MG UK : TF 85th Anniversary Limited Edition now launched

Clive Goldthorp

MG TF 85th anniversary edition
MG TF 85th anniversary edition

MG Motor UK Limited has just launched a new limited edition of the TF model to celebrate the famous MG marque’s 85th Anniversary this year.

The MG TF 85th Anniversary’s key features include:-

• Unique new interior including leather seats

• 3 distinctive colours

• New external design – alloy wheels and unique 85th Anniversary graphics

50 vehicles only

• New suspension and handling package

• A competitive price of just £15,664 OTR that comes down to only £13,664 with the Government’s Scrappage Scheme allowance.

The external modifications are confined to the intoduction of three new colours and the distinctive graphics referred to above but the interior has also been upgraded with monogrammed sill finishers, a unique 85th Anniversary solid aluminium gear knob, Aubergine leather trim and a high quality ICE system.

However, AROnline reckons that the latest TF’s new ride and handling package will prove to be of more interest to die-hard MG enthusiasts.  MG UK claims that new Bilstein® suspension, Eibach® anti-roll bar system, lower ride height and a modified wheel set up on Rimstock® produced ‘Twisted Pepper’ style wheels make 85th Anniversary version the best ever TF to drive.

The company plans to build just 50 TF 85th Anniversary models and reckons that any prospective puchasers will have to be pretty quick off the mark in order to reserve them…

Clive Goldthorp

85 Comments

  1. A future collectors’ car I’d say… it might be worth a punt maybe if you stuck a V6 in it but, otherwise, I don’t think so.

    To be honest, the TF’s starting to get a bit long in the tooth. Yes, it was a great car but, in today’s market, it’s just too far off the pace to be a contender.

    Some people argue that the TF’s better then a Mazda MX5 etc. but how many of these people have actually sunk their own money into one? No, these are the very people who complain when the car is mocked or ignored yet they will be the first to see a secondhand bargain… and a bargain it will be after depreciation!

  2. What a load of rubbish!

    The MG TF is the very best car that money could buy – I have just sold both my kidneys to put a deposit on one.

  3. With no kidneys that means you will be connected to a colostomy bag. We have good news for you.

    On the options and accessories list, you can plump for a customized colostomy bag holder (with the MG 85th Anniversary logo). It fits neatly into the centre console.

  4. Good Grief. And those alloys? Are they advertising this model exclusively in Fast Car and Max Power? I don’t think they speak to the buyer demographic at all.

    For the love of badgers, chuck a properly revised front and rear end on it – or something – don’t keep raiding the Ripspeed section of Halfords.

  5. Should’ve celebrated by turning out a bunch of bargain basement models that might actually shift a few units – you know, strip everything out, bung on some wide steel wheels, ditch the leccy windows, fogs, tints,glass rear window, leather bits, ICE, floor mats and door/console cappings and flash exhaust, metallic paint and other trinkets – and call it the ’85 Lightweight’ special STARTING AT £11,499.

  6. Yeah – plastic bucket seats and harnesses. Black door handles. Chuck the airbags too.

    Sorry, don’t mean to hog the comments…

  7. What about the dialysis machine and does it come with all the fittings and, most important of all, does it have the 85th Anniversary logo?

  8. It will never sell. MG Dealers are offering LE500s that are under a year old and have less than 2,000 miles on the clock for under £12,000.00.

  9. You killed your motor-car industry and you continue to do so.

    I am the proud owner of an MG (a ZT 135 CDTi) – a fantastic car. My wife drives a Rover – a great car. We own an old (1972) but immaculate Mini which gives us a lot of pleasure on sunny days.

    Give the new MG a chance: the (unfortunately too small) production of cars
    in Longbridge and this great MG TF and, in the near future, the MG 6.

    We have always driven British cars, full of character, and intend
    to buy them in the future so give them a future and do not bring what’s left of your country’s car industry further to ruin. Your criticizing is not fair and correct!

  10. Can’t see why they would do yet more suspension mods for just 50 cars. Why not finally fix the ancient “problem” with seat height instead?

    MG needs to find its market – traditional MG enthusiasts don’t seem to be biting. Too worried about quality/depreciation/backup? Need to do some in heritage colours like the 1990’s Mini and Defender LEs? True classics don’t change over a long production run but maybe MG hasn’t got its Dealer network sorted – should have been assembling CKD Roewe 750s and MG 7s, maybe even MG 3, as well by now so Dealers had some volume to shift pending the arrival of MG 6.

    Surprised they aren’t doing LHD yet for Europe/USA. As for aluminium gear knobs – wait for a really sunny day and then find they get too hot to touch…. Don’t like the wheels. Why not do an LE of 85 units? I rather like the idea of a stripped down/lightweight/track day version.

  11. 85th year and yet only 50 cars? I know MG UK are poor at the moment but why not do at least 85 and give each one a unique numbered plaque? Still, nothing like flogging a dead horse is there?

  12. I don’t want to knock a British company Mr van Slooten – if this was Aston Martin, Jaguar, Land Rover, Rolls Royce etc., I would not because they are producing world class products.

    However, I struggle to find anything positive about this operation in Longbridge selling a product which any respectable manufacturer would have pensioned off nearly a decade ago.

    I would have some faith if I saw serious investment in Longbridge and new products but, instead, we are supposed to get excited about some new seats and dampers. Where are the new dashboard, the V6 version, the change in seat height and a decent pedal box? These are all modifcations which would actually start to turn this car into something good.

    What about the hope that one day the Chinese will assemble some CKD kits of saloons at Longbridge? Well, in reality, I think we will see pigs flying before that happens. However, if they did, you would be asking me to become excited about some dreary mixture of the now tired 75 platform and even more tired powertrain reskinned into a cheap and nasty alternative to some white good product from South Korea.

    I am, in fact, very sad and somewhat ashamed that we have let all this happen, but the “Austin” is dead and it’s time for us to move on and let her rest in peace.

