Dan1971's Story and Intro to his 2004 TF160

So here's my wee story...

About 20yrs ago I drove a 1.8 Vectra. I wanted a change and a guy had a TF on ebay and wanted a bigger car. I contacted him and we swapped. That was a base spec 135 but it was great fun. I'm 6'3 and found the driving position fine for such a small car. I joined a few forums and became hooked - not so much necessarily at the time on the TF - I also had a young family - but more on the forum chat, help etc. I passed a ZS180 at a local dealership and traded the TF for the 180. Stayed on MG forums, joined themgzs site and over the next few years went through around 5 180s, a diesel, a V6 ZT-T in Bittersweet amongst other cars - BMWs mostly. About 7 years ago I dabbled back in a TF with the Mirage one but to be honest I got rolled by the seller and bought it blind having been told it was a good one, but it was really corroded in places so it didn't last too long.

Fast forward to now and I'm only working p/t after retiring from a 30yr career in public service around London, have built a house in the Scottish borders and had an empty double garage. Anyway, I found my 160 on a well known auction site and after making contact with the seller, picked her up from Rotherham on Monday.

Mechanically the provenence is amazing. It was a management car, then an old boy bought it and kept it garaged, he fell ill, sold it to the old boy I bought it from who also kept it garaged - and now it's mine. Almost everything mechanically has been replaced within the last 1500 miles and 18 months - all serviced up, belts changed, pressure tested, new brakes (pads, discs and fluid), tyres, battery, alternator, fobs - he added stainless coolant pipes, stainless mike Satur exhaust with quad pipes, roll hoops and a perspex wind break. It drove home faultlessly - not as quick as I was expecting, but steering nice and straight, even, balanced braking, stayed cool even during very hot temps on the day and a number of heavy, slow traffic scenarios on the A1 home.

So far - all good.

However - when I picked it up, not only was it really dirty - not mud and general dirt you would expect - I'm talking dust and grime -  I also saw a few issues with the bodywork - after assurances that everything was fine, a hefty deposit agreeing the price and a 5hr train journey for my son and I. Not rust or corrosion - bits of damage. Rear bumper was flat and had paint runs. Seller told me he'd caught the wall of his garage and had just rattle canned it. Front bumper not quite sitting right and signs of a similar brush with a wall but no rattle can repair. Holes in the same bumper (found when I got home and removed a non-standard badge) and a couple of dinks where the paint's not broken. No I didn't try and re-negotiate, I'd just done a long trip, had a similar trip home driving it, and to be honest - liked the guy.

Plans.
Short term.
It's had a proper good clean. I'm talking hot soapy water inside - seats, steering - all touch points basically. All but one non-standard badging removed from the front (MG owners club metal that is screwed on) - I've left one extra one on the back because my Mrs likes it - union jack/chequered flag - (heavy sigh).   
I've ordered some screw covers as they were missing on the inside of the wing mirrors and scuttle panel, replacement gear and handbrake gaiters as he'd changed them to light blue (another heavy sigh because I "think" he also threw out a ring that is needed for the handbrake gaitor as the one currently fitted it kept in place with a cable tie), and some heater control knobs because he'd replaced one with a brand new one which is very obvious next to two old and skanky faded ones.
Medium term.
Get the bodyshop I visited this afternoon to deal with the front and rear bumpers unless I spot some for sale somewhere. He recommended getting a replcement front bumper anyway as mine appears "stressed" and an area for repair next to the grills will be difficult.
Get the dinks sorted.
Long Term.
I might look at a visit to KMaps. Not pops and bangs - too old for that, but more just to make sure she's running how she should and maybe perk her up a bit. Then if I do, change that 160 badge on the back to a 180. 

Thanks for reading.    




 

Great story, thank you for sharing it with us!

Great wee story that!

Very similar story to mine.. well apart from retirement... that's a long way off.. but rekindling the passion for a F or TF after a few Zed cars and dalliances with German cars. Theres nothing that quite scratches the itch and by the looks of that double garage you have yourself a nice area to enjoy it off the road as well as on it!

Nice story!
Looks a really nice car and in a great colour too. At least there is no rust so it's worth getting the scrapes done professionally.
I've been a life long jap car fan and when I sold my MX5 which was too good to use..!..I decided I wanted a project car to keep me in the garage.
For some unexplicable reason I started looking at the TF's until I just had to scratch the itch.
Luckily I got a bssic 135 that is as clean as a new car so I have had to do little spanner work on it.
Now I'm smitten! I absolutely love my little car.
I recently had it K mapped and it just made it so much nicer to drive as well as increasing bhp.
Enjoy your car..keep updating us with your progress.
Brian

Great story buddy and a really good looking TF. I have always loved a Rover/MG my first car was a Rover 200 1.6 I wanted the BRM at the time but it was £18,000 and at 19 years old and just about to join the army it was never going to happen, long story short I now own the two cars I have always wanted.   

Nice couple of cars there...

So first lot of bits through - blanks/screw covers for the scuttle and the wing mirror screws. Fitted - all good. One of the scuttle ones was a pain where I think when the last lot were removed, damage was caused meaning the replacement when fitted, seems under too much tension and just popped out a few times. See how long it lasts, but it's in for now.

And the gaitors. Really happy. The blue ones were so naff and glued in place (heavy sigh). Mrs C stitched the handbrake gairot as per one of the how to's on here and fits really nicely. Sad when returning something back to standard seems like a result - but hey ho. 



 

First day really to get out and have a drive other than the drive home from Rotherham which was mainly A1.

Firstly a drive down the A7 from just outside Galashiels to Hawick to visit my parents. They loved the car, but laughed when comparing it to my other car about how small it looked and how big I looked getting out of it - I'm 6'3 and the other car is a 2024 XC90.

Then this afternoon a punt on a small road that links Stow on the A7, to Lauder on the A68. Stopped to take a few snaps...







And better news when I got home to an email from a smart repair guy quoting me £500 for the touch ups to my bumpers rather than the bodyshop £2K that I had received...

Car looks good and it sounds like a good day all round.
£500 is much more like it!
It will soon be looking like new again.

More progress.

So the heater control knobs are now replaced.
You can see with them removed how discoloured they were -

 

And also now got the cubby supplied by Alec in there replacing the ashtray -

 

So, really happy with things in there now - crazy how the little things just make you feel better about something...

 


 

Looking nice Dan

Yes it does look rather nice!