Midlife Crisis

[greg.harvey]

Funny. My mum's bought herself an MGF! She used to have a Mk III Midget when she was in her 20s so she's gone full circle.

I may mock, but I will definitely take it out and throw it around a bit one weekend very soon. They're mid-engined, and are supposed to handle very well, even though they're a bit hair-dresser-ish!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MG_Midget
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MG_F

[Vaigra]

A double mid-life crisis! Wow, she really must be feeling the strain

What year is it and how much did she pay for it? The usual details please

[greg.harvey]

Hehe...

Indeed - the details:

- MG F Mk I
- 1.8L
- 1997 (I think?) R reg, might be 1998
- £2,500

No photos at the moment, but I'll try and get some. I'm up that way on 4th June, so if I remember I'll take my camera.

[Vaigra]

Doesn't sound too bad. How much has it done?
Did she consider the MX5 at all?

[McReis]

I may mock, but I will definitely take it out and throw it around a bit one weekend very soon. They're mid-engined, and are supposed to handle very well, even though they're a bit hair-dresser-ish!

As you see, hairdresser is the way! Your mum is taking the midlife in style. Congrats to her!
Although some might disagree with the choice, I congratulate her for buying an "unreasonable" car instead of the usual econobox.
Not as cool as a midget, but much more usable.

Did she consider the MX5 at all?

Ouch! The question that hurts MGF owners!
Well, the guy who sold me my MX-5 had also a MGF 1.8 sat in his garage. He decided to sell the MX-5 mostly because of his wife preferences (see the pattern?), but he also though that the MGF was easier to drive. Well, he thought different from everyone, but the point is that he was happy with the brit, even with the top leaking.

[Vaigra]

Ouch! The question that hurts MGF owners!

yeah, just thought I'd ask because Greg doesn't seem to have mentioned anything about her consulting him before the purchase or wether or not she considered any other cars at all

[greg.harvey]

I'm being coached here!!

Ok, ok... firstly we looked at a nice, clean mid-70s MG BGT, the 1800 one. She got nostalgic, but then she found the steering too heavy now she's used to power-assisted, so that was a no go. Dad and I both said MX-5!!!! So we looked at a couple, but frankly, anything nice enough was just a shade over budget. And (no offence, McReis) the amount of boot (trunk) space is rubbish, once you've got a spare wheel in there! (Believe it or not, the MG F has a surprising amount of boot and bonnet space for storing bits and can swallow a couple of medium suitcases without fuss).

So, she looked at the MG F, fell completely in love with it, it was clean, about 85,000 miles I think, so relatively low mileage and cheap - everyone's scared of buying a Rover at the moment (that's why I picked up my immaculate Rover 600 for £850!!) - so bargain all round really.

Even dad and I couldn't argue with her choice, as the MX-5s we'd seen were shabbier and less well looked after. Because they're a more popular car, they've held their value much better, so even the slightly rough ones still fetch £2,000.

We did veto the convertible Escort though... NO!!!!

[McReis]

(no offence, McReis) the amount of boot (trunk) space is rubbish, once you've got a spare wheel in there!

Why should I be offended?
You're right, there's almost no boot space, and for a vacation trip, it's better to take a couple of fast inflating spray cans and leave the spare home. The MGB-like suite-case carriers are a cool, though not practical, option.
When I go to the supermarket with my girl, she gets strongly annoyed when we don't take her Polo. Carrying the groceries is a job for a puzzle lover.

(So, she looked at the MG F, fell completely in love with it, it was clean, about 85,000 miles I think, so relatively low mileage and cheap - everyone's scared of buying a Rover at the moment (that's why I picked up my immaculate Rover 600 for £850!!) - so bargain all round really.

Even dad and I couldn't argue with her choice, as the MX-5s we'd seen were shabbier and less well looked after. Because they're a more popular car, they've held their value much better, so even the slightly rough ones still fetch £2,000.

We did veto the convertible Escort though... NO!!!!

