MGF OR TF

http://www.ukmgparts.com
Ask the Gurus - Use this board to discuss problems or technical issues you have with your MGF/TF - there's always an expert around to help you!

Moderator: Committee Members

Forum rules
Not many rules really, this board being aimed at technical issues, it shouldn't fall foul (hopefully) of some of the more personal issues that can affect forums.

Rule 1 - Is that you need to think very carefully before posting anything technical or asking anything technical relating to the security system of the car - See 'Security Issues' sticky for more info.

Rule 2 - We (MGF Register) do not support copyright infringement and therefore references to CD ROM, PDF versions or paper copies of the workshop manual (for instance) should not be posted on the forum. We don't want to get into trouble and we'd rather sell you a genuine hard copy through our Regalia shop anyway! :)

Because advice is honestly and freely given in this technical section, much of it will be amateur experienced based, so any information is given in good faith and is not guaranteed as correct.
Post Reply
cococola
Posts: 228
Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2016 9:19 pm
MGF Register Region: Midlands

MGF OR TF

Post by cococola » Mon Oct 16, 2017 6:24 pm

Ive had numerous Mgf before and have just sold my last 2, replacing them with an Mgtf which I have never owned before.
My question to everybody is what is your preference and why..all for interesting fun ;)
Mgf steptronic 2000 RIP :cry:
Morris Minor Convertible 1970
Morris Minor Traveller 1970

User avatar
daz
Posts: 968
Joined: Wed Aug 21, 2013 5:58 pm
MGF Register Region: Midlands
Model of Car: mg less :(
Location: Birmingham

Re: MGF OR TF

Post by daz » Mon Oct 16, 2017 9:12 pm

ooooh, can of worms.

I'll grab a biccy & watch

Personally I prefer the look of the TF & the drive of the F, but to be honest unless really pushing on I found very little difference.

User avatar
Bazzajay
Posts: 257
Joined: Wed Jan 04, 2017 8:29 pm
MGF Register Region: South Coast
Model of Car: Wedgwood SE 1800i
Location: Shanklin, Isle of Wight

Re: MGF OR TF

Post by Bazzajay » Mon Oct 16, 2017 11:39 pm

I must admit to preferring the look of the F. When I was looking for one early last year I had the chance of both, I settled on the F because of the look and also the suspension which, when in good fettle, really makes the car special. Mind you I've had my displacers re-conditioned and re-charged. Done by a local garage and using Hydragas Services in Telford. Ride now back to what it should be and all done for £625.

Mind you my F is the MY2000 model Wedgwood SE so it has the TF style interior with full leather.
Barrie

2000 MGF Wedgwood SE 1800i
2002 Peugeot Partner Quiksilver

User avatar
RobboMC
Posts: 1058
Joined: Wed May 09, 2012 1:36 am
MGF Register Region: Eastern Australia
Model of Car: 1999 Mpi

Re: MGF OR TF

Post by RobboMC » Tue Oct 17, 2017 2:53 am

I really enjoy the look and ride of my F and when I did the gearbox rebuild I was able to get my hands on the internal components of a TF, which means 1 tooth less on the pinion. Add that to one size smaller rear tyres and I have the nippy pick-up of the TF with the nice ride of the F. One might say the best of both worlds. All I need now is a set of Trophy brakes.

The only down side of the different gear ratio set up is that it can be difficult to keep the revs low when warming up, especially if going straight onto a motorway, a 3,000 rpm limit in 4th gear is only about 90 km/h and even 5th is only 110 km/h or thereabouts.

People wonder why you are dawdling along in such a great looking car!

But once it's all warmed up with 80+ deg on the oil temp gauge it just flies with this set-up. On the motorway it's right in the best rev band and launches forward with any touch of the go pedal.

User avatar
ArntyR
Posts: 323
Joined: Fri Feb 06, 2015 8:37 am
MGF Register Region: South East
Model of Car: 2010 TF135 Style
Location: West Sussex

Re: MGF OR TF

Post by ArntyR » Tue Oct 17, 2017 3:08 pm

Always a mine's 'bigger than yours' issue...

