I have a 2003 MGTF and it's pretty good to be fair. Love driving it, love the roof down and love the feeling they give you. It's a 21 yr old car, they have rattles and groans but so do my ex's
@@JonCoupland just got a bad one huh? Had an Alfo Romeo mito (1.6 td) and absolutely loved it (massive Alfa fan), but this MGTF I have makes me feel better than the Mito did
(I admire the effort in changing your shirt for each intro). I think people forget that the MGF always got good write-ups in contemporary reviews, often beating MX5s in Group Tests. They also sold well. As with my comment on the K-series engine on the Rover 45 video, the MGF was probably too clever for its own good (plus as you quoted your dad saying, hard to work on being mid-engined).
My next door neighbour used to have a red one when they where new. Had it for many years though it's mirriad of MG-F problems. I think he has BMWs now. Thanks for sharing the story.
I paid 140 quid for the one I got, rotten as a pair but only needed it for the engine. That went in my Skoda Estelle. I sold parts off, scrapped the rest and was over 400 quid up with an engine...Winner 😀 I see why Mrs JC wasnt impressed, looks like winter and about 5 degrees with the roof off 😂
We owned an MGTF way back when. Build quality was poor and the roof sealed like a sieve. But…. On the right day it drove brilliantly and handled nicely.
Firstly, you should have kept it but only until your loss was a bit less. It's a difficult thing to buy your other half a car as a surprise. A few years ago I agreed to buy my partner a car for her 50th birthday. She doesn't have cheap taste, and first gave me the options of a Merc, BMW or Audi. Then fortunately for me, or maybe not, we passed a lovely dark red Jaguar XF on the motorway. Her head turned as we went by, & she said "uuummm that's nice". My mind was clear, she would be having one of those. I found one, dark red, high spec., 3 years old, low mileage. How could I go wrong? Quizzing her a week or 2 later, she specified all the things which the car must have, and yep, it had the lot. She finished the sentence with "I definitely don't want a red car". AAARRRGGHH!!! 🤯I though I had well prepared for her birthday, but clearly not. A few more weeks later I bought another 3 year old white XF, not such a high spec., but still a low mileage car. I had to give it to her a bit after her birthday, whilst her mum was visiting, and they both absolutely loved it - and still do. It was the first time her mum gave me a cuddle, and showed that she did actually like me. And she thanked me for keeping her daughter happy & for showing I was worthy ! 😇I ended up keeping the red XF for when I needed another car, which was a couple of years later.😁
Always loved the MGF and that one is in a lovely colour I know they do suffer with hydragas suspension at times and probably given the spend on the bodywork maybe a good swerve!
That colour is definitely likable! Tip, if you ever go back to mk1 MGF's, just try to sit in the MK2 or TF. Those seats make a hell lot of a difference.
Parting with your MGF was definitely the right decision Jon, even at a £600 loss. The model is desirable, one I’ve considered buying in the past. But I’ve heard too many bad ownership stories which has stopped me pulling the trigger on one. I guess they’re cheap for a reason! Such a shame as the concept is sound. Yours was a lovely colour though!
A shame that you got stung on this one, Jon. A sorted MGF is a cracking thing to drive, although it looks low so the Hydragas spheres were probably knackered. Sadly you paid way over the odds. I paid £1200 for mine and it’s in a lot better condition. We live and learn.
The old spheres are the problem. Or their membrane gets damaged or the other side of the membrane looses gas. You can pump the hell out of it with the hydro fluid, but the system will have way less cushion capacity and will loose it's drivability. If the spheres still have a good membrane they can be refurbished now on both sides after an added nozzle. Than the car will has its drivability back. And if you don't want this issue, buy the TF, like I did. Love the looks and roadfeel. Hope to have it the rest of my live, but it's now already over 10 years ago I bought my '03 TF with that point in time only 38K km on the clock. It's now at around 120K, so definitely not done yet.
@@fhwolthuis the mk2/TF seats are a bit lower and there's more space in the cabin of the MG than in the MX5. If you're around 1,85m it's still well doable in the MG although I would like to sit lower
@@fhwolthuis yes also the ND Mazda MX5 is a tiny car. I even go camping with the TF. That can't be done with the MX5, or you need to leave a lot at home. The MG has quite a good trunk space, a shopper bag of space in the front and with the added bootbag on the back and the flat tents behind the seats it works well.
