MGF/ MX5

MX5's are great, but rust kills a good few of them

MG TF too expensive for you?

The feedback I've had before is that the MG is an "adults" MX5 lol. I didn't really get on with the driving position in mine but it was more fun to drive than the Mazda.

I'd much rather fix a head gasket every year than be battling the dreaded rust!

Thanks fellas, so far the mgf is firmly in our sights! Will be looking between now and Xmas, no great rush but if the right car comes along may well have one here soon

Seen a few £400 cars.....looking for something very clean ,it will be garaged and only used in the spring/summer months so good mileage and history is a must

MGF's deffinatly suffer from tin worm, it's just a metro in a dress and we all know much metro's can rust.

I've had an F and a TF and providing it's a good one they are good cars, never owned a mx-5 though so can't comment.

Things to look out for on the F is rust, HG issues and make sure they steering is accurate. If it feels a bit vague and like your constantly correcting yourself it's probably down to the electronic power steering losing its calibration. Quite common but can be re-calibrated yourself with a bit of patience.

Personally I prefer the TF, looks a little more manly if that's possible and it has proper suspension instead of the hydrolastic. Also the VVC is 160PS instead of the 143PS of the F's

For me, it has to be the mx5. It depends what kind of driver you are really. The mx5s handling is superior to the mgf, you can push an mx5 to the limit and you always know what's going on underneath each corner, the steerings well weighted and the gear change rifle bolt. The mgf in the other hand, they feel a little 'wooly'. I've not felt particularly confident pushing one hard, they have an unpredictable feeling about them on the limit, and if the back end does slip away is very difficult to straighten up! They feel more plasticky inside too.

Just to throw a curve ball out there. BMW z3s are dirt cheap at the moment. I've toyed with chopping my mk1 mk5 in for a z3. Also considered the mgf at one point, but my neighbour constantly fixing bits on his put me off it! This is a point worth considering with the mgf. It is a complete pain to work on. Whilst I think about it mk3 mr2s are great little cars too and also very cheap.

I've had two MGF's one brand new (the only new car I've ever bought). I love them for their practicality, comfort and design. There's just something different about have the excellent K-series a few inches behind your back. Have driven the TF and found it less comfy and not a great deal better in the handling department.

BUT... just don't treat the MGF as sports car - in standard form it just does not have the roadholding of even a modest family hatchback.

It might be a little modern for this forum, but if you're considering an MGF and MX5, have a look at a MR2 Roadster too.

Some people don't like the looks and luggage space is pretty dire, but it runs rings around an MGF (and MGTF) in just about every way and really is a lovely car to drive. Having owned both I'd say it's probably a better drivers car than an MX-5 but being mid-engined it is more tricky on the limit and not as easy to slide around as an MX-5 if that your thing.

Early ones are pretty cheap now - not quite MGF cheap, but certainly less than a grand for a tidy one. Do be fussy as there's plenty out there and check the engine carefully as the pre-facelift ones can suffer ovalled bores and pre-cat failure, so run away from anything smoking, smelling of oil (or low on oil, suggesting it's burning it) or that seems down on power.