  13. Steve :85th year and yet only 50 cars? I know MG UK are poor at the moment but why not do at least 85 and give each one a unique numbered plaque? Still, nothing like flogging a dead horse is there?

    I am very sad to say this but I suspect it’s because MG UK don’t believe they could sell more than these 50 units in a year.

  14. Please, please, please let this car die an honourable death. I hate to say it but the TF needs to be canned! After it’s amazing entry to market, it makes me sad to see the TF being ringed out of all possible cash like a wet flannel!

    I do, though, like the idea of a lightweight version… That’d make a nice run out model for any left over shells!

  15. There is a technical reason for the height of the MG F/TF seats – if you lower them, it becomes very difficult to get the restraint systems (belts/airbag) to perform correctly. It’s never as simple as you think!

  16. At last, some sensible analysis on this site. Personally, I am sick of the love in with the Chinese as basically they have asset stripped MG Rover and have no intention of returning to the UK.

    Don’t get me wrong, I like the TF I really do, and would quite happily stump up £3000 for a second hand one, but I could never consider buying a new one. I would also consider buying a nice Spitfire or GT6, but I would never expect a manufacturer to restart production of these classics no matter how good they were the first time around.

    I think we can sum up the new TF in two words: KIA ELAN

  17. The only firm to have asset stripped Rover are, in my opinion, our German ‘friends’ at ‘British Motor Wreckers’. They took Mini for their greedy little selves and have now lost the plot with the brand completely with every conceivable variant coming out. They milked Land Rover too before creaming it off to Ford, who in-turn then fobbed it off to Tata.

    Our German ‘friends’ also retained the ‘Rover’ name before somewhat bloody-mindedly selling that to Tata too, leaving MGR with an ageing 25/45/75 line up plus the MG TF. They had no intention of allowing MGR fight back from any level – no, never.

    SAIC/Nanjing had no intention of picking up the mess left by the Phoenix Four, so played and continue to play the long game. I agree with the correspondents above – for God’s sake, give MG/Roewe some time and a chance to recover from all of that turmoil. You’ll soon be moaning if Magna get away with ditching Vauxhall – I fully expect Mr. Brown to poo-poo any financial input to Ellesmere Port etc, in much the same way he stopped Tony Blair from rescuing Rover.

    Let MG live and breathe again – good luck to the ’85’… get behind it and, for God’s sake, buy what’s left of British! Before you say it… I’ve just bought a 75 Tourer and fabulous it is! The BMW engine is the least the Germans could have done!

  18. The latest twitch from the automotive world’s oldest corpse.

    This car is truly too horrible to contemplate.

    As one of the few sensible comments on this page states, let this car die in peace.

  19. Ian Perry :The only firm to have asset stripped Rover are, in my opinion, our German ‘friends’ at ‘British Motor Wreckers’. They took Mini for their greedy little selves and have now lost the plot with the brand completely with every conceivable variant coming out. They milked Land Rover too before creaming it off to Ford, who in-turn then fobbed it off to Tata.

    Our German ‘friends’ also retained the ‘Rover’ name before somewhat bloody-mindedly selling that to Tata too, leaving MGR with an ageing 25/45/75 line up plus the MG TF. They had no intention of allowing MGR fight back from any level – no, never.

    SAIC/Nanjing had no intention of picking up the mess left by the Phoenix Four, so played and continue to play the long game. I agree with the correspondents above – for God’s sake, give MG/Roewe some time and a chance to recover from all of that turmoil. You’ll soon be moaning if Magna get away with ditching Vauxhall – I fully expect Mr. Brown to poo-poo any financial input to Ellesmere Port etc, in much the same way he stopped Tony Blair from rescuing Rover.

    Let MG live and breathe again – good luck to the ‘85′… get behind it and, for God’s sake, buy what’s left of British! Before you say it… I’ve just bought a 75 Tourer and fabulous it is! The BMW engine is the least the Germans could have done!

    Xenophobia lives!

  20. Ian Perry :The only firm to have asset stripped Rover are, in my opinion, our German ‘friends’ at ‘British Motor Wreckers’. They took Mini for their greedy little selves and have now lost the plot with the brand completely with every conceivable variant coming out. They milked Land Rover too before creaming it off to Ford, who in-turn then fobbed it off to Tata.

    It’s a strange form of asset stripping that involves pouring hundreds of millions of pounds each year into business.

    As for the Mini brand, well I don’t recall it being well managed or properly exploited at any stage in its life until BMW stepped in. As for taking the New Mini, well they conceived the idea of a 911 type evolution of the Mini Cooper as opposed to Gaydon favoured Smart type car and then went and paid for its development and tooling so I can’t see they took anything that was not theirs to take.

    As for Land Rover, well it’s a strange way to milk a business by properly funding the tooling up of the Freelander and putting in a state of the art production facility (BAe would have had farmed out the production of the body shell to Finland) and developing the Mk3 Range Rover.

    As for retaining the Rover name, well that was done to protect Ford’s investment in Land Rover whilst allowing Mr Towers and his massive investment (£10) to use the brand.

    As for leaving MGR with the 25/45/75, well the 55 tooling was offered but Towers wasn’t prepared to buy it, the 75 was less than two years old and came again with a state of the art production line. BMW also provided Towers with a £400m interest-free loan, so hardly a bad deal for just £10.

    As for giving MG Roewe time to recover, why? They have had five years and all they have managed is to kit build a few hundred TF’s.

    I was prepared to buy the poorly built outdated rubbish that MGR sold me (TF160 and ZT260) because, despite knowing the management were fundamentally incompetent, I knew how important it was to the local economy and hoped they could sell the business to a more competent owner.

    However, I am not prepared to show support for what is nothing more than a pile of tired old bits shipped in from China and screwed together in Longbridge.

