Friday, July 19, 2013
MG TF Review Road Test
Good points:The Alcantara interior is brilliant, spilt tomato soup on light grey interior and it just wiped off without too much effort without leaving any stains. Looks good!
Bad points:
Too many to mention! See below.
Main review:
I purchased the car from new and have had so many problems. The choke stuck on, the central locking wouldnt work on drivers side, the head gasket went, the drivers wiperblade stopped, the brakes constantly squeal, the roof pierced itself on the folding mechanism. in all fairness the dealer has been very good in helping with the above but the car is only just 2 years old with a catalogue of problems behind it, thank goodness for warrenties! I am glad I had AA membership well worth investing in as you purchase a TF!
Summary
The new MGTF was released in 2001, replacing the MGF in the manufacturers line up. The new car finally lives up to its sporting pretensions and now competes effectively in a highly image conscious sector, dominated by small Japanese convertibles, namely the Mazda MX5 and the Toyota MR2.
Aesthetically the front of the car has been significantly altered with changes to the bumper, grill and front headlamps, side intakes have been reshaped and the boot lid spoiler is smaller - all in all the new car looks much more aggressive than its predecessor.
More significantly from a drivers perspective the new car rides slightly lower - giving an indication of the mechanical changes lurking under the skin. The body is now much stiffer (by 20% according to MG) resulting in a huge reduction in scuttle shake. The suspension has been reengineered, coil springs replacing the Hydragas suspension units, the rear gets a multi-link axle and the steering now has a faster gearing. All of these changes have transformed the cars ride and handling and it is no longer a wolf in sheeps clothing.
On the down side, the new car will probably appeal less to buyers for whom driving experience is secondary to a comfortable ride around town - where you will definitely feel every bump and pot hole.
There are four engine choices in; 115bhp, 120bhp, 135bhp and 160bhp (the latter manages the 0-60 dash in less than seven seconds and a top speed of 137 mph), all engines produce an excellent engine note when revved hard.
The interior of the car is finished to the standards required in this class, controls and instrumentation are clear and easy to use. The main problem is likely to be legroom for taller drivers. Practically the MGTF provides a reasonable boot behind the engine - capable of carrying weekend luggage or a set of golf clubs, space under the bonnet is limited.
At higher speeds, with the top-up engine, wind and road noise are all evident but dont get too intrusive for a car of this nature.
NCAP safety and security test
NCAP crash test result 4/5
NCAP pedestrian test rating 3/5