Those scary buyers are great for sensible buyers.
However, the effect doesn't spread to portugal. Early MGF's are more expensive than early MX-5's. Don't ask me why.
The MX-5's are still to expensive here too. Mine was very expensive for it's age, but a bargain compared to the prices of very rough ones I've seen before buying it. Cheap MX-5's simply don't exist here.

So we're waiting for the photos (hope it's BRG).

[greg.harvey]

So we're waiting for the photos (hope it's BRG).

Of course!!

[h00t_h00t]

Early MGF's are more expensive than early MX-5's. Don't ask me why.
The MX-5's are still to expensive here too. Mine was very expensive for it's age, but a bargain compared to the prices of very rough ones I've seen before buying it. Cheap MX-5's simply don't exist here.

So we're waiting for the photos (hope it's BRG).

You live in convertable country, what do you expect?

The MGF has hydraulic suspension similar to Citreons (I think) except it leaks and the car starts to sit much lower. FUN.

[PerfAdv]

Congrats!! to your mum.

We don't get MGs here but this one looks nice. Better to have a "midlife crisis" with an impractical car than say, by start smoking a pipe.

[Blue Supra]

MGs are around in Aus but not very common, too expensive for many people to consider over an MX5 or Astra convertible for example.

does it go alright?

[greg.harvey]

Hi all,

Congrats!! to your mum.

Will pass it on...

The MGF has hydraulic suspension similar to Citreons (I think) except it leaks and the car starts to sit much lower. FUN.

Yes and no. Austin, then Rover, have been using the system for decades and it is actually very reliable, but you're right - it's not like 'normal' suspension. Leaks, however, are very rare:
http://www.mgf.ultimatemg.com/group2...n/hydragas.htm

does it go alright?

Honest answer? 'Alright' is what I would say. I haven't had a go yet, but my dad reckons it's not as quick as my 1970s Elan, which is disappointing given that it's over 20 years newer and has more CCs. He reckons the handling is great though, and is convinced the Turbo or the uprated 145bhp 1.8 would be a lot of fun, but this is the mid-range engine model, which is, as you say, 'alright' - but certainly nothing to write home about! Still fun though...

Cheers!

G

[McReis]

You live in convertable country, what do you expect?

While you are correct, given our weather, I've read somewhere that UK is the country with the highest percentage of convertibles. Wich judging by the weather you guys have, proves that UK is the Car-Nut official country.

I haven't had a go yet, but my dad reckons it's not as quick as my 1970s Elan, which is disappointing given that it's over 20 years newer and has more CCs.

It doesn't surprise me at all, since cars are gettin so fat that they can't move fast with normal engines. As an example, yesterday I went to pick up an insurance car for my girlfriend (someone crashed into her Polo). They gave me a new Astra Caravan 1.4. I had never driven such, and on the way home I was thinking if they made that with a 1.2 engine and if it was one of those, because the car felt lovely built, very comfortable, very silent and polished but as fast as a snail... When I arrived home I picked up the papers to check what engine was that. I was surprised to see it was a 1.4, but the surprise was gone when I saw the weight right next to the engine size: 1825kgs!!!! It's my MX-5 x 2.

[Ferrer]

It doesn't surprise me at all, since cars are gettin so fat that they can't move fast with normal engines. As an example, yesterday I went to pick up an insurance car for my girlfriend (someone crashed into her Polo). They gave me a new Astra Caravan 1.4. I had never driven such, and on the way home I was thinking if they made that with a 1.2 engine and if it was one of those, because the car felt lovely built, very comfortable, very silent and polished but as fast as a snail... When I arrived home I picked up the papers to check what engine was that. I was surprised to see it was a 1.4, but the surprise was gone when I saw the weight right next to the engine size: 1825kgs!!!! It's my MX-5 x 2.

I don't think the Astra weights 1825kg, I think either it's mistake or you inadvertedly read the maximum weight authorised figure.