These were rubbish weren’t they? And what is with all those washers/rivets under the front? I shares Mrs JCs views on this one, and am not surprised that it is no longer part of the fleet 😂😂
A sorted MGF is a lovely thing to drive. I should know, I’ve had one for over 4 years. As with anything, you need to do your homework on them. As Jon admitted, he went in blind.
Well you fully overpaid! I bought one, same colour 1997 for £400. Spent 600 on cambelt, suspension and general tidy up and it's a brilliant car. Only reason you lost there is it was worth NOWHERE near what you paid, hence you have a bitter taste of it. Brilliant and fun cars, disregard this video advice its not a bad car, it was a stupid deal
As far as I'm aware you own an Amaranth car which is a slightly different thing (more purple) but you are absolutely right. Nowhere did I say the MGF was a bad car. They are blooming good little cars if you buy a good one ... Unlike me. Who as you rightly say. Overpaid and lost out. It's just a bit of fun this countdown so don't take it too seriously 😊👍
Im glad i got shut of this one ... What did you think? Are you a fan?
See
Comments !!!!
Love smoking em at BMW !
I have a 2003 MGTF and it's pretty good to be fair. Love driving it, love the roof down and love the feeling they give you. It's a 21 yr old car, they have rattles and groans but so do my ex's
I genuinely believe the MGF is a totally different beast 😊👌 - I like them. Just not this one 🤣
@@JonCoupland just got a bad one huh? Had an Alfo Romeo mito (1.6 td) and absolutely loved it (massive Alfa fan), but this MGTF I have makes me feel better than the Mito did
(I admire the effort in changing your shirt for each intro). I think people forget that the MGF always got good write-ups in contemporary reviews, often beating MX5s in Group Tests. They also sold well. As with my comment on the K-series engine on the Rover 45 video, the MGF was probably too clever for its own good (plus as you quoted your dad saying, hard to work on being mid-engined).
🤣 think I filmed over 20 minutes purely in intros
My next door neighbour used to have a red one when they where new. Had it for many years though it's mirriad of MG-F problems. I think he has BMWs now. Thanks for sharing the story.
Thanks for watching ☺️👍
We've all had that one car where the heart has ruled the head!
Indeed. Lesson learned
I paid 140 quid for the one I got, rotten as a pair but only needed it for the engine. That went in my Skoda Estelle. I sold parts off, scrapped the rest and was over 400 quid up with an engine...Winner 😀 I see why Mrs JC wasnt impressed, looks like winter and about 5 degrees with the roof off 😂
That morning it was frosty ...
We owned an MGTF way back when. Build quality was poor and the roof sealed like a sieve.
But…. On the right day it drove brilliantly and handled nicely.
Was great fun to drive
Firstly, you should have kept it but only until your loss was a bit less.
It's a difficult thing to buy your other half a car as a surprise. A few years ago I agreed to buy my partner a car for her 50th birthday. She doesn't have cheap taste, and first gave me the options of a Merc, BMW or Audi. Then fortunately for me, or maybe not, we passed a lovely dark red Jaguar XF on the motorway. Her head turned as we went by, & she said "uuummm that's nice". My mind was clear, she would be having one of those. I found one, dark red, high spec., 3 years old, low mileage. How could I go wrong? Quizzing her a week or 2 later, she specified all the things which the car must have, and yep, it had the lot. She finished the sentence with "I definitely don't want a red car". AAARRRGGHH!!! 🤯I though I had well prepared for her birthday, but clearly not. A few more weeks later I bought another 3 year old white XF, not such a high spec., but still a low mileage car. I had to give it to her a bit after her birthday, whilst her mum was visiting, and they both absolutely loved it - and still do. It was the first time her mum gave me a cuddle, and showed that she did actually like me. And she thanked me for keeping her daughter happy & for showing I was worthy ! 😇I ended up keeping the red XF for when I needed another car, which was a couple of years later.😁
By that point i just wanted the car out my life :)
Don't worry Jon it happens to us all. Even the trader lost money on it so don't feel bad. The joys of buying and selling. Great channel buy the way.
Thanks for watching
Great video mate best move get shot of it 😊
I think so too 😁
You did the wrong thing Jon 😉 you should have never purchased the car in the first place. You said it all 😄👍
Totally agree - ive learnt from my mistake - hopefully this video will generate me about £3 towards getting my money back ...
@@JonCoupland 🤣
Wen i worked for BMW, loads a these got traded in ............thee great for doing 🍩 in ........smoooooking !!!!!
Awesome 😎
Wheels suggest it is an MPi not a VVC
You are absolutely correct. It was an MPI (imho better than a VVC on the K series) - apologies I've had LOTS of K series cars the past few years
Such a shame. Was a cracking colour too
Colour was brilliant - the mechanics were good - just a shame i lost out so much
Always loved the MGF and that one is in a lovely colour I know they do suffer with hydragas suspension at times and probably given the spend on the bodywork maybe a good swerve!
Thanks Daniel. I bought it purely for the funky colour
That colour is definitely likable!
Tip, if you ever go back to mk1 MGF's, just try to sit in the MK2 or TF. Those seats make a hell lot of a difference.
Parting with your MGF was definitely the right decision Jon, even at a £600 loss. The model is desirable, one I’ve considered buying in the past. But I’ve heard too many bad ownership stories which has stopped me pulling the trigger on one. I guess they’re cheap for a reason! Such a shame as the concept is sound. Yours was a lovely colour though!
I think you have hit the nail on the head there. My argument is this. Buy a good one. Buy it cheap and enjoy
Cars are like woman we all have regrets in both cases never do anything on an impulse often live to regret it.
I absolutely let my heart rule my head here and lost out
That's a shame I really like the F
I think if id have bought a better example ... i would have done too
cant win em all Jon
Absolutely right
A shame that you got stung on this one, Jon. A sorted MGF is a cracking thing to drive, although it looks low so the Hydragas spheres were probably knackered.
Sadly you paid way over the odds. I paid £1200 for mine and it’s in a lot better condition.
We live and learn.
It is what it is :) - Hydrogas was pumped up by Dad and i before we sold - wasnt broken just low
The old spheres are the problem. Or their membrane gets damaged or the other side of the membrane looses gas. You can pump the hell out of it with the hydro fluid, but the system will have way less cushion capacity and will loose it's drivability.
If the spheres still have a good membrane they can be refurbished now on both sides after an added nozzle. Than the car will has its drivability back.
And if you don't want this issue, buy the TF, like I did. Love the looks and roadfeel. Hope to have it the rest of my live, but it's now already over 10 years ago I bought my '03 TF with that point in time only 38K km on the clock. It's now at around 120K, so definitely not done yet.
We all live and learn, never mind just move on
Exactly - win some lose some :)
I much rather have an Alfa 916 spider. Don't fit in an MX-5 and barchetta so probably not in here as well 😅
Sounds great! 😃👍
@@fhwolthuis the mk2/TF seats are a bit lower and there's more space in the cabin of the MG than in the MX5. If you're around 1,85m it's still well doable in the MG although I would like to sit lower
@martinb1986 thanks! I'm 1,92m and 120kg(ish) 😅 I only tried the modern FIAT 124 spider and half my head stuck out above the windshield...
@@fhwolthuis yes also the ND Mazda MX5 is a tiny car. I even go camping with the TF. That can't be done with the MX5, or you need to leave a lot at home. The MG has quite a good trunk space, a shopper bag of space in the front and with the added bootbag on the back and the flat tents behind the seats it works well.
Nice idea, but sadly your wallet suffered on that one! Never mind, onwards and upwards. Definitely not worthy of the Coupland collection.
Very true!
These were rubbish weren’t they? And what is with all those washers/rivets under the front? I shares Mrs JCs views on this one, and am not surprised that it is no longer part of the fleet 😂😂
It drove lovely - but actually ... theres a very good reason why they are so cheap nowadays - i worked out i actually lost over £1000 in the end!
A sorted MGF is a lovely thing to drive. I should know, I’ve had one for over 4 years. As with anything, you need to do your homework on them. As Jon admitted, he went in blind.
Well you fully overpaid! I bought one, same colour 1997 for £400. Spent 600 on cambelt, suspension and general tidy up and it's a brilliant car. Only reason you lost there is it was worth NOWHERE near what you paid, hence you have a bitter taste of it. Brilliant and fun cars, disregard this video advice its not a bad car, it was a stupid deal
As far as I'm aware you own an Amaranth car which is a slightly different thing (more purple) but you are absolutely right. Nowhere did I say the MGF was a bad car. They are blooming good little cars if you buy a good one ... Unlike me. Who as you rightly say. Overpaid and lost out. It's just a bit of fun this countdown so don't take it too seriously 😊👍
They were so bad
This one certainly was a bad buy