| Overall Rating |
 |
| Description |
| This affordable soft-top sold steadily for seven years before its replacement by the tweaked and tidied MGTF. It's good in parts but no match for MX-5 or the newer MR2. |
| Handling |
 |
| Comfort |
|
| Quality & Reliability |
|
| Performance |
|
| Roominess |
 |
| Running Costs |
|
| Value for Money |
|
| Stereo/Sat Nav |
|
| NCAP |
| Not tested |
| Best Models |
| 1.8i VVC |
| Worst Models |
| 1.6i |
| Replacement |
| by MGTF in 2002 |
|
| Road Test |
| When Rover eventually revived the small MG soft-top in 1995, fans of small, affordable sportsters gave the MGF the thumbs-up. Rear-wheel drive and a mid-mounted engine gives excellent handling balance, the engines love revs, and styling is spot-on. MGF looks more muscular than arch-rival MX-5 and goes a bit faster, too. But it's not such a flawlessly conceived overall package. Roadholding is grippy, but where MX-5 feels precision-made, MGF makes do with a body that feels less than solid when cornered hard or when it hits big bumps. Ride can suffer as a result. And both steering and gear-change could be crisper to exploit the 1.8i engines' unarguable sporting potential. It's a snug two-seater and rather claustrophobic with the hood up. Cabin layout and interior finish are mediocre (the MGTF improves in this area). But it's an MG, a lot of fun, and doesn't cost too much to run! |
| Positive Points |
- Lots about from under £5000
- Responsive Rover K-Series engines
- It's got that famous octagonal badge
|
| Negative Points |
- Reliability issues, especially on early cars
- Cosy cabin
- some might say cramped
- Some shabby older cars about now
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