, 2021 Report Share Posted July 15, 2021 (edited) If it helps, I did a track day last monday with a few MG TF racing cars. Out of the 3, 2 went home early with head gasket failure Edited July 15, 2021 by Lennym1984 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Takahashi Posted July 15, 2021 Report Share Posted July 15, 2021 I had 4 rovers, (218VVC, 214SEi, 416SLi and a 111i) and i blew the headgasket on the 214 (3 times), 111 and the 416, blew the gearbox on the 416. the only reason the VVC never blew up was it rotted away at the cills before i got the chance. the K-series really was a badly designed engine unfortunately. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
½cwt Posted July 17, 2021 Report Share Posted July 17, 2021 When I ran the parts stores at PalmerSport in the mid 00's we had 1.4 K series engined Caterhams, 13 of them. It was the only car type in the fleet that we kept head gasket kits and head bolts (long stretch bolts that you avae to replace every time) for in stock and min stock was 2 sets. Probably ran through 15 to 20 head gaskets a year across the 13 cars. The good news was if you caught the fault early it was just a 'service' item... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sa utah Posted July 20, 2021 Report Share Posted July 20, 2021 Don’t bother. Get a Mk3 Mx5 instead. Miles better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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