  21. Ian Elliott :There is a technical reason for the height of the MG F/TF seats – if you lower them, it becomes very difficult to get the restraint systems (belts/airbag) to perform correctly. It’s never as simple as you think!

    It’s not difficult – it just involves making an investment in the product which none of its owners have been prepared to do.

    Under BAe, it was a parts bin lash up to cash in on a market that had been re-opened by the MX5.

    Under BMW, it was seen as a short-lived product until time and resources could be focussed on making something better.

    Under Towers and his merry men, it would have taken valuable cash away from their pensions.

    Under the Chinese, it’s just about wringing out some cash from some tired old tooling. If SAIC Motor was serious about keeping MG as a Sports Car manufacturer, then they would have contracted a 3rd party to sort the thing out and to design and engineer a replacement.

  22. Stop with the whining about the fact that the Germans and Chinese have taken over your car industry. I cannot even figure out how to make cars. It may be a little embarrassing to be an Englishman.

  23. John Hollander :
    Stop with the whining about the fact that the Germans and Chinese have taken over your car industry. I cannot even figure out how to make cars. It may be a little embarrassing to be an Englishman.

    Sorry to be off topic, but your site is excellent.

  24. Graham :

    Ian Perry :The only firm to have asset stripped Rover are, in my opinion, our German ‘friends’ at ‘British Motor Wreckers’. They took Mini for their greedy little selves and have now lost the plot with the brand completely with every conceivable variant coming out. They milked Land Rover too before creaming it off to Ford, who in-turn then fobbed it off to Tata.

    It’s a strange form of asset stripping that involves pouring hundreds of millions of pounds each year into business.

    As for the Mini brand, well I don’t recall it being well managed or properly exploited at any stage in its life until BMW stepped in. As for taking the New Mini, well they conceived the idea of a 911 type evolution of the Mini Cooper as opposed to Gaydon favoured Smart type car and then went and paid for its development and tooling so I can’t see they took anything that was not theirs to take.

    As for Land Rover, well it’s a strange way to milk a business by properly funding the tooling up of the Freelander and putting in a state of the art production facility (BAe would have had farmed out the production of the body shell to Finland) and developing the Mk3 Range Rover.

    As for retaining the Rover name, well that was done to protect Ford’s investment in Land Rover whilst allowing Mr Towers and his massive investment (£10) to use the brand.

    As for leaving MGR with the 25/45/75, well the 55 tooling was offered but Towers wasn’t prepared to buy it, the 75 was less than two years old and came again with a state of the art production line. BMW also provided Towers with a £400m interest-free loan, so hardly a bad deal for just £10.

    As for giving MG Roewe time to recover, why? They have had five years and all they have managed is to kit build a few hundred TF’s.

    I was prepared to buy the poorly built outdated rubbish that MGR sold me (TF160 and ZT260) because, despite knowing the management were fundamentally incompetent, I knew how important it was to the local economy and hoped they could sell the business to a more competent owner.

    However, I am not prepared to show support for what is nothing more than a pile of tired old bits shipped in from China and screwed together in Longbridge.

    A superb contribution, I couldn’t put it better myself.

    It’s amazing that, when a story is published on this site about the MINI, the outright hostility is immediately apparent from the usual quarters. However, when this relic appears, the view couldn’t be more different.

    It would be nice to hear from MG if they have any future model plans – I’m somehow beginning to doubt it.

  25. abc :

    Graham :

    Ian Perry :The only firm to have asset stripped Rover are, in my opinion, our German ‘friends’ at ‘British Motor Wreckers’. They took Mini for their greedy little selves and have now lost the plot with the brand completely with every conceivable variant coming out. They milked Land Rover too before creaming it off to Ford, who in-turn then fobbed it off to Tata.

    It’s a strange form of asset stripping that involves pouring hundreds of millions of pounds each year into business.

    As for the Mini brand, well I don’t recall it being well managed or properly exploited at any stage in its life until BMW stepped in. As for taking the New Mini, well they conceived the idea of a 911 type evolution of the Mini Cooper as opposed to Gaydon favoured Smart type car and then went and paid for its development and tooling so I can’t see they took anything that was not theirs to take.

    As for Land Rover, well it’s a strange way to milk a business by properly funding the tooling up of the Freelander and putting in a state of the art production facility (BAe would have had farmed out the production of the body shell to Finland) and developing the Mk3 Range Rover.

    As for retaining the Rover name, well that was done to protect Ford’s investment in Land Rover whilst allowing Mr Towers and his massive investment (£10) to use the brand.As for leaving MGR with the 25/45/75, well the 55 tooling was offered but Towers wasn’t prepared to buy it, the 75 was less than two years old and came again with a state of the art production line. BMW also provided Towers with a £400m interest-free loan, so hardly a bad deal for just £10.

    As for giving MG Roewe time to recover, why? They have had five years and all they have managed is to kit build a few hundred TF’s.

    I was prepared to buy the poorly built outdated rubbish that MGR sold me (TF160 and ZT260) because, despite knowing the management were fundamentally incompetent, I knew how important it was to the local economy and hoped they could sell the business to a more competent owner.

    However, I am not prepared to show support for what is nothing more than a pile of tired old bits shipped in from China and screwed together in Longbridge.

    A superb contribution, I couldn’t put it better myself.

    It’s amazing that when a story is published on this site about the MINI, the outright hostility is immediately apparent from the usual quarters. However, when this relic appears, the view couldn’t be more different.

    It would be nice to hear from MG if they have any future model plans. I’m somehow beginning to doubt it.

    It was not the tooling purchased via BMW aka British Motor Wreckers. It was all through Longbridge money. Yes BMW had ownership but Rover Group was run independently. BMW studied everything that went on in Longbridge and took what they wanted – the jewel in the crown. Did BMW produce the Mini for 40 years? Err, no. They assisted for about five years then took it when it all went pear shaped.

    Longbridge had all of the MG models waiting in the wings but BMW would not allow production for fears of competition with there own products. It’s good that the MINI is still produced in the UK but for how long remains to be seen – I bet it’s not 40 years.

