The ‘real’ MG
The MG of today is, apart from the brand name, hardly the British brand of yesteryear. That also made very different cars. For example, we come across this MG F from 1997, which will undoubtedly also conquer someone’s heart at the age of 26.
Forget the MG’s ZS, 4 Electric and Marvel R for a moment. We go back to 1997, when MG was still a lot more British (admittedly under BMW rule) and was happy to show it with its cars. The MG F was in fact a car like MG and other British brands made quite a few in the twentieth century; an open two-seater. In the 1980s, however, the traditionally quite British roadster party had come to a standstill and the car that perfectly filled that gap came from Japan: the Mazda MX-5. MG did not want to leave it at that and for the first time in a long time came up with a completely self-designed model that had no Rover equivalent: the MG F.
Although it is clear that MG was targeting the MX-5, among other things, they took a different approach. After all, with the MG F the engine was not in the nose, but behind the two seats. A real rear-wheel drive roadster with mid-engine, if that didn’t guarantee a nice driving car … The MG F also looked nice and fresh for its time and the 1.6 and 1.8 from Rover that were available in it made the MG F besides, a nice smooth thing. The hydragas suspension, essentially a simpler British answer to Citroën’s hydropneumatic suspension system, provided comfortable yet sporty handling. A perfect recipe all in all, you would say. Yet the MG F also turned out not to be perfect; in particular the not really problem-free engines (and the difficult tinkering with them due to the placement) hindered the MG F.
So know what you’re getting into before you buy an MG F, because it can make you both very happy and sad. Anyway, such a roadster is never a rational purchase. It’s about the experience. Open the hood, the wind through your hair and send a nice Sunday afternoon. In a few months it will be spring again and this MG F is crying out for such rides. With only 112,000 km on the clock and an appearance that reflects a quiet life, it may be one that doesn’t leave you staring sadly at your wallet. What speaks less for him is that after one person has driven it from 2006 to 2021, three private individuals have already owned it for a very short time. So is there a catch, or rather, in the cramped engine compartment? In that light, the asking price of €4,995 may be a bit steep, although it can of course be better than expected. Would you dare?
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– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl