Hi - here for advice

Hi all, hope you are all keeping well. 

New to the site as thinking about getting a little weekend 2 seater to have some fun with. I’ve been thinking about the mx-5s NC, and obviously the TF. 

I’ve owned MGs in the last (ZS180 & ZT190) and used to run a MGZS forum many years ago! 

I love the look of the TFs but hear good things about how the MX-5s drive. I know about some of the TF ‘challenges’ but sounds like there are solutions available. I know mx5s like to rust too!

Budget is around £3-4k and I’ve seen a nice low mileage TF-160 within this budget. There are a few MX-5s around that price too. I’m not too worried resale value, but feel a TF might hold value better? (Future classics?)

One thing I’m keen to know about is owners community / car meets. I know the mx5s have an active owners club etc. How are things with MGF / MGTF owners?

many thanks
Ross

Hi Ross and Welcome to the Forum!
Lot's of honest advice here from some very knowledgable members about all things F and TF.
For the last 8 years I owned a mint MX5 NB. It had all the right running gear on it and the alignment was truly amazing and it was a joy to drive. 
Last September I bought a low mileage TF from 2002, same year as the Mazda.
I had decided to sell the Mazda and look for a project once it had gone but Sods Law the right TF came along and so I had both for 9 months. 
The Mazda build quality is much higher especially in switch gear where everything feels solid..and works.
However I found myself just driving the TF. I literally fell in love with this quirky British sports car. It stole my heart.
I put the MX5 up for sale at the beginning of this month and it sold within 2 hours. I had put a lot of me in to that car and it wanted for nothing..it was perfect.
I watched it drive away without an ounce of regret. Maybe it would have been different without having the TF as a substitute but in that moment and right now I do not regret selling.
As far as handling let me tell you the TF can live with it. The chassis is superb and it handles in a very neutral way and you can feel where you are with it. 
It is quirky but you know that if you have had other MG's but it is part of the charm!
If you go the MG route you will get all the help you need here to get it spot on.
Brian

The MX5..
   

The car that stole my heart..
   

Hi Brian,

Thanks for your reply. 

Nice to hear the TF stands up to the mx5 (mostly) and the driving experience is decent and comparable. 

I do prefer the look of the TF. Considering your NB and TF are the same age, the TF styling looks much better in my opinion.

Do people mod their Fs/TFs as much as people seem to do with the mx5s? I guess the mx5s have a global following / bigger market than the TFs, so more options available. 

I’m not sure I’d mod a TF, maybe suspension and subtle exhaust upgrade but they look great standard. 

Ross

 

Hi Ross,
The mods available for the MX5 far outweigh those of the TF's. Not even close.
One example is for brake pads for std brakes on an NB where one well known tuning place offers 30 different types from std at £20 to ceramic at £350.
Not so with the TF's although 4 pots have more choice.

I have been a Jap car fan all of my life from being a Toyota mechanic in the 70's and have grown to love their reliability and function..but..but..there is just something about my TF I love..a certain magic and a grin inducing smile every time I take it out.
It just may be the sweet sound of the engine just behind my head!
Test a few if you can. Mine is a 135 but it lived with the145 of the Mazda...and it is just sweeter to rev..!!
Good luck, not trying to sway you either way just being honest as I see it from having both at the same time.
All you really need on a TF is good tyres the chassis as far as handling is that good.
Brian

Thanks Brian.

Yeah I will take a look at some and see how they are. I do fancy a 160 if I can get one. The ZS I had (pic attached) was lovely to drive and the V6 was nice. One of my favourite cars I’ve owned.

I’ve got a 2023 BMW 320i at the moment. It’s a lovely car and drives really nice, but missing driving a manual car I think. The auto is great and very smooth, but just not the same as being able to shift through the gears down a nice B road!

I’m keen to attend to car meets and club events etc. I’m hoping there is still a good community meeting up.

Car looks great and having a background in MG you know the quirks but also the pleasures.
I wanted a 160 too..who doesn't..but the right car for me came along in the form of a 135 and I don't regret it at all.
Do try to get a test drive in one Ross.

TA22GT wrote:

Hi Ross,
The mods available for the MX5 far outweigh those of the TF's. Not even close.
One example is for brake pads for std brakes on an NB where one well known tuning place offers 30 different types from std at £20 to ceramic at £350.
Not so with the TF's although 4 pots have more choice.