    Give MG Motor a chance. Let’s see what they can produce and support them by, at least, having a open mind and not referring back to the dark days of MGR. In the time SAIC have owned the MG brand, they have a new car waiting to go into production. Yes, the TF is a old product but it’s just getting things off the ground for them and it’s a classic roadster at affordable money.

  26. So Rover wasn’t at fault, it was all down to BMW.

    What a surprise!

    As for getting off the ground, if they’re so desperate for new products why don’t they market the ones they have in China?

    P.S.: As for wrecking the British Motor Industry, BMC/BLMC/Leyland Cars/Austin Morris/ARG and Rover did a pretty good job, but then they’re not German.

  27. Well, I take on board a lot of what’s been said here. I guess that 135 bhp is a tad limp in today’s market and wish that MG Motor had the rights to fit the VVC unit – that would wake it up!

    I have a much older 1999 MGF as my weekend fun car and for use at MG car show events. It is a VVC with a few mods now pushing out about 170 bhp and that would leave this TF standing. Well, it leaves a fair bit standing and comes as a surprise to a lot of other sports or hot hatchs on the road – a Mazda MX5 would not come close unless it has also had some major mods.

    I still think that, given the right power outputs and handling, MG cars will sell. And yes, I would put my money were my mouth is. My everyday car is a 56 reg ZT 260. Love it… Late MGR-built cars were quite good.

  28. Well, I take on board a lot of what’s been said here. I guess that 135 bhp is a tad limp in today’s market and wish that MG Motor had the rights to fit the VVC unit – that would wake it up!

    I have a much older 1999 MGF as my weekend fun car and for use at MG car show events. It is a VVC with a few mods now pushing out about 170 bhp and that would leave this TF standing. Well, it leaves a fair bit standing and comes as a surprise to a lot of other sports or hot hatchs on the road – a Mazda MX5 would not come close unless it has also had some major mods.

    I still think that, given the right power outputs and handling, MG cars will sell. And yes, I would put my money were my mouth is. My everyday car is a 56 reg ZT 260. Love it… Late MGR-built cars were quite good.

  29. Well, I take on board a lot of what’s been said here. I guess that 135 bhp is a tad limp in today’s market and wish that MG Motor had the rights to fit the VVC unit – that would wake it up!

    I have a much older 1999 MGF as my weekend fun car and for use at MG car show events. It is a VVC with a few mods now pushing out about 170 bhp and that would leave this TF standing. Well, it leaves a fair bit standing and comes as a surprise to a lot of other sports or hot hatchs on the road – a Mazda MX5 would not come close unless it has also had some major mods.

    I still think that, given the right power outputs and handling, MG cars will sell. And yes, I would put my money were my mouth is. My everyday car is a 56 reg ZT 260. Love it… Late MGR-built cars were quite good.

  30. Well, I take on board a lot of what’s been said here. I guess that 135 bhp is a tad limp in today’s market and wish that MG Motor had the rights to fit the VVC unit – that would wake it up!

    I have a much older 1999 MGF as my weekend fun car and for use at MG car show events. It is a VVC with a few mods now pushing out about 170 bhp and that would leave this TF standing. Well, it leaves a fair bit standing and comes as a surprise to a lot of other sports or hot hatchs on the road – a Mazda MX5 would not come close unless it has also had some major mods.

    I still think that, given the right power outputs and handling, MG cars will sell. And yes, I would put my money were my mouth is. My everyday car is a 56 reg ZT 260. Love it… Late MGR-built cars were quite good.

  31. Well, I take on board a lot of what’s been said here. I guess that 135 bhp is a tad limp in today’s market and wish that MG Motor had the rights to fit the VVC unit – that would wake it up!

    I have a much older 1999 MGF as my weekend fun car and for use at MG car show events. It is a VVC with a few mods now pushing out about 170 bhp and that would leave this TF standing. Well, it leaves a fair bit standing and comes as a surprise to a lot of other sports or hot hatchs on the road – a Mazda MX5 would not come close unless it has also had some major mods.

    I still think that, given the right power outputs and handling, MG cars will sell. And yes, I would put my money were my mouth is. My everyday car is a 56 reg ZT 260. Love it… Late MGR-built cars were quite good.

  32. I’ve just read all the comments and thought “No, Pete do not go off on one. It’s still a free country and everyone may have their own opinion.” Mind you, the term “free country” is a good place to start, so here we go.

    When I get into my old MGF with its top down on a lovely Brtish summer’s day, i think back to my Great Uncle who used to drive a 1939 MG Midget – a true British sportscar icon – and who also used to fly another Britsh icon – a Spitfire which, for me, symbolises Britsh hope & glory and freedom from, well, the Fatherland. I will never never buy German as long as I breath – I would rather walk on hot coals then drive a BMW.

    And as for the ZT 260 being crap, well it’s just pure fun on wheels…

  33. I’ve just read all the comments and thought “No, Pete do not go off on one. It’s still a free country and everyone may have their own opinion.” Mind you, the term “free country” is a good place to start, so here we go.

    When I get into my old MGF with its top down on a lovely Brtish summer’s day, i think back to my Great Uncle who used to drive a 1939 MG Midget – a true British sportscar icon – and who also used to fly another Britsh icon – a Spitfire which, for me, symbolises Britsh hope & glory and freedom from, well, the Fatherland. I will never never buy German as long as I breath – I would rather walk on hot coals then drive a BMW.

    And as for the ZT 260 being crap, well it’s just pure fun on wheels…

  34. I’ve just read all the comments and thought “No, Pete do not go off on one. It’s still a free country and everyone may have their own opinion.” Mind you, the term “free country” is a good place to start, so here we go.

