Thinking of buying an MG TF 160, anyone had one ?

[daleyboy 0]

I have an Alfa 156 2.5 V6 24v a "T" reg, good car but want something smaller, i have never owned a soft top or a mid engined car, has anyone ever owned one ?

 

Any comments on friends/family owning one, or any comment about the high level of my own stupidity for even thinking about doing this, are welcome (i think !?) :shrug:

Edited November 16, 2012 by daleyboy

[Wullie 1]

A girl in the Glasgow office had one when I was still in IT. She bought it second hand at about a year old and in the six months she owned it it spent four in the garage for repairs, mostly head gasket related. the windows didn't seal right against the roof and she spent a lot of time crying. Hopefully that was a one off.

[daleyboy 0]

Lets hope so Wullie, any one else got any stories ?

[Harrier 1]

Head gasket problems are the main issue with them,aside from general poor interior trim quality & wind noise & water leaks from roof,also seen a lot of corrosion to underside ,suspension & sub frames,couldnt recommend them im afraid although there nice to look at imo. If you want a mid engined car you might be better off with a Mk2 Toyota Mr2

[Billzeebub 1]

My brother had the 160, he loved it. Got it at 11k miles and it was light, fun, great sensation of speed, nice and revy..but the head gasket went at around 19k!!...head issues are the major weakness, even when it has been done. Make sure it's had it done at a MG/Rover dealer specialist I would say. Great cheap little roadster though, vastly underrated in my opinion..make sure you get the manual?.

 

..though if it was my money I would probably save another couple of months and get a comparable MR2 (if you don't need ANY luggage space!) or the ubiquitous MX5

Edited November 16, 2012 by Billzeebub

[daleyboy 0]

I know what the problems are with the car so im going into it eyes wide open, but so many people as you say love them, im only going to spend £2-3k so i could get a much better mg than mr2 for the money (i think)

 

The manual as in gears or the book ? Or both probably....... :geek:

[Billzeebub 1]

I know what the problems are with the car so im going into it eyes wide open, but so many people as you say love them, im only going to spend £2-3k so i could get a much better mg than mr2 for the money (i think)

 

The manual as in gears or the book ? Or both probably....... :geek:

 

Classic, but yeah I meant the gears. I seem to remember they also offered some sequential rubbish, but maybe that wasnt on the top engine?!..and definitely get the Haynes books etc!..

 

..and yeah, the comparative MR2 will be more, also has absoloutely no boot space. A mate of mine got a great deal on one from his sister, but seems to always have his Gfs high heels etc in passenger footwell..not a good look!..cracking drive though

Edited November 16, 2012 by Billzeebub

[daleyboy 0]

Yea MR2 not what i wanted i wanted a rag top, MX5 im not a hairdresser or a girl, and its just not quick enough i'll be thrashing it everywhere.

 

I have settled on the MG TF 160 (manual), after having two Alfa's it can't be worse than them !!

 

All cars have advantages/disadvantages and ive never had a soft top or a mid engined car, i have to say im getting quite excited, but i have led a sheltered life..........

[swampy 0]

If you get one fit the oil spray bars from a land rover discovery it helps prevent the hg going and so I'm told Is an easy modification to do

[CazzaVR 0]

They drive pretty well - nippy and good handling.

 

However... very unreliable and have a very girly image. As above, I'd go for an MR2 every day of the week. Alternatively, the MX5 is a fabulous mota...

[craigowl 0]

Two words -

 

bad & reputation.

 

Never mind, my lad bought a Lancia Y10 about 20 years ago.

[daleyboy 0]

But if i worried too much about reputation then i never would have bought an Alfa let alone two, i would have missed out on a great experience, sometimes you just have to say feck it im going for it, lifes to short eh ?

[tony_ack 0]

The wife of one of the guys at work had one - he said it was fun, if a little girly, then yep... HG went!

[OllieVR6 0]

I'm sure every MG owner I have ever met has said they've had the HG go at some point. You'd think they would do something about it!

[swampy 0]

I'm sure every MG owner I have ever met has said they've had the HG go at some point. You'd think they would do something about it!

 

They have.

Well they did when they a derivative of the engine in to the free lander,they fitted spray bars to the cylinder a fairly easy mod that can be retro fitted so I am told

[davidwort 0]

I'm struggling to find any reason to choose an mgf over an mx5, my sister had a recent mx5, 2L special edition, auto hard roof etc, fantastic car and amazing build quality.

