mg tf on fifth gear

[roverchippy]

hi,

does anyone have the video where fifth gear test the new mg tf le500, as i would love to watch it. If not any details of series number etc etc.

[MGFmad]

Not one that I have seen - wonder if they gave it a good review

[simon-g]

IIRC, I dont think they actually reviewed it, they just had it in the studio, and basically said it was crap.

[Figo]

Originally Posted by simon-g

IIRC, I dont think they actually reviewed it, they just had it in the studio, and basically said it was crap.

Thats a tad harsh statement coming from Fifth Gear

[David Mills]

Originally Posted by simon-g

IIRC, I dont think they actually reviewed it, they just had it in the studio, and basically said it was crap.

I thought they were pretty fair actually. They said it was originally not a bad car which was now too old and too expensive to compete. So yes they basically they slated it, but accurately.

[Black Bullet]

And harped on about the quality of the flimsy pull down lid of the centre cubby..

[Bacchus]

The Top Gear new car guide review of the TF was less than complimentary;

"Underneath, its almost exactly the same car it was before. And that came out in 1995. The same year, Shaggy was number one with Boombastic, which this car is not. TG Survey results Not in survey TG Choice only one Dont be fooled by Beige slacks and gray shoes. They'll go nicely with this Alternative drives Anything from the mid-ninteys or an MX-5 Score 5/20"

A little harsh I thought.

Craig

[adamelphick]

It IS getting a bit long in the tooth but that certainly doesn't make it a bad car.... shows like this really pee me off...

Back in '95 it was ahead of the game in terms of torsional stiffness, vey important for a little sports car.... in '02 it was stiffened again and had body shell amendments to assist with the 'stick to the road' feel.

So basically it is a 2002 car not a 1995 one.... yes it's not new but then it doesn't need to be new.

Some of our best loved cars were produced for absolutely yonks!

MGB 1962 - 1976
Stag 1970 - 1978
Mini 1959 - 2000 (!!!!!!!!!!!)
Cortina 1962 - 1982 (with body shell amendments)
Capri 1969 - 1986 (very minor body amendments)

So actually the TF is quite a young car!

[Neil Surrey Lab]

Yes a little harsh I think too.

BUT they have a point, or several. The car is pretty old now and some of the fitments that have been retained arent very good and never were. BUT it has evolved to become the ultimate evolution of the MGF. with every sensible mod you could think of (except a decent exhaust of course)

Also pricewise. I know for sure that they could be sold for a lot less than they are. The tools were basically given to NAC so no write down there and chinese labour costs only a fraction of what it does here. If they were serious about it they could flog them over here in basic unloaded form for ~ £10g a pop which would make it a totall bargain

Saying that I bought my basic F in Jan 1996 for £15999 so the price has come down significantly in relative terms.

[adamelphick]

Originally Posted by Neil Surrey Lab

Yes a little harsh I think too.

BUT they have a point, or several. The car is pretty old now and some of the fitments that have been retained arent very good and never were. BUT it has evolved to become the ultimate evolution of the MGF. with every sensible mod you could think of (except a decent exhaust of course)

Also pricewise. I know for sure that they could be sold for a lot less than they are. The tools were basically given to NAC so no write down there and chinese labour costs only a fraction of what it does here. If they were serious about it they could flog them over here in basic unloaded form for ~ £10g a pop which would make it a totall bargain

Saying that I bought my basic F in Jan 1996 for £15999 so the price has come down significantly in relative terms.

Agreed - good only knows why they didn't clean up the market with a budget £10K TF?! And alter some of the fitments inside - and LEFT the original speedo as that new one is as hideous as hideous can be!

[sniperpenguin]

Where did you find the picture?

[Neil Surrey Lab]

Originally Posted by adamelphick

Agreed - good only knows why they didn't clean up the market with a budget £10K TF?! And alter some of the fitments inside - and LEFT the original speedo as that new one is as hideous as hideous can be!

You see so I am not the only person thinking this way.

A £9999 basic no frills flat paint TF would have blitzed the market.

I refer you to the opinions I have about the capability and creativity ( or lack of it ) at MG Motors and before anybody wades in, YES I could do better and YES I am experienced and qualified to do so!

[sniperpenguin]

FOUND IT

Series 15 - Episode 1.......
Full episode here..
http://fwd.five.tv/fifth-gear/videos...s-15-episode-1

[PoorDriver]

Why don't they sell a basic shell, made in china? People over here love building their cars up, and there'd be trade for coachbuilders and upholsterers and all that in the uk. A bit like a kit car, but road legal with only the most basic trim possible.
People could do rolling upgrades, and uk companies could supply all sorts, from carbon hoods to glass-fibre wings, dasbords, door tims etc and whatnot. Best of both worlds, basic shell could easily be imported for less than 10 grand.

[adamelphick]

Just watched the video and that is one of the CRAPPIEST reviews ever! They couldn't even get the engine name right!

I think the reason they hated it that much was that if you have hair as terrible as them you'd not want a soft top anyway!

[Marti]

I'm downloading the video now from

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/F...5-1_209808.htm


From the other link posted I can't see anything, perhaps I miss some programs on my pc. I have a slow DSL, only 640 kb.....

[MGFmad]

Originally Posted by adamelphick

.....
I think the reason they hated it that much was that if you have hair as terrible as them you'd not want a soft top anyway!

Excellent

[Neil Surrey Lab]

It doesn't reflect on the show very well does it?

It has always been fashionable by the hard of thinking to slag off MGs

It also doesn't reflect very well on the marketing men at MG Motors but we wont get into that .

[Adam-MGTF]

Originally Posted by Neil Surrey Lab

You see so I am not the only person thinking this way.

A £9999 basic no frills flat paint TF would have blitzed the market.

I refer you to the opinions I have about the capability and creativity ( or lack of it ) at MG Motors and before anybody wades in, YES I could do better and YES I am experienced and qualified to do so!

im sure a basic TF (115 style) would blitz the market at that price but to be honest (this is a personal thing 100% not business) i like the fact that Fs and TFs arent ten a penny, theres only 3 in my town plus me, and we all give each other a wave, if peple were buying new TFs at cheap hatchback prices i think some of that would be lost somhow


i'd like the idea of a lotos/katrham 7 style kit car in the future, but can't see it happening somhow, if your gonna buy a 10k kit, it would need to be a track rather than sports car i rekon, on saying that a modarn Capri kit.... i'd be tempted lol, well my dad would be and id nick it :P lol

[rossocorsa]

Originally Posted by Adam-MGTF

i like the fact that Fs and TFs arent ten a penny, theres only 3 in my town plus me

that's unusual they are absolutely as common as muck around here. As regards 5th gear throw away comments in what is after all an entainment show. Not over keen on 5th gear the presenters seem to be Bar stool experts reading from the book of well know old wives tales and cliches. Having said that in a lot of ways the TF is a bit more than a little bit crap I wouldn't recommend one to anyone looking for a modern pain free experience but an immaculate second hand one is more reliable practical fun per pound than you'll get anywhere else