    When I get into my old MGF with its top down on a lovely Brtish summer’s day, i think back to my Great Uncle who used to drive a 1939 MG Midget – a true British sportscar icon – and who also used to fly another Britsh icon – a Spitfire which, for me, symbolises Britsh hope & glory and freedom from, well, the Fatherland. I will never never buy German as long as I breath – I would rather walk on hot coals then drive a BMW.

    And as for the ZT 260 being crap, well it’s just pure fun on wheels…

  35. I’ve just read all the comments and thought “No, Pete do not go off on one. It’s still a free country and everyone may have their own opinion.” Mind you, the term “free country” is a good place to start, so here we go.

    When I get into my old MGF with its top down on a lovely Brtish summer’s day, i think back to my Great Uncle who used to drive a 1939 MG Midget – a true British sportscar icon – and who also used to fly another Britsh icon – a Spitfire which, for me, symbolises Britsh hope & glory and freedom from, well, the Fatherland. I will never never buy German as long as I breath – I would rather walk on hot coals then drive a BMW.

    And as for the ZT 260 being crap, well it’s just pure fun on wheels…

  36. I’ve just read all the comments and thought “No, Pete do not go off on one. It’s still a free country and everyone may have their own opinion.” Mind you, the term “free country” is a good place to start, so here we go.

    When I get into my old MGF with its top down on a lovely Brtish summer’s day, i think back to my Great Uncle who used to drive a 1939 MG Midget – a true British sportscar icon – and who also used to fly another Britsh icon – a Spitfire which, for me, symbolises Britsh hope & glory and freedom from, well, the Fatherland. I will never never buy German as long as I breath – I would rather walk on hot coals then drive a BMW.

    And as for the ZT 260 being crap, well it’s just pure fun on wheels…

  37. ABC, if you read and understand my comments, you will see I did not say that MGR were angels in running Longbridge the way they did. I worked there and saw how badly it was managed and I lost my job in the end.

    My point is that we should let MG Motor have a chance instead of immediately dismissing the company. They are ready to produce the MG 6 and we shouldn’t forget this country is in the worst economic down turn history has seen. People will not freely purchase a new car and I think MG are being realistic in only producing limited numbers so they don’t stock pile cars like most other manufactorers have done in the past. I hope that things come good for MG and will certainly consider a new MG when I’m ready to buy a new car.

    However, as for the kit form you mention being screwed together in Longbridge, this is essentially true but a lot of the parts are still sourced from MGR’s original suppliers and I also feel that the current build quality is better than MGR ever acheived. This is to be expected from the small numbers they are producing. Let’s get behind MG and support them or we will end up slating them into closure and chatting on BMW sites!

  38. Well said – if the MG 6 is built (or should I say assembled?) in Longbridge, I may well be going along to SMC once more. I know its no longer a true Brit but, if it brings work back to Longbridge and the car is good, I will accept that.

  39. Well said – if the MG 6 is built (or should I say assembled?) in Longbridge, I may well be going along to SMC once more. I know its no longer a true Brit but, if it brings work back to Longbridge and the car is good, I will accept that.

  40. Well said – if the MG 6 is built (or should I say assembled?) in Longbridge, I may well be going along to SMC once more. I know its no longer a true Brit but, if it brings work back to Longbridge and the car is good, I will accept that.

  41. Well said – if the MG 6 is built (or should I say assembled?) in Longbridge, I may well be going along to SMC once more. I know its no longer a true Brit but, if it brings work back to Longbridge and the car is good, I will accept that.

  42. Well said – if the MG 6 is built (or should I say assembled?) in Longbridge, I may well be going along to SMC once more. I know its no longer a true Brit but, if it brings work back to Longbridge and the car is good, I will accept that.

  43. Thanks Pete, I agree that it’s not the MGR we once knew but most of the development for the MG 6 was done by MGR and the old Design Team also still work for MG. It’s a credit to MG Motor to get this car into production – I will be buying one if it gets built at Longbridge.

    Once MG Motor has established itself again, they do intend to bring more production back to Longbridge. I admire the company’s determination in such a difficult climate. The company has launched three versions of the TF and, yes, I know that they are reincarnations of the original but times must be hard for any automotive manufacturer so well done MG, you have my full support.

  44. I think the TF is going for the MGB record of being around too bloody long. Sorry, but this car is a joke – it’s too old to sell at anything near £15k. Drop it to £8k and people will buy it as a bargain soft top. My local MG Dealer took delivery of a TF at the re-launch and, guess what, it’s still there!

  45. PD, why do you read this site? What other roadster can you buy for the 15k at this spec? The TF is a good buy even if, on the other hand, you can buy a good second hand TF for 8k with change to spare. Remember again that we are in a recession and that, unless you’re a banker who the Government have looked after, most of us will not be buying a new car.

    I wish you people would go back to buying whatever it is you buy and let MG get themselves off the ground. The TF is an enthusiast’s car which has a strong following in the market place but obviously not from yourself. The MGB is also a good car that set the benchmark as an affordable sportscar for the man in the street.

  46. Well Russ, you obviously haven’t spoken to any of the guys who work at Longbridge. They will tell you that the cars were built off old data and the commitment they have shown over the last 18 months is yet to be rewarded by being told they have the new model. A source from within has also told us that another 16 employees are to be made redundant in the very near future so what’s really happening – are we waiting for nothing?

  47. I actually worked as a temp for MG last year and have to say that the Chinese were fully committed to getting the MG to a very good quality.

    I believe that they are determined to make MG a success but, like everyone else or, at least, most people who write on here, we are waiting for something new. The new MGs which we are all seeing photographs in magazines and on websites need to be made a reality in Longbridge asap.

    Hundreds of former workers even today are waiting for the launch of the new small and medium MGs. The current workforce are waiting for news and, in the meantime, falling by the wayside so please Shanghai Auto come clean and tell us the plans – if not put us out of our misery and let us go gracefully and pull the shutters down.

  48. Sorry to chip in once more, but the TF at 12k (under HMG’s Scrappage Scheme) is quite good vfm. However, before the car left the line, it was being ripped into by the press and a varity of other knobs. Why? Simply because it is an MG.