I've had an '01 1.6 F and later replaced it with an '05 1.6 TF. I strongly believe if the TF was called an F mk3 (I mean, honestly, how many friends amongst the MG community would you win by calling a Rover/MG an MGTF?) then this thread wouldn't be happening.

I'm happier with more maintainable springs + dampers, the extra bracing f + r, aluminium throttle body, and (questionably) better HG in the later TF - but miss the build quality, genetics and timeless recognisability of my old F.

Now here's a bone of contention:- I've parked both F and TF among 'real' MGs at meetings and overheard 'Wouldn't touch it...not a real classic...'. I've been to meets where it's been a singleton amongst classics or one of a few MG (F and/or TFs) and heard 'Oh, that's nice...' But at my most recent meet there was my TF, and an LE500 on an old reg. plate. I had to explain the Chinese connection 'Cos the badges are black and cream...can't be right...' many times to folk who knew I owned that 'nice MG over there'...And you know what? Imo the LE500 is actually the final finished article. It's obvious that it's very thoughtfully put together, has better build quality, looks far more expensive and we know the HG issue has been put to bed. - Yes I would like to own one...

But my current 'F mk3' is THE BEST (don't we all think our own is?)
Last edited by ArntyR on Tue Oct 17, 2017 7:23 pm, edited 3 times in total.

jaapaap1111
Posts: 56
Joined: Tue Jun 14, 2016 9:26 pm
MGF Register Region: Europe

Re: MGF OR TF

Post by jaapaap1111 » Tue Oct 17, 2017 5:42 pm

@Robbo: what did you mean by the smaller rear tyres? Narrower than before so 185 allround (to which diamer?) perhaps?

Verstuurd vanaf mijn SM-G920F met Tapatalk

User avatar
talkingcars
Posts: 5766
Joined: Tue Mar 09, 2010 10:44 pm
MGF Register Region: South East
Model of Car: mk1 VVC
Location: West Sussex
Contact:

Re: MGF OR TF

Post by talkingcars » Tue Oct 17, 2017 7:41 pm

Personally I mostly prefer the mk1 F over the mk2 except the door cards, T bar and electrics and the steering rack of the TF.

I either have this or am getting this except I'm going for TF suspension for durability as I've had years of problems with hydragas.
Home to black Alfa 159 3.2 V6 Q4, blue MGZR160, green MGF VVC and grey MGF 1.8i, and red MG Maestro T16.

MGF chatting on the Register and at http://www.the-t-bar.com

User avatar
ArntyR
Posts: 323
Joined: Fri Feb 06, 2015 8:37 am
MGF Register Region: South East
Model of Car: 2010 TF135 Style
Location: West Sussex

Re: MGF OR TF

Post by ArntyR » Tue Oct 17, 2017 9:43 pm

Yes I think the simpler suspension swayed my decision to change from F -> TF

quick_spider
Posts: 151
Joined: Tue Mar 27, 2012 10:25 am
MGF Register Region: Midlands

Re: MGF OR TF

Post by quick_spider » Tue Oct 17, 2017 10:13 pm

ArntyR wrote:I strongly believe if the TF was called an F mk3 (I mean, honestly, how many friends amongst the MG community would you win by calling a Rover/MG an MGTF?) then this thread wouldn't be happening.
I consider the TF to be a mk6 Metro :lol:

User avatar
RobboMC
Posts: 1058
Joined: Wed May 09, 2012 1:36 am
MGF Register Region: Eastern Australia
Model of Car: 1999 Mpi

Re: MGF OR TF

Post by RobboMC » Thu Oct 19, 2017 2:35 am

jaapaap1111 wrote:@Robbo: what did you mean by the smaller rear tyres? Narrower than before so 185 allround (to which diamer?) perhaps?

Verstuurd vanaf mijn SM-G920F met Tapatalk
The 185/55 -15 for the front are not generally available in Australia, Toyo refuse to import them even though there are several thousand cars here. I have butted heads with head office and failed to sway them.