I suppose if working on cars is a major hobby then the mgf might give you more opportunities :)

[daleyboy 0]

I dont know, i think its just a question of taste, and i just don't find the mx5 appealing, doing headgaskets don't phase me i have done plenty. I think a £2-3k on a mg will get me a newer/less mileage example than the mx5, so maybe yes the mx5 is a bit better but if i wanted the best then i would get finance and buy brand new or at least a 2-3 year old car, so the budget is playing a big part, you can get for that money a 53/54 mg having done 50-60k miles you wont get close to that with the mx5. I think the term "bang for your buck" is whats ringing in my head, the mg with a 0-60 of 6.9 is doing that...

 

My main reasons are as follows;

 

1) Its mid engined, never had one before, i want one.

2) Its cheap, or at least cheaper than its rivals and almost as good.

3) Its quicker than most of its rivals.

4) I have already made up my mind to get one.

5) Not worried about mechanicals, have a fully equipped garage, and the time/patience to do any work.

Edited November 18, 2012 by daleyboy

[clumpy1 11]

Just buy one then

[Kevin Bacon 5]

They handle really well but the later VVT ones can be a bit of a handful in the wet, just watch the loud pedal.

 

My mate lost his that way. It was a wet day and he was showing off at a cross-roads, giving it some beans whilst turning right to get the tail out, but he hit a patch of wet leaves and his lack of opposite lock skills meant the car mounted the pavement and then came to rest in a concrete fence post. I absolutely p1ssed myself. Stupid tool :lol:

 

And the craziest of coincidence's happened 1 minute later. A mate coming up the road saw us and the wrecked car, rubber necked and drove into the back of a car waiting at the lights :lol:

 

 

As for the HGs, that's ancient history. Rover revised the head gasket a long time ago to the 3 layer metal type. The only problem is if the liners have sunk. No amount of quality head gasketry will give a good enough seal.

 

Good engines the K series. Even the little 1.4 can rev way past 7K and can do 100hp/litre easily. Try getting that from a VW engine of the same vintage!

[Wullie 1]

As Kev says there have been revisions to the head gaskets and being bored had a google and found this http://www.fisher-services.co.uk/mgf-headgasket-mgoc-article.htm

 

And if the worst happens www.timguydesign.f2s.com/pics/MG-HG-Replacement.pdf

 

 

If and when you get it enjoy it, Laura used to arrive at work with a big grin til the head gasket problem. I seem to remember, strangely enough, that the seating position id higher than the Corrado, but that might just be me. Age is a funny thing.

[davidwort 0]

no headgasket technology gets you away from the simple fact they have such a small coolant capacity, which is a good design for warming up quick and efficiency, but that any small leak of coolant can overheat and damage the head, I'd be checking the coolant level every 5 minutes.

They also seem to have the electrics quality of a old Fiat, I've followed numerous MGF's with random lights coming on at the back or stuck on, remember, these things were built in Birmingham, same people responsible for the Rover SD1 & 800!

[iR6 0]

 

My main reasons are as follows;

 

4) I have already made up my mind to get one.

 

 

Haha love it!

[daleyboy 0]

Just buy one then

 

Thats the aim clumpy, to be honest i'd already made my mind up, a good story there Mr Bacon quite entertaining, and thanks for the links Wullie, i have already done much research although i hadn't found those links.

 

Thats why the rear wheel drive/mid engine bit interested me you have to keep your self on your toes i don't exactly do a lot of miles anyway, and am a bit bored of front wheel drive predictabilty.

[Jim Bowen 1]

I never listen to rumours but since seeing the hassle the guy at work has had. He loves them and has had three in about 5yrs. All had headgasket problems and other cooling issues and I remember something about some weird suspension setup that leaked.

 

Really put me off them and he hates his now. Has sat at home for a year after having headgasket done. Then dumping all the coolant a month later. He has a smart car as backup and it's always there and working.

 

To me. They all both a bit gay.

[daleyboy 0]

no headgasket technology gets you away from the simple fact they have such a small coolant capacity, which is a good design for warming up quick and efficiency, but that any small leak of coolant can overheat and damage the head, I'd be checking the coolant level every 5 minutes.

They also seem to have the electrics quality of a old Fiat, I've followed numerous MGF's with random lights coming on at the back or stuck on, remember, these things were built in Birmingham, same people responsible for the Rover SD1 & 800!

 

Dont forget Mr Wort i have had two alfa's on the bounce so things like flickering lights, to me, are just things cars do.......

 

Mr Bowen, i stopped caring what people thought about me a long time ago, the thread is about any experiences or stories had about this car, so i appreciate the story but not your opinion of the manliness, or lack of it, of this car. Im not buying this car for any superficial reason, like how people perceive me, i just want it for the driving experience and to try something new.

Edited November 20, 2012 by daleyboy