    I have owned many cars in my time from Supra Turbos to Mustangs but my little F VVC always puts a smile on my face though, admittedly, it’s tuned and is only for hi days & holidays.

    However, I have had a few new ZED cars over the years and had an ivite to SMC in Iver to drive the LE 500. I thought the car still looked fresh, build qualty was on the mark and the only let down for me was that it could do with more punch.

    I wish MG well – since 2002, I have bought a 2002 ZR 120, then a 2004 ZR 160 and, even when MGR went to the wall, I bought a 2005 MG ZS 180. I now have a 56 plate ZT 260 plus my F, and my other half has a 54 ZR 105. All have been spot on. Most who slag MG have never had one. I take great pride in all my MGs and hope to be driving Longbridge-made MG cars again in the future.

  49. You wouldn’t attempt to restart production of the Honda Beat or Smart Roadster, both of which are far better than this piece of Chinese junk (geddit). Let’s face facts, in six/twelve months you won’t be able to order a TF either. The MG is dead, DEAD, and soon it will be buried!

  50. Crapmeister :You wouldn’t attempt to restart production of the Honda Beat or Smart Roadster, both of which are far better than this piece of Chinese junk (geddit). Let’s face facts, in six/twelve months you won’t be able to order a TF either. The MG is dead, DEAD, and soon it will be buried!

    YOU ARE A COMPLETE FOOL

  51. @R J

    Sorry, but everyone is entitled to their opinion. However, shouting people down just because you don’t agree with them down is very immature…

  52. ABC, I totally agree everyone is entitled to their opinions but to be rude about the product in question is also very narrow minded. Why bother even looking at this site if you don’t appreciate the products or, by the sound of it, don’t even like them or have ever liked them.

    Sorry, but you must have far too much time on your hands to look at things you don’t like. Hope this is not shouting too much for you….

  53. These comments interest me…

    I am fortunate enough to own and love to drive a Rover 75 V8 Tourer… I think one of only 17 built, lovely machine, but uses a lot of petrol.. !! My wife drives an ’06’ Reg Rover 25 2.0l Diesel… excellent car… I have worked and been involved with Rover & MG for 15 plus years… OK big Cock up, they went bust… bad management, company “ripped of” by Directors.. etc…but the basic product, build quality & overall engineering – excellent..So… give what’s left, the Chinese-owned operation, our full support…

    I have looked closely at the new MG’s being produced (or should I say “assembled” at Longbridge)… The quality is above average and the drive (on a test drive) is way above the TF (except the last 2005 ones which had several enhancements and would have “made” the model).

    Go for it SAIC! I relish the thought of the “6” and will probably end up buying one – especially if its built – or even assembled in Longbridge… Can the Phoenix rise again… ?? (Bet that’ll get some comments ! ). As for driving a BMW, never – don’t like even being a passenger in one… !

  54. Nice one Loz – I like your comments. I also drive a 2003 MG ZR 160 and it’s the best hot hatch I have had including Golf GTIs. I also have two Rover Minis which are loads of fun. You’re lucky to have one of the V8s – I looked into buying a ZT V8 but just couldn’t quite afford it.

    I will certainly consider a 6 when it comes out and, from inside info., I’m pretty sure it’s going to. It’ll be interesting to see what goes on – hopefully it will be good news for the plant in the short and long term future. I just hope that the critics who don’t actually drive or own anything Longbridge-built do not have their wishes granted before the cars leave the track.

  55. @Pete MG driver
    Pete,

    Grow up. I am very sorry that your beloved MG is DEAD and I understand that you are going through the grieving process (evidently still in denial).

    If you really think I have time to visit this site to wind people up, it is clear that you also have too much time on your hands.

    It is about time that there was proper debate on this website – after all, if the MG Rover products were so good, why did the company go to the wall?

    AND PLEASE, before anyone rushes to respond that it was the P4 that killed MGR, just think about the products and how ancient and uncompetitive they had become.

    Too late, here it comes…

  56. @ Crapwhatever

    Your name says it all really but, anyway, I would like to know why you think the products are poor. I have been driving for many years and always had a Longbridge-built car.

    I am a mechanic by trade and really do think the cars were good. Yes, there were some models I did not like but that goes for all manufacturers. At least if you’re ok with mechanics, you will more than likely be able to repair the cars yourself and obtain parts easily.

    I am not denying that the cars had their problems but you should see some of the probelms I have come across with other manufacturers: VW engines melting the plastic oil pickup into the oil and blocking the rings causing complete engine failure or Renault gearbox seals failing washing the gear oil out and destroying th cv joints. I have had Ford sumps go rotten and lose all the engine oil resulting in engine failure and the bodies on many Fords are no better than MGR products. An early Zetec engine had sticking valves which resulted in a 15/20k mondeo needing a new top end – at least it was caught early enough .

    I feel that you are being very unfair in your analogy – the products are as good as anyone of the competitors. There are good and bad in all – if you don’t like MGR then fair enough but to say they are ancient products is a misstatement. Ford were knocking on Rover’s door for the K series in ’89 for a suitable engine for the KA which in fact used a very old pushrod engine which was very good but hardly state of the art.

    The company went to the wall due to a very poor management, years of disorganisation, an, at times, very stubborn work force and greedy shareholders who used it to benefit themselves. The products were not at fault – in the later years they were as good as anything else, if not better in some cases.

  57. Russ, or whatever your name is, get with the programme.

    I have owned plenty of Longbridge products and have run several cars with K series engines. The cars were great and the Rover Dealers were always much better than Ford or Vauxhall.

    The point I am making, to which you many of you seem blind, is that, by the end of it’s MGR life, the MG TF was tired and needed replacement. Now, that may come as a shock but for, normal car companies they would have replaced the MG TF twice by this time. I am not denying it was a super little car in it’s time, but I cannot (in common with most of the UK) generate any enthusiasm for an inferior Chinese-built (assembled in Longbridge) car. Neither would I feel compelled to buy a Hindustani Ambassador, even it is based on a Morris Oxford.

