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MGFs - worth saving?
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Rick
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Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 22429
Location: UK

PostPosted: Thu Apr 04, 2019 7:28 pm    Post subject: MGFs - worth saving? Reply with quote

Evening all,

It occurred to me the other day that it's been quite a while since I last saw an MGF in seemingly regular use, ie in normal use in traffic, rather than at an event somewhere. Yet quite a few MX5 Mk1s and Mk2s are still pottering about.

Surely the head gasket issues can't solely be responsible for them all vanishing? Is it just an age thing, applicable to all cars of the same age? Or are MGFs especially prone to being taken off the road in large numbers, perhaps due to other mechanical woes, or even body rot for example?

I know they're not really old enough to be classics just yet, but will many survive long enough for it to be the case?

RJ
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BigJohn



Joined: 01 Jan 2011
Posts: 954
Location: Wem, Shropshire

PostPosted: Thu Apr 04, 2019 10:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

MGF, or MX5, why would you pick an MGF? I think the general consensus amongst my friends is Mazda every time. (Except one friend, but he has a few MG's so he doesn't count Very Happy )
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mikeC



Joined: 31 Jul 2009
Posts: 1771
Location: Market Warsop, Nottinghamshire

PostPosted: Fri Apr 05, 2019 8:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

As Rick says, there don't seem to be many around now, so I'd choose an F just to be different Very Happy
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Farmer John



Joined: 18 Feb 2010
Posts: 181
Location: Manawatu NZ

PostPosted: Fri Apr 05, 2019 6:55 pm    Post subject: MGF Reply with quote

I ran a search to see what an MGF looks like and did not recognise them at all. I did however see an article from a guy whose family had owned two for many miles and had no trouble with either except for one thermostat. He stated that the motor had been trouble free in it's saloon car donor vehicles but that the complication and space restrictions of it's mid mounting in the MGF made it difficult to get the cooling system full and all the air purged. The consequent overheating might then have compromised the head gasket without it being replaced and when the gasket did fail it was incorrectly labelled as the cause.
All makes sense don't you think? A possibility anyway.
The writer went on to say that he could not speak of the CVT transmissions which were considered weak as they had mainly come to NZ as "Jap imports" (of which we have thousands, boatloads coming in all the time) and had not come across any.
John
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badhuis



Joined: 20 Aug 2008
Posts: 1390
Location: Netherlands

PostPosted: Sat Apr 06, 2019 9:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

These cars are at the bottom of the market at the moment, here you can pick up a good example for under €2000.
I have driven one a few years ago and liked it a lot. Problem is I have too many cars and do not need another but would be glad to have one if I needed a 2 seater sports car. Because that is it, it feels like a sports car, nothing like a common eurobox. Low to the ground, the right seating position, direct steering, lovely.
I do not think they are unreliable, yes the head gasket failure may come up but once that has been taken care of there is not too much trouble.
There are some fancy editions around, I would not pick the first but would go looking for the VVC version and leather seats. Maybe a hardtop if you would want to use the car during winter. I would also want a series one, not the TF which does not have the cute looks of the Mk1.
Main disadvantage is that is not very practical! But excellent to have as a second car.
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Penman



Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 4751
Location: Swindon, Wilts.

PostPosted: Sat Apr 06, 2019 11:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi
If there was a problem filling the cooling system it sounds as if there are parts of it that are higher than the expansion tank fill cap.
I had a Renault like that and the fitted bleed valves on the hoses at the highest points, so you filled it up cold ran the engine till it warmed to operating temp then bled the air out of the valves.
Expansion tank then showed a low level after cooling so topped it up. Sometimes too a couple of goes before it stabilised.

Has the MGF got bleed valves in the system?
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Mog



Joined: 30 Dec 2007
Posts: 661
Location: Sydney

PostPosted: Sat Apr 06, 2019 11:35 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I had problems to purge the air out of my 1987 MWB Landcruiser . There is no filler on the radiator , it is on the engine block . The engine is a 4 cyl . diesel known as a 3 B . My solution is to park it nose down on a good slope and then fill it up . I have still got the car .
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Rick
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Joined: 27 Apr 2005
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Location: UK

PostPosted: Sat Apr 06, 2019 6:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The location of the engine and the poor access, swiftly put paid to me ever having plans to own one. Erindoors has owned a couple of Mk1 MX5s over the years, so got her "open top" motoring fix with them. I ran a Z3 2.8 for a time also, that was a lot of fun and quite "old school" in its approach to things.

RJ
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BigJohn



Joined: 01 Jan 2011
Posts: 954
Location: Wem, Shropshire

PostPosted: Sat Apr 06, 2019 7:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'd love a Z3 but I'm too tall to fit in, I tried a friend's and I couldn't get my legs in the under the wheel. I'm only 6'5". I was very disappointed.
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Keith D



Joined: 16 Oct 2008
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Location: Upper Swan, Western Australia

PostPosted: Sun Apr 07, 2019 1:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have a Z3 and love it to bits. I am under 6 feet so I fit inside it like a finger in a glove. Gorgeous car and as Rick says, very old school and very lively. It can be thrown about on bendy roads with confidence. Terrific little German (American built) animal!

Keith
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kevin2306



Joined: 01 Jul 2013
Posts: 1359
Location: nr Llangollen, north wales

PostPosted: Sun Apr 07, 2019 2:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I’ve considered an MGF but never bought one, ran a couple of mk1 mx5, great fun.
Wifey has just bought a lovely SLK, superb car and feels old school enough.

Kev
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ukdave2002



Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 4100
Location: South Cheshire

PostPosted: Sun Apr 07, 2019 11:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

There are lots of examples of "classics" that were never considered good in their day.

The MGF suffers from another issue; unlike 2 seater sports cars of earlier decades, it was not bought new in quantity by young blokes, I can't see many Gen X or Millennial's craving that MGF that they had in their youth!

Dave
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Vulgalour



Joined: 08 May 2018
Posts: 473
Location: Kent

PostPosted: Mon Apr 08, 2019 12:08 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The MG F is unfortunately hit with many problems, one of which is the MG TF which people tend to prefer for not being so 'cutesy' looking. Problems with rot at the rear of the sills and associated body tub (normal for most cars of the era, it seems), and the reputation of the K series being what it is don't help either. They haven't held their value as well as the later TF models and because many have suffered plenty of neglect, the poor old F also has a reputation for being a troublesome car through no real fault of its own.

A friend of mine races an F and really enjoys using it for that. He also likes the MX-5 and the TF but reckons the F has a certain something that makes it more enjoyable to throw about than the others.

The other thing that puts folks off the F is when they find out it makes use of Hydragas suspension. Even though the system works perfectly fine and is well suited to the car, and even though you can completely replace it with more conventional springs etc. fairly easily, it still puts people off when they can just go and get themselves a TF, or an MX-5.

It's a shame really. I can't remember the last time I saw an F on the road, while the last time I saw a Mk1 MX-5 was today.
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Ashley



Joined: 02 Jan 2008
Posts: 1426
Location: Near Stroud, Glos

PostPosted: Fri Apr 12, 2019 11:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

There are a few MGFs round here in regular use. I think the bugs are ironed out now and owners really like them. Not only that but the club is excellent and offers all sorts of activities for owners, so probably a good thing to buy while they’re cheap.
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