Your experience
Moderator: Committee Members
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- Posts: 1
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- MGF Register Region: United States of America
Your experience
Howdy all! I'm delving into the world of MG cars, focusing on the MGF model. What are your personal experiences with the MGF? Any maintenance tips, performance upgrades, or memorable road trip stories you'd love to share with a fellow enthusiast?
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- Posts: 137
- Joined: Thu Aug 03, 2023 3:48 pm
- MGF Register Region: South East
- Model of Car: TF 135 Sunstorm
Re: Your experience
The best place to start could be to look through the forum. There is a massive amount of information and experience here.
When you say you are looking to delve into MG cars, is this as a research project, acquiring the skills to work on these cars or with a view to looking out for one to buy and drive at some point ?
When you say you are looking to delve into MG cars, is this as a research project, acquiring the skills to work on these cars or with a view to looking out for one to buy and drive at some point ?
- nigelandjo
- Committee Member & Regional Rep
- Posts: 4929
- Joined: Tue Oct 09, 2007 9:44 pm
- MGF Register Region: Somerset & Dorset
- Model of Car: TF85th,TF135,Trophy
- Location: Berrow
- Contact:
Re: Your experience
Having been running MG TFs and MGFs as a daily driver since 2005. No real problems experienced. Have probably driven 150K miles in them in that time.
Nigel May
Somerset & Dorset Regional Rep, Membership Secretary, Registrar & Archivist
Email: somerset.dorset@mgfregister.org members@mgfregister.org
MGCC Members register here: https://mgfregister.org/?page_id=319
Somerset & Dorset Regional Rep, Membership Secretary, Registrar & Archivist
Email: somerset.dorset@mgfregister.org members@mgfregister.org
MGCC Members register here: https://mgfregister.org/?page_id=319
- Chris Tideswell
- Posts: 830
- Joined: Mon Oct 08, 2007 5:58 pm
- MGF Register Region: Midlands
- Model of Car: TF 135
- Location: Shepshed Leicestershire
- Contact:
Re: Your experience
This year I will have owned my TF for 20 years, the first 10 years as my daily driver with no real problems, the more you use them the reliable they are.
- Kasper
- Posts: 719
- Joined: Mon Oct 08, 2007 8:24 pm
- MGF Register Region: Europe
- Model of Car: MGF vvc
- Location: Veghel / The Netherlands
Re: Your experience
Our MGF is in the family for about 25 years, followed by a TF some decade ago. The F is an early car, a bit sensitive to servicing and well care. We use this one only for foreign trips and leasure as the car has been modified over the years. Performance wise: modified air filter, 52 mm TB, Trophy head, 4,2,1 manifold, sportscat, original damper (for what remains in it as damping material), AP front brakes, 280mm rear, polybush all around. Including various brackets and supports. (Lost count over the years)
Do I love the car; quite obvious, it is contagious.
The TF is a very late one 2005, steppy. Almost standard, OK, K-maps did their job (well!) and tweaking with brakes is needed to remain safe.
Do I love the car; quite obvious, it is contagious.
The TF is a very late one 2005, steppy. Almost standard, OK, K-maps did their job (well!) and tweaking with brakes is needed to remain safe.
MGFvvc - 90FVBG - charcoal - you might think it is original - (1996 nr:8204)
MGTF 120 - 57RNJ7 - BRG - every day is an MG day - (2005)
MGC CGT - SJ08DY - tartan red - 1985 restauration fairly original - (1968 nr: 4137)
http://www.MGF.be
MGTF 120 - 57RNJ7 - BRG - every day is an MG day - (2005)
MGC CGT - SJ08DY - tartan red - 1985 restauration fairly original - (1968 nr: 4137)
http://www.MGF.be
- Reckless Rat
- Posts: 1900
- Joined: Tue Apr 01, 2008 9:01 am
- MGF Register Region: Europe
- Model of Car: 97 1.8mpi in BRG
- Location: South of France - in the Gard.
Re: Your experience
I have a bog standard Mk1 MGF 1.8i which I have owned for 16 years. It has covered 117,000 miles and is perfectly reliable, although I did replace the head gasket several years ago at 80K miles (Land Rover modification multi-layer gasket). I am gearing up for an Italy trip in it at the end of the month. I do all my own maintenance because I'm Scottish and tighter than a submarine's window.
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- Posts: 80
- Joined: Thu Apr 28, 2022 6:26 pm
- MGF Register Region: Devon & Cornwall
- Model of Car: MGTF135 (2002)
- Location: Rawridge EX14 9PT
Re: Your experience
For what they are worth (not much, some would say) here are my thoughts:BillJordan wrote: ↑Wed Mar 06, 2024 5:14 amHowdy all! I'm delving into the world of MG cars, focusing on the MGF model. What are your personal experiences with the MGF? Any maintenance tips, performance upgrades, or memorable road trip stories you'd love to share with a fellow enthusiast?
1. Why MGF rather than TF?
I prefer the look of the F, but chose a TF because:
a. Chassis is stiffer and Spring suspension avoids issues with Hydragas Spheres which have (probably) lost most or all of the nitrogen (which is what should/did provide the nice combination of ride, anti-roll stiffness & good handling)
b. Rear suspension of the TF was changed to (amongst other things) eliminate the top swivel, which should be greased but probably has not seen a grease gun for 20 years!
You mention "Performance upgrades" The VVC TFs were good for 160bhp. Better air intake/filter arrangements and other tweaks gave standard 1.8 TFs 135bhp. Apart from Trophys, MOST Fs had slightly less, but perhaps marginally less weight: the Jury is out.
The one thing I regret on my TF purchase is NOT choosing the Sportpack version with bigger "AP" brakes. I found the standard brakes underwhelming, even compared with a 30 year old Kit car with brakes designed in the 1970's Vauxhall Viva/Magnum base car.
I have now fitted 280mm discs and a system which moves the standard, single-piston calliper outboard, which has greatly increased brake sensitivity & power, but it is still very much less sensitive than any modern car I have driven.
Let us know what your preferences are, and what you finally buy
- Rob Bell
- Committee Member
- Posts: 14438
- Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 2:36 pm
- MGF Register Region: South East
- Model of Car: MGF 1.8i + MGF Shed!
Re: Your experience
Owned my MGF from new, purchased in January 1996, and ended up building another as a race car, which has been racing for 15 years - so yes, they're good fun and a fantastic supporting community.
Great and very affordable parts supply, the K-series is shared with Caterham and Lotus, so a massive tuning scene. Factory turbo also exists (never fitted to the MGF/TF, but can be transplanted from a Rover), and of course there had been plans for a supercharged MGF back in the day...
Great and very affordable parts supply, the K-series is shared with Caterham and Lotus, so a massive tuning scene. Factory turbo also exists (never fitted to the MGF/TF, but can be transplanted from a Rover), and of course there had been plans for a supercharged MGF back in the day...