    Honestly, if the Chinese started production of the Allegro and put that into Longbridge, would you buy it?

    It is time to face facts: the half dozen or so individuals who respond on this website in the belief that the Chinese will make Longbridge a going concern, are MAD. BONKERS!

    You cannot keep blaming P4, it was BAe and BMW who really stuffed the company, plus the inept management of Leonard Lord.

    Kaput!

  58. @Crapmeister General

    I learned, from bitter childhood experience in the school playground, that only bullies resort to name-calling. Your readiness to adopt such a debating strategy merely undermines your crediblity and the validity of your argument while your apparent failure to understand that demonstrates, at least, some degree of naivete…

    I have undertaken my role as AROnline’s News Editor on a pro bono basis for just over two years and have enjoyed helping Keith to maintain the highly professional standards for which his website had already become renowned. However, if my articles only prompt a debate which so rapidly sinks to the level of the school playground, then perhaps AROnline’s readers will forgive me for asking myself: “Why bother?”

  59. @Crapmeister General
    There are two reasons for me continuing to write for AROnline:-

    1) You are probably the only AROnline reader with such an apparent lack of self-respect as to sink to the level of a school bully – my efforts do, at least, appear to be appreciated by the vast majority of our readers.

    2) A well-informed, Longbridge-based source has just this morning told me to expect an announcement about the future of Longbridge from MG Motor UK Limited by this Christmas if not well before then – I am obviously keen to report on that and rather suspect that you may have to eat your own words…

  60. Saw the announcement. Was that what you were expecting?

    Very sad – rather than argue about cars we should start a fund for the MG workers who have been laid off. I would willingly contribute.

    Is this something that we can do?

  61. @Clive Goldthorp

    Clive,

    You really should look at some of the comments made about me -I should not have responded as I did, but I was provoked e.g.

    “YOU ARE A COMPLETE FOOL”
    R J

    “go take your Smart car and ram it as far up your hoop as you can”
    Pete MG driver

    I am disappointed that you have sought to victimise me, Clive, and I suspect it is because I hold different views to some of the readers of this website. However, I should point out that my views are consistent with most sane-minded members of the UK population.

    I expect an apology.

  62. @Crapmeister General

    I would make the following points in response to your most recent remarks:-

    1) I have, as you requested, re-read all the relevant comments on the “MG UK: TF 85th Anniversary Limited Edition now launched” article. You clearly intended to be deliberately provocative from the outset (Comment#3 above refers) and should, therefore, be prepared to reap what you sow if and when other AROnline readers respond to you in a similarly provocative manner.

    2) I note what you say about allowing yourself to be provoked by some of the equally intemperate comments made by RJ and Pete MG Driver but reckon that, in view of Point 1) above, you are being somewhat disingenuous in now seeking to rely on such a defence.

    3) I am sorry if you believe that you are being victimised but maintain that, in view of the foregoing, my comments remain justified. However, you have, though, gained my respect (and, hopefully, that of AROnline’s other readers) for having the decency and humility to apologise to RJ and Pete MG Driver – the man who never made a mistake, never made anything!

    4) I note you imply that there has been an element of bias in my replies to your Comments. However, as a (now) Non-Practising Solicitor who had a senior quasi-judicial role in the Public Sector for over twenty-two years, I learned long ago to adopt the following approach when dealing with most situations:

    – establish the facts

    – verify the facts with credible evidence

    – present the facts in a clear and objective manner

    – let the facts speak for themselves.

    I apply that approach equally rigorously in my role as AROnline’s News Editor and can assure you that your contention has no basis in fact – we should all, perhaps, learn to resist the temptation to jump to conclusions without knowing all the relevant facts!

    5) All AROnline’s readers are welcome to express their opinions on any of the articles which appear on the News pages and elsewhere but adopting a delberately provocative stance and resorting to calling other readers names does not, in reality, make for a constructive debate.

    6) The announcement that MG Motor UK Limited has now suspended MG TF production until March, 2010 was not, in fact, the one referred to by me at Point 2) in Comment#57 above. Indeed, if you read Autocar.co.uk’s article on that subject, you will see that MG Motor UK Limited’s new Sales and Marketing Director, Guy Jones, has said that more details of SAIC’s plans for MG and Longbridge will be revealed ‘soon’. The source referred to in my previous Comment has told me to expect that announcement by no later than Christmas… Hopefully, the twenty MG Motor UK Limited employees who are about to lose their jobs will be re-hired in the New Year.

    I hope that we can, at least, agree to bring this dialogue to an amicable close now – I have survived two pretty serious and potentially life-threatening health problems since Spring 2007 and have, as a consequence, come to recognise that time is a finite resource!

  63. Clive,

    Thanks, I fully appreciate the fact that you have taken the time to reread all of the comments and I am happy to bring this dialogue to a close.

    As a former Clinician, I too recognise that time is a finite resource and one that should be used wisely.

    Full on peace. Respect.

  64. Now all the shouting seems to have died down, I would just like to add that I have purchased a new TF 135 to replace a 6 year old TF 160. That was my second TF 160 and the first one replaced a F 135.

    I feel my new car, which was purchased in mid-August and has now covered over 4,000 trouble free miles, is the best one I have owned. I know production has been in limited quantities and that may be the reason why the car feels better built than the others.

    Regarding the design of the car, it still turns heads (it is not me they are looking at I can assure you!) both in the UK and on the Continent. The car is practical for the daily runs, weekend shopping and holiday trips -the amount of shopping/luggage the car can hold is a great surprise to most people.

    I reckon that, before posting opinions on a forum of this nature, it would be fair if the correspondents actually took a test run and then made their comments based of the experience rather than on popular hearsay.

