MGF Opinions Please

[UmBongo]

I was at a local car show today and saw this cute wee thing.

 

 

It had a FOR SALE notice on the window.

 

I was instantly attracted by this as I am to all cars for sale...

 

Anyway, the guy wants £1650 and the MGF has only done 35K miles.

 

I couldn't see any rust so it's probably never seen a cold or wet day.

 

Thoughts?

 

First person to mention HGF gets a prize nowt.

[richardmorris]

First thoughts are why didn't you buy it immediately? Even if HGF then it's still a good price I think. P would be quite early wouldn't it? A girl friend of mine ( friend who is girl, not other...) has an r reg one in green that had HGF, but she didn't listen to me when I told her why it was using water.

[richardmorris]

Edit. Not a common colour and it looks smart with the leather.

[Guest Lord Sward]

I adore them. But then you must remember they are soft shite.  But great.

[Dick Cheeseburger]

I'd say that's top money for an early one. However, with that mileage, colour and if external condition is a general pointer of how good it is, you need to buy it.

[Craig the Princess]

Again, strong money buy the condition could justify it. Red leather looks good, not so keen on white but that is probably just me.

 

Apart from HGF the bottom suspension arms can rust, or need to be removed to replace the bottom ball joints (as they are riveted not bolted to the arm). To change these you need to drop the front subframe. It looked a total pain in the arse with a lift and three mechanics in the garage so would have been fun* on the drive.

[stripped fred]

Also, most people advertising a car for £1650 ideally want £1500 for it. Mike Brewer would point out a few faults and go in with £1200 then hold out his hand.

[Pillock]

No idea whether it's worth it - my MGF was the OMGHFH one that's purposely designed to change hands for less than market value so there's some cash left over for charity.

BUT, on the whole MGF is an inch you need to scratch. They're a great laugh, easy to live with (I find the fact you can put the roof up without leaving the drivers seat in a twentieth of the time it takes an electric one brilliant), plenty of parts either from breakers or new, and the owners on the whole are friendly. Without mentioning the letters H, G or F you can be sure that there are plenty of people who know these engines well too, both on here and elsewhere.

 

I like the white and red, that's nicely different. Every other one was Tahiti Blue I reckon, with the metallic green a close second, so it's good to see something else. 

 

You can pootle around the lanes on a Sunday and it'll be great; or you can put some decent tyres on, make a few choice mods and hoon it properly and it'll be great.

[Alexg]

Seems like all the momey to me, but it's an early one in a great colour combo. If I was after one I'd be all over this

[purplebargeken]

JFDI

 

Make a bid though as that is VERY strong money, although the condition and colour/interior combo is nice. Looks like an MPI as opposed to the VVC, although I could be wrong.

[Uncle Jimmy]

I actually think it looks fab in white; I'm not a fan of cars with engines in the rong end but here I'd make an exception.....If the subframe isn't rusty and it's got good service history.

Ive read on this very forum of the MGFs ability to look tidy yet hide serious grot most cunningly.

[dugong]

The car above is an MPI (130bhp) with a few choice options (including leather, which was dear) - it'll be brisk but not quick.

VVCs (143bhp) are fairly nippy and the Trophy 160s (158bhp) can annoy some pretty fast cars driven hard enough.

If you're looking at other 'Fs, don't discount the 1.6 which arrived post-2001 as a loss leader. It's barely any slower and the 1600 K is arguably sweeter and less prone to OMFGHGF histrionics.

 

It's nice for an early car but I'd be offering £1250 maximum unless it was bollock-shatteringly perfect.

For that money I'd want no rot and for the roof to be mint with either a glass rear window retro fitted or a very nice plastic screen that had been zipped out each time the top was folded.

 

Most of them don't get driven hard. Like the MX-5, they're a pretty roadster first and a driver's car second.

Disagree with me? Drive a Caterham 7 or Lotus Elise S1 then tell me an MX-5 / 'F is sharp. They're capable when compared to AS APPROVED VEHICLES but very average when compared to modern hot (or even warm) hatches.

 

If you are going to rag about, make sure the tyres are decent and of the same make (think Falken ZE914 minimum).

Nexens are crap and Avons don't suit them. Make sure the suspension is at the right height, too. It should ride well and understeer when pushed. Be warned, they snap like bastards if you lift off abruptly or try to change direction too quickly.

 

EPAS (electronic power assisted steering) also divides opinion; the 'F was one of the first cars to use it (instead of hydraulics). It's helpful at parking speeds but some people find it a bit lifeless when you're tanking on.

You can pull the fuse and drive unassisted. It's far 'meatier' and the feedback is excellent.

 

The OMGBRITISHPROPERCAR thing is either a massive plus or a huge demerit depending on your viewpoint.

The plip alarm / immobiliser can be an arse; make sure that works properly else it'll murder batteries and go off seemingly at random.