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MG MGF Technical - More buying questions...

Guys,

Another two questions!

If I buy a Trophy, will the big brakes and better traction make up for not having ABS? How good is the ABS on the VVC and is it reliable?

Is a previous HGF a good sign or a bad sign? That is, if the gasket has gone and been fixed, is there likely to have been any lasting damage? I realise that kind of depends on how long/hard I was driven with the gasket gone, but in general?

Thanks again,

Neil
Neil22

I would have thought that the big brakes would make ABS more desirable. ABS doesn't make the brakes more efficient - it prevents the wheels locking in slippery conditions. I would have thought bigger brakes would lock more easily. My 1995 MGF has ABS and in 13 years it hasn't give any trouble.
As for the previous HGF, its impossible to say. It might never go again, or it might fail next week. You can't tell. Make sure the coolant is clean and that the level doesn't alter after a drive (it will go up a bit when hot, but should return to the previous cold level). Make sure the oil on the dip stick looks like oil, with no trace of froth or "mayonnaise". It is pretty hard to find a car that hasn't had a gasket failure, so if you like the car, don't let it put you off.
Mike Howlett

The trouble, Mike, is that the Trophy doesn't come with ABS. I have an MGB GT with big brakes and tyres - and that locks up very easily. My last half a dozen everyday cars have ABS and I think it is a lifesaver.
Thanks for the advice on HGF. I'm looking for an F to get me through the summer while I make the GT more reliable - so I don't want to have that in pieces too!
N
Neil22

The AP brakes are very good and don't lock "easily". However, I would personally not buy a car without ABS if it's available. I also have a B GT but my daily drive is a TF 160 with AP brakes and ABS. I've only had the ABS kick in when it's icy - the bigger Eagle F1 tyres have virtually no traction in snow or ice so in that respect they're worse than smaller tyred models. My previous daily drive was a VVC F which was sadly written off - had it not had ABS I fear the same might have been said for my passenger and me.

Cheers,
Tim
T Jenner

I have used a local race pad with braided lines and a booster bracket with ABS and have found the car is never a problem even on high speed tracks. Would love to go F 160 route with AP but can't afford two sets of wheels and tyres, I have track day tyres as well.
Andrew W Regens

I think I'm right in saying that the first batch of Trophys didn't have ABS, but when they decided to up the numbers the added ABS. If it's a Trophy that you want and you also want ABS go for one of the later models. I've never driven a Trophy, but I have driven a TF160 and to be honest I wasn't impressed with the suspension. If I had to replace my car then I think that it would be with the MGF and not a TF.
David Clelland

Just looked at another Trophy. It was in a big delearship - the salesman told me on the phone it was fantastic, sure to be sold by lunchtime today. Liar.

There was paint overspray on the rubber on the passenger door, and the wing had definitely been off as the bolts were not painted. I could see masking tape marks on the drivers door too - apparently they can come like that from the factory! The carpet in the boot was sodden, the dipstick was rusty (I wonder where that water could have come from....) and the coolant was brown and oily. It sat so low that I couldn't get a finger between the wheelarch and the tyre, salesman said that he thought it had been 'lowered'. If by lowering he meant 'completely emptied of hydrogas gas' then he was right! Hmmm.... I didn't even bother to sit inside. That despite it being a "very good price" at "just" £5k.

I looked at another last week that was £4700 in autotrader but £5500 when I got there.

Thinking of giving up already!

Neil
Neil22

This thread was discussed between 07/03/2008 and 08/03/2008

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