  65. @AJ
    Sounds good – this is the first time I have seen a response from someone who has actually put their money where their mouth is.

    What is the Dealer experience like?

    CG

  66. Apart from the actual sale negotiations, when the relationship between the customer and the Sales Executive is a sort of forced friendship, I have had no need to return to the Dealership for any reason. The small piece of non-critical plastic that ceased to function properly was rectified at Longbridge when I was on one of Ian Pogson’s factory tours.

    The technical and production staff at Longbridge are, in my opinion, genuinely interested in getting the TFs built to the highest possible standard even though they must have been aware that production was to stop temporarily over the winter months.

    I was fortunate to be able to take in several of the factory tours and one of the main influences on my decision to purchase a new TF was the attitude and enthusiasm of the staff I met there – particularly Ian Pogson who, as a Senior Engineer, is probably responsible for more car sales than the Marketing Department!

    I chose the standard TF over the 85th Anniversary because I am a ‘no bling’ person – I prefer a standard solid colour (Frost White), no transfers, no fancy wheels and just the standard black leather interior. I would have been interested in the suspension mods if they had been available on a standard colour car but the answer was no when I enquired. It is fairly common knowledge that there is an engineering TF with a non-VVC engine reliably turning out well in excess of 160 bhp – if only that option was available to buy!

    My perfect spec. would have been the standard car as above fitted with the 85th Anniversary’s suspension and the uprated engine. That said, my car drives very well -the standard suspension is now comfortable without losing the sharp handling and the slight reduction in power is not noticeable.

    This TF, like all the others I have owned, has been my only car so has been used for everything from holidays to trips to the tip. Touching wood here (!), other than routine servicing/tyres etc., I have not had to spend anything on them since my first purchase of an F in 2001.

    I am not sure if images can be posted here but, if you wanted to have a look at my current car, use the following link (on Flickr):
    http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2550/3856479953_fba4eda8f4_o.jpg

  67. @AJ

    It looks stunning in white – I can’t understand why MG didn’t use this colour instead of the lurid orange to relaunch the TF.

    Glad to hear the Dealer experience has been good so far and hope it remains so on future visits. I always thought that the Dealers were the greatest strength of the marque. I had a fantastic relationship with my Dealer and was genuinely choked when they had to take on a Chevrolet franchise.

  68. I found MG’s sales strategy strange right from the re-start. By all means have a special edition ‘ halo ‘ (I think that is what these marketing people would call it) car but you need volume sales to pay the bills. The TF 135 should have been introduced at the same time to compliment the LE500.

    However, on a personal level, I would have no need for a hard top as I drive at every opportunity with the roof down and so air con is just another surplus to requirements item even though they both represented good added value.

    Launch timing is again strange, the LE500, the 85th Anniversary and TF 135 have all been introduced towards the very end of the best selling time for convertibles i.e the start of Autumn! MG UK admit that sales are low during the winter and that is why production has ceased for now but just imagine how many more sales could have been achieved with a little more promotion (many people did not know the car was still being made) last Spring!

    My TF is just about spec’d as I would want – 11 spoke wheels, leather interior and big brakes – and all for £13,500.

  69. That’s only a couple of £K more than a cooking Ford Fiesta. I know what I would buy given the choice (TF). I just hope that MG UK use the winter break to make some updates in order to keep the car fresh for its relaunch in the spring.

  70. It is about time that those who like MGs continue to do so and put their money where their mouths are. Those who are IDIOT CLARKSON followers or self-styled ‘critics’ should move on to cars from the manufacturers who are interested in chasing after that kind of audience.

    MG has never been about bling, 0-60 times, MPH shows at Earls Court/NEC or even getting into the supercar brigade. MG are about something more user-friendly than that. I own a new TF LE500. It is my sixth MG. I join the Owners’ Clubs. I enjoy the car for more than the metal and statistics. The ride is great. The thrill of owning a British sports car is fantastic. Yes, the Chinese now own the badge but they will, at least, pump in a new management professionalism that us Brits either forgot about or just didn’t bother with because we were all too busy slagging our assets off.

    MG is history in the making. You will be seeing the octagon all over the place in years to come. There is now investment going into the brand – something that most Brits have shamefully yet to recognise.

    I put my money where my mouth is. I’ve driven my LE500 over 10k miles already and loved every mile. I live on the West coast of Scotland and the mountainous roads are just mind blowing. All you that reckon the LE500 or the 85th Anniversary are just relics should try driving the car properly before your diss it. Try owning one for once, join the Owners’ Clubs, go on the road runs and attend the Fests. Make friends with real people – and learn to forget the Clarkson Sheep.

  71. Oh yes – I forgot to add another point!

    Earlier in this string, there were critical comments about the seat height of the F/TF. Well, for no money at all, you can buy yourself a seat lowering kit. Sounds fancy, but all you need to do is fit a set of longer upholstery springs under the seat squab. They allow the seat to relax a little under the occupant’s weight and there you go – a reduced height for your eye-line! Simple…

  72. @Captain Freedom
    True, it is also incredible value for money at the moment. I have now visited my local Dealer and have placed an order for a white TF similar to AJ’s.

    I am sure that you are right and that the MG brand will see a resurgence in the next few years. I just hope that, when MG Motor UK restart production in the Spring, they can keep the momentum going by introducing a saloon model.

  73. The MG badge will be a very common sight on our roads – even the American market will be full of them. The Chinese are on the right track. They are the strongest economy in the world right now – they are even set to own Volvo. It will be interesting to see if the Volvo brand gets the same slating that MG has had. I bet not.

    Although MG is the world’s favourite little sports car – the UK find it easy to throw stones at it. Volvo are known for invention and strength. Let’s see how ‘poor’ the brand becomes once in Chinese hands. I bet the quality improves. Even past MG Technicians are admiring the new build quality of the TFs leaving Longbridge – admitting it’s better than they ever acheived!

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