Alternative "Rag Tops"

[DanieleT]

I hadn't misread your comment. You did mention mid engine and you also did mention front wheel drive.
I am a fan of some French plonk though so I'll accept that their wine is good and I did own a clio 172 which was rather uncomfortable, so you're also good on that score.

Let's be fair now, you're hardly singing the praises of French cars, some of which will out handle the mgf or tf pretty easily and which are also fwd. A few might even be able to push that 300hp through the front wheels as well.
300bhp in a TF or 300bhp in one of those ugly meganes?
I know I wouldn't choose the MG.

The joke I see is an mg rover owner mentioning cars that are traditionally reliable.
Myths of the common motor car huh?
Much like every time someone starts chatting about my rover coupe turbo I get 'Has the head gasket gone yet?'

[RSR92]

Indeed, but I meant to be saying I like the MGF layout, the FWD car I spoke about was a front engined FWD drive car. In any case yes they make far better wine than I could aspire to, and that's a shame. My G/f will certainly want something a bit quicker soon and I was hoping the 172 would have had a decent suspension set up.

No I'm not, I don't doubt that some are good but I've never had a decent experience of driving one myself and wouldn't currently opt for one on that basis, especially to the tune of £15K for a convertible choice. My cousin did have two pugs; one was petrol and something went in it after about a year I think. He wasn't fond of it after but did love it at the time. His second one was a Diesel a 1.5 I think, N/A and he was a big fan of that and I got driven in it a lot and it wasn't an uncomfortable little car.
All said though I doubt I'd choose either the Megane or F to handle that amount of power in their 2000 incarnation. Present day hatchback chassis I'd probably pick the Leon Mk V chassis for personal preference as I loved my Ibiza FR MkIV, it served me incredibly well although the reason I enjoy the MGF so much is that there's not so much rear lift when going in hard on a corner. The Ibiza could have done with lowering tbh as it was stock but the MGF definitely handles better than any FWD hatchback I've driven as yet.

Although as I said my gf wants something faster so if you have the time of course see if you can find a quickish 1.6 of a French brand up to maybe £2000. I think she would get along good with an Ibiza MkIV 1.4 S I think they are 98BHP or about that so not too bad for a 1.4. If you can find me something as quick, as comfortable and it a compact hatchback format I'll keep the model in mind when we search, so make it a good one as it may have the chance to change my mind! I know a lot of them now do VVT models which would give it some extra go so I'm sure you could recommend one or two potential candidates to challenge my preconceptions

Well I understand that you had a bit of a bad experience so I won't begrudge you that, however my first car was a 214Si which served me incredibly well, comfortable, reliable, not too slow for a 1.4 and not hard to park. Absolutely loved it! My Auntie had a few Rovers that never gave her any trouble and an Ex's gramp-in-law drives nothing but MGs, he does keep two shells up his yard for spares which is a luxury most of us don't have the space for but he's got the know how and does all the work himself and I don't think he's ever had a problem...BUT there is then headgasket issue you've so many times been asked about that so many have experienced. I have not been so unlucky and mine was changed around 30K ago so all being well that will not manifest in some time, if ever. As you say myths indeed, 6 of one and all that it really is a hit and miss experience.

All I can say is I'm sad that there will never again be a new model from British MG like the F, as I will never be able to afford one of the Jag R Types of today (which would be a dream convertible choice! What a car), or at least not for many years. I regret everyday not getting a trophy, but who knows maybe I'll end up going MG mad and getting one of those too!

[DanieleT]

I'd recommend your gf trails a 172 clio as they are very cheap now and have a fair bit of poke. They do also handle very well if they're looked after but suffer badly from lift off oversteer..worse for some drivers than others depending on their driving style of course.
Modern French tat I'd have to say the DS3 is a good car and has won awards all over, I've only had a short blast in one and seemed a lot of fun, with a chassis that easily handled the power very well indeed. (Though it was only a 1.6 nasp engine)
I'm also unsure how much they go for.
I always loved the pug 106 rallye but you'll not see one of them for less than 3k thsee days in good nick and they did follow the french reliability reputation. Especially the flaking paintwork, something the Renault clio also did but not as bad.

I know very little about Seat cars buy I thought they were the same Base as skoda cars now. Either way I couldn't argue with your choice.

Additionally Ino 300bhp in any day to day car stops things being fun like an mgf or tf. You reach illegal speeds far too quickly and will also very quickly exceed speeds that no standard production chassis is gonna cope with. Or the brakes.
It stops being fun and becomes serious and scary. Whatever engine layout or drive system they use.
Although some people may disagree.

Ps. I also love the f / tf

[RSR92]

Oh god I don't know if I'd fancy being passenger! I think she probably needs something a little less speedy in the interim as she's only got a 1.2 so something as quick as that would be a big shock!

I'd be surprised to find a DS3 under2K, I was thinking there must be a decent VVT Renault in that sort of criteria?

They are basically, well VW, Skoda and Seat are all pretty much the same now, the Mkiv Seat was a polo chassis I think

Well yeah that's a good point I was just saying as a cost analysis you can get a used 300BHP Hatchback for sub £10K so 15K for that is not good value for money.

