prospective new mgf owner

[bennyboy]

Hi everyone, i've been toying with buying an mgf for a couple of months now, the car seems to me to be superb value now, i have a 1988 merc 300se which is beautiful and a real head turner, but i hardly drive it, i need something fun to drive now. I wanted the VVC model, but i guess 8.5 sec to 60 with the top down feels pretty rapid, so i am stalking this on ebay:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171945564140? ... EBIDX%3AIT
Its not going to be a daily driver so i dont need the hard top, any advice/ guidance is appreciated.

[Dave J]

Hi Bennyboy

Welcome to the MGF Register and its Forum.
These are great little cars and if you can suffer the little niggles that will happen they will reward you with the biggest smile for your miles.Ive had my MPI MGF for over 14 years now and its just had a major refurb as i could never break it now ..even tho i have a TF now as well.Even the non VVC ones go like stink when you want them too
just checked out the one you are looking at on ebay and looks a very nice car ... not sure what the seat covers are hiding ???? sounds like all the major work like the Head gasket has been done already so that's a bonus.
If you are going to have a look at it before bidding have a good look at the bodywork ... especially the sills,wheel arches,bottom of the doors,top edge of the boot lid and areas around the side air intake for rust.
They're is so much aftermarket stuff and bits available from breakers and ebay etc that you can really personalise your car to how ever you want and many ways to give it more ooomph if you want it to be more rapid .. a stainless steel exhaust is a must for more fun ..and you can get them as loud as you want
finally what you also get with MG ownership is a great social scene and great friends to be made and had .. and a busy year with various events,shows and meetings throughout the year.
Hope this helps and you decide to purchase a car and hope to meet you at one of our meets very soon.

Dave

[talkingcars]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

That ebay car looks resonable but being a pre 2000 car it is less powerful than the later ones and can not be remapped. Personally I have a pre 2000 VVC and with a couple of mods it is resonable.

I wouldn't worry about hard tops, like many new owners I rushed out and bought one shortly after we got the car, it was only on the car for a couple of moths before coming off and sitting in the garden for 4 years until I sold it. There is nothing like driving to work in light snow at 6 a.m. in Febuary with the roof down.

James

[bennyboy]

Thanks for your replies. The seller got arsy when asked a few questions, so i doubt I'll buy that one. Who tries to sell a car with two months M.O.T on it?

[Dave J]

Good call.It might pay you to wait for a really good car to come up,with winter coming prices dip so you should be able to get a bargain.
Always try to buy a car from an enthusiast owner if possible .. that way you know the car would have been looked after and maintained.
As well as ebay,Gumtree and Autotrader there is the For sale section on this Forum and if you are on Facebook they're are a few MGF related facebook pages including the MGF Register that have enthusiasts selling there cars on there.

Dave

[Paul Storey]

Try 'Pistonheads' as well, also look at 'Preloved'.

[bennyboy]

I guess i just need to be patient and wait for the right car, i understand that no 15-20 year old car is perfect, but rust is the one to watch, so will look for a club or loved second car. Without being rude to some owners, prices are now very soft for these cars, there is no need to spend over £1000 for a reasonable one. I would like the VVC model, just cant think of anything with the same performance for the price, Alfa spider is 8.5 to 60 and £1500 + more. The head gasket issue has done great harm to the reputation of the car, and the motoring press have a real downer on the car so no one wants one. But you can get a mobile specialist to come to your house, and change all the necessary gaskets ,pumps and belts for under £500!. Nice simple hood and good MPG, whats not to like? . So i am looking for a VVC, MAX £800, in red if poss but not essential, i plan a trip down through France, across the pyrenees , then a across Spain to my sisters place in Cabo roig next year, cant think of a better car to do it in !

[Dave J]

a good VVC will demand a higher price than a standard MPI ... nice red one on ebay ... 191549383213
bit more than what you want to pay ... might get him down a bit more ???

Dave

[bennyboy]

Thanks for replying dave, its not a VVC and im not sure about some of the stickers, but i contacted him and the H/G has been done, might go and look at this tomorrow
https://www.gumtree.com/p/mg/mg-mgf-spo ... 1133102992
regards Steve

[Dave J]

Hi Steve

Looks tidy ... but those stickers have gotta go ... reckon £700 and its yours
where abouts in Hert's are you ???

Dave

[bennyboy]

Im in rickmansworth mate, a bloke over the road is sniffing round my 300se, but im terrible at letting cars go!, just fancy a balls out sports car, and lets face it, at £700 thats cheap!