Should I buy an MGF?

Question

HI all,

Looking at buying an MGF, whats everyones thoughts on them? Are they good fun? Are the running costs high? Looking at a 2000 W Plate VVC Model with 145bhp and leather.

Cheers
Steve

EDIT: £1500 to change sparkplugs because the engine has to come out? That is bull! You just whip the inspection cover off and take them out? Took me an hour on my friends one last year.

Answer 1

MGF/MGTF - they both have problems. The TF has better suspension and in my opinion is a better looking car, but got rid of my bit of fun due to an ever increasing list of things to fix. They do leak so you get wet carpets, on the TF the electric window mechanisms WILL pack up (£150 to replace DIY), and you have to be careful with the F/TF on engine coolant. Most cyclinder head gasket failures are due to coolant loss but an after-market part is available from Gammon & Brown for £80 + 2 hrs to fit. As for parts, no worries, there are still loads of places out there carrying stock.

Answer 2

the problem with an MGF is that it is not that sporty for a sports car. Its performance is pretty woeful. They seem to have forgotten that ingredient at the design stage when looking at the traits of a good sports car, though they read the pages on poor reliability and poor manufacturing quality. Some people like the looks, but it's really a sports car for people who haven't driven a proper sports car. Other quicker, more reliable cars are out here for the same price or less

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Should I buy an MGF?
HI all,

Looking at buying an MGF, whats everyones thoughts on them? Are they good fun? Are the running costs high? Looking at a 2000 W Plate VVC Model with 145bhp and leather.

Cheers
Steve

Answer 4

Don't listen to the people telling you it's a crap engine, it's not. It uses the K series engine which has been a very sucessfull engine series used in many sports cars, lotus elise and caterum 7 to name a couple. It's an amazing engine and loves to rev, but it's one weakness is the weak headgasket. I've heard they're not the most reliable of cars due to the roof leaking, little problems, but if you're handy with a spanner its a bargin, much more charecter than the far too popular mx5 and if you're looking for smiles per gallon it's great. I've driven one and it's such a fun car to drive :-)

Answer 5

If it's in good condition it should be ok as long as it's fairly cheap compared with an MX5 and MR2 of the same year. Put £1200 aside for when the head gasket goes as you will probably have to get a new head (40% chance of failure - Rover's own figure).
It is a bit outdated technology wise (it is essentially two Metro front subframes with a cabriolet body), but if its cheap enough they can be a laugh. Parts are easy to get as Caterpillar bought the distribution from Rover before they went bust.

Answer 6

The saloon car based MGs are far better. The MGF is noisy and not very comfortable on long journies. Parts and costs are not bad though, still loads about fuel costs are about average for a car of that size. The MG ZT is the best and even beat the BMW 5 series and Honda S2000 in this years Driver Power 2008 survey - it came 4th out of all cars, which is amazing for a car that initially the motoring press never rated.

Answer 7

Having worked on them in a main agents the quality is poor engines ok but leak oil.Also they suffer from numerious water leaks into car interior Regards Mick UK.It does not cost £1500 to replace plugs thats bollocks.However if i was paying i would not buy one.

Answer 8

They are good fun, though I guess this isn't a typical guy's car. I'd try and go for something newer as the models prior to about 2001/2002 had a lot of reliability issues with gearboxes, hoods and other items. If you can stretch the budget for the newer MGTF you'll get a better car.

Answer 9

Mgf Buyers Guide

Answer 10

No not if you have any sense,to many problems to list but the major one is the head gasket just the same as in the little Rovers,it's the same engine you see it's been going for ages and it's always been rubbish.