I have been a Jap car fan all of my life from being a Toyota mechanic in the 70's and have grown to love their reliability and function..but..but..there is just something about my TF I love..a certain magic and a grin inducing smile every time I take it out.
It just may be the sweet sound of the engine just behind my head!
Test a few if you can. Mine is a 135 but it lived with the145 of the Mazda...and it is just sweeter to rev..!!
Good luck, not trying to sway you either way just being honest as I see it from having both at the same time.
All you really need on a TF is good tyres the chassis as far as handling is that good.
Brian


In terms of sensations  a great chassis + central engine + rear wheel drive is a winner, with the terrific plus of that roar behind your head (remap + air induction kit + SS exhaust)

It feels like you are driving a far more powerful vehicle. Like Brian, I am in love with this little car 😍
BMWs are great cars, but can’t compare with her in sheer driving pleasure,  in my opinion
 

Well said Pedro...there is just something about these cars that gets under your skin! 😁

G'day, and welcome to The-T-Bar, We have a checklist for new members/owners that you might want to look at:  https://www.the-t-bar.com/forum/54-how-tos/99326-a-check-list-for-new-owners
There is much useful information to be found in both the Library section: https://www.the-t-bar.com/library and the How To Guides: https://www.the-t-bar.com/forum/54-how-tos/25321-a-to-z-of-how-to-guides-pics-and-videos

Now as to comparing the MGF/TF against the Mazda MX5, they're both good little cars, each has both advantages and disadvantages compared to the other.
And like all cars they have their own problems and faults! On paper they match up pretty well, but that's not the whole story........there are factors that cant be measured as no metric exists with which to measure them, and no list of specifications, tables of performance figures or those stupidly flawed reliability surveys will show.
It's the inexplicable feeling you get wen driving some cars, they put a smile on your dial that couldn't be knocked off with a bloody sledge hammer!
It's  some thing the Italians are very good at and found in many Alfa Romeos, Lancias, some Fiats etc. But The MGF & TF have it too! It' that urge you get to take the long way to drive to the shop to buy bread and milk.......you know rather you'd drive the extra 50km on a twisty back road than the more direct and sensible route of 1km up the street to the shop! You push that little harder in order the enjoy the sounds and sensations of driving it. Going up and down trough the gears for the shear devilment of it!
Whereas in other cars that are sensible, competent and pleasant do not encourage you to want to drive them, for the sake of it, So you tend to take the most direct route and to get it into a suitable gear and try and leave it there instead of going through the gears for fun.
This is not to say the MX5 isn't engaging, but it's just not as engaging as the MGs IMHO!

I suggest you go out and checkout, try for size and test drive as many of both cars as possible, and when I say test drive I don't mean a quick lap around the block!
You need to be sure the car suits YOU......I don't have to live with your decision......you do!
A quick note on the TF it is a car that is VERY tyre sensitive, os if the car you test ,has shit el'cheapo ditch finder tyres it will handle like a labrador on a fresh cut lawn! The same goes for odd mix & match brands of tyres on the same car. So have a good look at the tryes before your teat drive!

Can't agree enough on the tyre thing. Mine's on awful mismatched cheapo ditch seekers and it's bloody awful haha.

Going to get a fresh set soon

Yep, a TF, especially a TF with 16" wheels is absolutely chalk and cheese driven on the right and the wrong tyres. These are amongst the best handling cars with the reccommended tyres but WILL be quite dreadful on the wrong tyres. The guy in the pub who says he is happy having saved £ 100 by putting unknown brand budget Chinese tyres on his diesel Ford Focus will probably get away with it unless he pushes it hard into corners - but someone doing the same on an F or particularly a TF, will notice the difference in even average driving.
Acceptable tyres for the TF really arent that costly but if there simply isnt the money around at the time then the safe way to save cash here is to buy the right type of tyres as part worn.
I can guarantee any stories that you hear about poor F or TF handling will have been caused by the wrong tyres. 

I'm not sure if it has been mentioned, but 4 wheel alignment is also vital to get optimum handling.
N.B. Double check the alignment centre has the correct figures!

Alignment