So plenty of owners just fit 195/50 -15 on both front and rear, I guess to allow rotation of the wear which is how my car came from the previous owner. ( Or the tyre retailers are lazy and don't find a pattern that's made in two sizes )
So with a 195/50 -15 on the rear instead of a 205/50 -15 there is 2% lower rolling diameter which affects the acceleration and speedo reading; and I guess negatively affects the road holding. They are all almost worn out, so in 2018 I will get some 205's and find out.

I'm undecided about whether to just fit 195/50-15 to the front or go to the effort of getting some 185/55-15 from the UK. But I'll definitely be putting 205/50-15 on the rear.

Fortunately the tyre rules in this country are quite loose. We are allowed to fit anything within about two inches of the size on the tyre sticker. Don;t quote me on that, but the rules allow for this sort of size shuffling.

User avatar
talkingcars
Posts: 5766
Joined: Tue Mar 09, 2010 10:44 pm
MGF Register Region: South East
Model of Car: mk1 VVC
Location: West Sussex
Contact:

Re: MGF OR TF

Post by talkingcars » Thu Oct 19, 2017 7:25 pm

RobboMC wrote:......there is 2% lower rolling diameter which affects the acceleration and speedo reading;.....
Not allowing for tyre wear or variations in pressure due to ambient temperature or heat from driving........
Robbo wrote:Fortunately the tyre rules in this country are quite loose. We are allowed to fit anything within about two inches of the size on the tyre sticker. Don;t quote me on that, but the rules allow for this sort of size shuffling.
That is strict, in the UK as long as the tyre fits the rim and turns then anything goes........
Home to black Alfa 159 3.2 V6 Q4, blue MGZR160, green MGF VVC and grey MGF 1.8i, and red MG Maestro T16.

MGF chatting on the Register and at http://www.the-t-bar.com

User avatar
RobboMC
Posts: 1058
Joined: Wed May 09, 2012 1:36 am
MGF Register Region: Eastern Australia
Model of Car: 1999 Mpi

Re: MGF OR TF

Post by RobboMC » Mon Oct 23, 2017 2:52 am

So I went back and found the document that applies to me here in New South Wales, it's called VSI 09 and it states:

Minor changes to wheels

The outside diameter of the wheel and tyre combination must be no more than 15mm over the largest diameter
wheel and tyre combination specified for the vehicle and not more than 15mm below the smallest diameter wheel
and tyre combination specified for the vehicle.

Stricter than I thought, this is the document I had in my file to prove I was allowed to have 195/50 tyres when the placard is
185/55 and 205/50. The diameter difference is 10 mm and I'm not allowed much more. For example a 205/55 would be 20 mm larger
and so outside the rules.

User avatar
RobboMC
Posts: 1058
Joined: Wed May 09, 2012 1:36 am
MGF Register Region: Eastern Australia
Model of Car: 1999 Mpi

Re: MGF OR TF

Post by RobboMC » Mon Oct 23, 2017 3:09 am

So I went back and found the document that applies to me here in New South Wales, it's called VSI 09 and it states:

Minor changes to wheels

The outside diameter of the wheel and tyre combination must be no more than 15mm over the largest diameter
wheel and tyre combination specified for the vehicle and not more than 15mm below the smallest diameter wheel
and tyre combination specified for the vehicle.

Stricter than I thought, this is the document I had in my file to prove I was allowed to have 195/50 tyres when the placard is
185/55 and 205/50. The diameter difference is 10 mm and I'm not allowed much more. For example a 205/55 would be 20 mm larger
and so outside the rules.

User avatar
ArntyR
Posts: 323
Joined: Fri Feb 06, 2015 8:37 am
MGF Register Region: South East
Model of Car: 2010 TF135 Style
Location: West Sussex

Re: MGF OR TF

Post by ArntyR » Tue Oct 31, 2017 4:14 pm

I consider the TF to be a mk6 Metro

Aaah...geddit...mk3 but with metro subframes f+r?

Imo F + TF are both endearing, simple and cheap good v-f-m fun. eg compare F/TF radiator costs in the latest SafetyFast with proper (designed and built) MG models...

Post Reply