MG TF Buyage Tips Wanted

[Isaac Hunt]

Thinking of an MG TF, never owned a soft top and fancy a European Road Trip in one.

 

Familiar with the Kettle Series OMGHGF Mayo checks etc, know to check under floor coolant pipes. Has it had a cambelt etc (Although an MGTF with a blown HG and no cambelt history I would take, fix that easy enough)

 

Sills for signs of P40 and P38

 

Rear subframe seems to have an engine mount cross member that can rot out on them.

 

Subframes in general look as though they can suffer quite bad.

 

Familiar with DVSA MOT history checks.

 

Anything I've missed. I'm particularly interested in corrosion of the shell in hidden areas, the non obv areas that are tricky to check.

[purplebargeken]

Rust around the front wings, air vents in the rear 1/4 panel. Just general wear and tear really. Good if it comes with a hard top as you can flog that. I hate hard tops.

 

Make sure the windows close smoothly and seal ok agaibst the soft top. Rear screens go milky and shite quickly. Budget about 70 quid to have it replaced. 

 

Buy a pair of elastic straps to make the soft top a doddle to put up and down.

 

The wiring in the boot for the boot mounted brake light can chafe.

 

Make sure the clutch is good, clutch arms can go. So can wiper linkeages.

 

Change the coolant bottle cape each time you service the car, use a proper MG?Rover one if possible.

 

Just check overall condition. Never had a TF but apart from the suspension set up, much the same as the F.

 

They be fun.

[purplebargeken]

Doors can drop a little too, not the end of the world as Mike Satur does the pins. 

[twosmoke300]

Much as I like the underdog I’m not sure why anyone would buy one over an mx5

[bigfella2]

When I was considering one of these a while ago, I always looked at the previous not fails/advisories for any perspective purchases and nearly all came back with corrosion issues underneath.

 

So definitely echoing the previous advice above. Would be nice if you had the opportunity to get it on a ramp and have a good prod about.

 

Seemed like earlier mgf's were better protected rust wise.

[Mr A Lawrence]

The mgf is a comfier ride than the harsh tf 

[mk2_craig]

My only experience of a TF was a crispy duck Orange LE500 which my then fiancee had for a year. Had a great spec plus all of the MGR Project Drive bollocks reversed.

 

I quite liked it and six years on I am wondering whether values of them will go daft at some point (only 75 orange ones built apparently).

[SiC]

Much as I like the underdog I’m not sure why anyone would buy one over an mx5

Because it's better than a MGB.

 

Also the k-series VVTi lump is more powerful and faster than the MX5 too.

[Isaac Hunt]

Because it's better than a MGB.

Also the k-series VVTi lump is more powerful and faster than the MX5 too.

It's British built shite and I quite like that having grown up on BMC BL fodder. It wouldn't be a keeper so one the trip had been completed, up for sale would be the plan. I did think MGB Roadster, really rubber bumper to avoid silly money, but then the MGTF's sprung up at reasonable dollar.

 

It doesn't have to be a minter, some scabby paint and dinks is ok and I don't mind doing some prep if needs be. Either that or just ensure the European roadside assistance is in place and fook it, after all, wobbler and Cars have just ragged it back it a Dacha innit.

[twosmoke300]

Because it's better than a MGB.

 

Also the k-series VVTi lump is more powerful and faster than the MX5 too.

For the brief period it’s not in the workshop for some piss poor quality part to be replaced . Again

[Tamworthbay]

Paper numbers may have the MGF quicker but in the real world the MX5 is a far more accomplished car. Go on any track day where there is a mix and the mx5s run rings round them (apart from later 1.6s that were artificially restricted). I had a go on MGF from someone on here, then another to be sure and they just aren’t as much fun. You sit far deeper in the car so,the feeling of being out in the open is much less and they just don’t feel,that responsive. If a Uk built car is a must I would save up for an MGB, or possibly consider a GT if top down isn’t essential (still miss mine).

[twosmoke300]

You will never hit an apex in an mgf cos one eye is always on the temp gauge

[Craig the Princess]

Seeing as it's open season slagging other people's cars off, can you let me know if you are going to buy an mx5 so I can buy shares in welding wire and British Steel?

[SiC]

For the brief period it’s not in the workshop for some piss poor quality part to be replaced . Again

Vs the brief period it's not in the workshop again because the sills/subframe/etc hasn't rotted out again.

 

Mechanicals or welding. Pick your poison.

[purplebargeken]

Clive, you must have a go of my green MGF at some point. 

 

The seating arrangement is different but I have never had such automotive fun in a car that cost so little.

[purplebargeken]

I would love to have a drive of an MX5 purely to do the comparison thing, however, I still think I'd be taking the MGF keys home with me at the end of the night.

[twosmoke300]

Of course mgf’s don’t rust either

[twosmoke300]

Oh and btw , I actually like mgf’s but the mazda is a so much more sensible choice mechanically

[twosmoke300]

Seeing as it's open season slagging other people's cars off, can you let me know if you are going to buy an mx5 so I can buy shares in welding wire and British Steel?

 

Guess what’s parked outside my house right now? Not an mgf

[wuvvum]

I've had both and whilst the MX5 is admittedly a more responsive drive on back roads, if I were going for a long road trip I'd probably choose the MG.

[twosmoke300]

Mg certainly has less of a hairdressers car image I think . More the grubby fingernail brigade like old mg’s I suppose

[Remspoor]

I bet the MG B will be cheaper on spares. It was when I had one and a Rover 420GSi

From the MG club.

https://www.mgcc.co.uk/articles/buying-an-mgftf/

another list

http://forums.mg-rover.org/mgf-mgtf-%2Asponsored-mgfntfbitz-mgf-mg-tf-parts-01457-238202%2A-12/those-looking-buy-f-tf-308065/

[Isaac Hunt]

Feck me Penelope, that was some Pitstop my love

 

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F112769599252

[Tamworthbay]

Clive, you must have a go of my green MGF at some point. 

 

The seating arrangement is different but I have never had such automotive fun in a car that cost so little.

I just didn’t feel engaged in either of the ones I drove. I guess I just want another Mk1 mx5 or MGB GT. The GT is dog slow and designed by someone whose name ended in saurus but so much fun. Problem now is that I need four seats in a convertible and can’t find anything even close to as much fun.

[Felly Magic]

If it's one of the 'huflungdung' made TFs, watch for paint faults, it may have even already had a respray

[Bianconeri]

I’m trying a 2000 F (VVC) and 2005 TF (135bhp) back-to-back tomorrow. Hope the knee holds up! Both are low mileage (with allegedly history to back up) and look nice in photos. Both seem to have enthusiastic owners (as in can’t get them off the phone and wrote me War and Peace e-mails).

 

Could own one tomorrow - certainly not both as I would prefer my balls to remain where they are and not do duty as earrings.

 

Will report back.

[purplebargeken]

Fingers crossed for you. Don't forget that the VVC doesn't wake up properly until there is about 4K on the rev counter. Ask if it has the 48mm or 52mm throttle body. If 48mm then budget about 60 quid for the bigger/better one

 

Have fun