A nice ragtop would be a Jag of sorts most certainly, I'm sure one could be had for a reasonable price if it isn't too new. There's a big MX5 following but I'm not a big fan myself

[talkingcars]

T/C, one of our F reps has one

I'm not quite sure I follow the argument.

I'm not a big fan of French cars although the phase 2 Espace V6 I was given was a hoot.

[talkingcars]

I know very little about Seat cars buy I thought they were the same Base as skoda cars now.

And VW and Audi, the golf, beetle, A3, and IIRC the fabia and Ibiza all share the same floor pan.

[DanieleT]

To my mind there have been some seriously fun French cars over the years. I'll add here that my MG metro with a tuned 130hp nasp engine was one of the most fun cars I've ever had.
But, R5 turbo, pug 205, pug 106 rallye, clio 172..they weren't all terrible in reliability or build by comparison to other cars of the time such as Fords or others.

I don't mind mx5 but I've often heard they are a low speed low grip car for their fun..that's from mx5 owners too. Unlike the f/tf that is a lovely grippy little beast right out of the box.

As for sub 10k 300hp cats. .you could always get a Masarati 3200gt, jaguar xjr or a Bentley turbo r for that money

300hp for me would be a volvo s60r that's been well kept and can be had cheaply...unless a silly modded car like my coupe turbo was around and you'd likely get one for less than 3k.

It seems you can get a lot of car for your money these days but there are a lot of rotters about.

[Androlyn]

Total drift away from "Rag Top" chat for a while there, glad you two appear to have patched things up, got a little worried for a time as it looked like it was going to "overheat" to use an MGF term

Anyway, I am looking at a TVR S at the moment, I know they have a dodgy history when it comes to reliability and electrics etc, but I have always wanted one...........

I usually look for "Rag Tops" in Autumn & Winter as prices often improve

[RSR92]

Haha oh god, saying that you remind me of the old Ford Escort we had, that thing was in no way a shining example of engineering

See that's what I've heard about them too, that half the fun is the willingness for it to slide about it and in my eyes (and with my driving style) that's nothing but dangerous. If you've got the power you need the grip to go with it

Eugh out of the 3 I'd go for the Jag, hands down, I don't care which is better give me a Jag!

That's the problem...separating the wheat from the rustbuckets but yes good cars can be had for very VERY reasonable prices so long as you give them a proper looking over, as I say I've been incredibly lucky with me F so far, besides a couple of new coolant pipes and the clutch hydraulics for a 16 year old car she's in amazing shape!Although at some point I'm going to have to currust and hammerite the subframes for sure...a long job that anyone is welcome to come help with should they wish

I looked at some TVR's and some MR2's as well but I can't say I like the looks of them, the MG's just look so much nicer in my eyes I was a tad silly in that regard, I bought my F in may, but then again I swapped a 1.4 Golf I had as a go between after my Ibiza was written off by a stupid person in a Chelsea tractor who didn't understand that you give way to the right on mini-roundabouts!But on top of the golf I paid 375 for her and she had about 48.5K on the clock. H/G and timing belt done at 18Kish so all in all I didn't exactly get a bum deal, the only real fault at time of buying being the cat disintegrating...but it's MOT'ed until Feb so I've got plenty of time to get it sorted

[DanieleT]

I do think that in today's market the brands are no longer so relevant where reliability is concerned. Certainly not in European cars anyhow. Japanes always seem to be well thought of but I too was looking at MX5s and although we get hgf with the f/tf, the mazda are prone to rusting and flawed electronics.

Ive either been very unlucky or quite fortunate with my tf.
After buying from a trader I did 500 miles and got diagnosed with a failed hg, bypassed oil cooler, broken heater matrix, corroded underfloor pipes, binding brakes and suspension arms worn front and back.

A long list but it's now back with the trader and being repaired for its faults. If he does the work right I may have a decent tf. If not I'll cry for my inconvenience :-/

With regard TVR..many moons ago I raced a TVR Griffith with my MG Metro and left him for dead. I managed to get a clear 15car distance gap until he then reeled me in and overtook me at dangerous speed.
(It was in the wet and through twistys haha)

The TF despite suspension faults was still a good handling car in the wet and could be pushed nicely even on budget worn tyres.
I think the straight line fun of a TVR would quickly wear off tbh but the loss of hair and stained pants at each corner might just even things out
It'll never have the luxury and comfort of a jag either, or be as understated and classy.

[DanieleT]

Additionally, i found a cheap runabout for your gf..

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C765184

[Andy the tyre man]

Just two words Citroen wind and at £15k new yes new a good buy

Didn't Renault make the wind??

If you look at one side on and squint they look like chunky lotus europa's.

[MGFMania]

Available as 80 & 101bhp, all have 6 speed auto/manual gearbox with no-slip actuated clutch, 50mpg+

[David Dixon]

Well if were going for the removable roof panel car, something from Rover but with four seats

[David Dixon]

or in rag top four seater form