Comments: 1-15, 16-30
Where do I start?! My car has been in and out of the dealers more than 8 times! It is due to go in again for a faulty door. The finish of the car is unreliable and extremely poor. I have an endless list of niggly problems with my car.
The door handles squeak like bending plastic.
My exhausts were rattling. The best one was my horn sounded everytime I raised my window! (some electrical fault).
My rear suspensions squeaked and they couldn't pin point the problem and it reoccured after it was "fixed".
My door won't open sometime when I press my remote key.
Everything inside the car seems to rattle and I have had things squeaking since day 1 - my accel. pedal squeaks extremely loudly - sounds worse than the cheapest car you can imagine.
The changes into my 3rd gear is extremely loud and jerky - makes a "loose part" sound every time I get into it.
My pasenger side door gets stuck sometimes and is hard to open.
My door does not stay open on slight inclines.
Wipers don't even do a good job. (in fact the left hand side one doesn't even completely touch the windscreen on all models!)
There was a lot of electrical interference with my car which made my original radio "hiss".
My Alarm lights and seat belt warning lights were triggered randomly.
Trade this lemon in for an MR2 or an MX5.
I understand your problems with your car. I decided after many years of dreaming of owning an MG to buy the new MG TF. If a passenger buckles up the seat belt fixing rattles throughout the journey. I have had to replace the windscreen wiper fixing kit and arm.
Every-time a slight breeze hit the car the alarm went off and greatest disappointment of all whilst driving to work last week the car decided to overheat due to an air lock and now I have had to replace the Head gasket and have the cylinder head relined and skimmed. Apart from that, oh and the rear lights not working due to the wires snapping as the boot opened and closed creating a lovely fold in the wires and the rubber sealing between the back bumper and body of the car bulging out constantly and not forgetting the crack that just seemed to appear in the front bumper. Having said all this I hope I can still enjoy driving the car, but I just wish Rover MG would get their act together and sort out the finer details as well as the major problems this model seems to be experiencing.
The mg tf is a mass produced car, unfortunatly some of the 10,000s produced will have problems. My TF has not gone wrong since I've had it and after testing over MRs I'm glad it got it. Its great!
I don't own a TF my wife does!!
She wanted an MX5 but after squeezing into one for a test drive the decision to test-drive the TF was made. More room, more "boot" space and better handling (well sideways round a corner quick flick and back on track, it was a demonstrator). Apart from that I regard the MX5 as a womans car.
Faults from new:
Scratch on heater control knob, minor blemish on door pillar, fixed at 1st service check, these should have been found on the PDI, but how many people don't check their new car thoroughly before driving away. Replacement of "porous" cooling system T-piece (Warranty).
New set of wheels and tyres after 6 weeks because some low-life round Rotherham area decided to put the car on bricks and take the wheels (less than 15 minutes). No other damage!!
What do MG-Rover need to do??
Sort out the quality control dept. or get the dealers to do a thorough PDI - anything less than top-quality should be fixed or returned to the factory.
Sort out the 1.8 K series head gasket problem (the 1.6 is OK).
Fit proper locking wheel nuts as standard, a modified wheel-nut key will undo any MG TF wheel nut. Fit a better alarm system with sensitive shock/tilt sensor.
Fit a proper soft-top with a glass screen, it's available and is cheaper than the production fit item (Note this all the people that complain about the hole when folding).
What can you do?
Get the Service Manager and check the car before and after a service for any damage.
List all items that need attention and make sure that the service department are aware.
Make sure that any work is carried out to your satisfaction and don't accept "it's a mass produced car and these things happen". Try telling that to a Toyota customer.
Fold the roof with care don't just drop it back.
Well, my 2000 1.8L MGTF has been perfectly lovely until last week (December 8/05) when the main fanbelt broke while waiting at a set of traffic lights.. this stressed the timinbg chain which snapped, and the pistons smashed into all the valves and now, the mechanic has just reported (sort of like a not-christmas present) that the engine block is cracked, so a $3000 job has tripled into a new motor and I may get it back next year by the end of January if I'm really lucky... also the report goes on to say this happens with the MG at about the 40,000km stage so, this is definitely a major issue to be wary about when having your MG serviced.
I have had my MG TF for a year and a half and its been brilliant! I tested mr2's and mx5's and the MG is much better in all respects. people complaining about the head gasket going - STOP check the coolant level in the header tank when ever you go on a long journey like the manual states! top it up if needs be. the reason for overheating is coolant level too low.
Used to own an F then sold it due to poor build quality and the fear of future repair costs. After 2 years decided on the TF as I like the F \ TF shape. Decided an 02 car should have had all the problems sorted out. I was wrong... before collection the drivers side window motor and regulator needed replaced. The rust under the bonnet (all bolt heads in particular) is shocking. From 1995 till 2002 (and beyond) they still can't get carpets that fit. On top of all that when I sit in traffic I stare in the rear view mirror expecting to see steam from the dreaded HGF. I love the shape and drive of the car, but hate the quality and reliability issues.
I bought an MG tf160 about a month ago. The car has been in for repairs since the first morning after I got it. The head gasket has blown, pipes have blown, the hand brake light has failed, and the fan belt was moaning at me. Will tell you what happens further when I get it back.
Jeffrey Forte
Hello everyone, I'm from Belgium so sorry for my English.
I have my MG for about 1.5year now. When I bought my car half a year later my warranty has lost due to the closing of the factory. And this is very sad, a few months later all the problems began. 1st my soft top has holes in the side from opening the hood, 2nd my brakes squeak very loud, went to the garage paid the bill and nothing was fixed actually.
And now when I'm driving 75 miles an hour my steer is shaking, when I drive 100 miles an hour its shaking very hard :- (
Also my trunk lid isn't fitting right?? Imagine this..
Well like most of you, I was attracted to the looks, space and feel of the MG TF.
I opted for the 2003 1.6 cool blue, and after nearly two years, like most others I have a number problems that I have put up with!!
When taking the roof down the supports rub, which has led to a number of holes developing in the roof. Both door seals appear to leak when it rains, causing the speakers and carpets to get wet. when opening doors the window catches the tops of the seals and requires a sharpe tug to open. regularly topping up the water in the cooling system. the heater knob no longer turns anti clockwise.
I accepted these minor issues and loved my TF to bits, but when my head gasket failed today I felt nothing, but a fool for not listening to other peoples advice and comments, now I need to shell out to get this fixed, this should not happen to a quality car and I'm sure it doesn't, because the MG TF certainly IS NOT one!!!
No wonder they went bust!
Thanks dudes, I was about to buy one, but after this I have changed my mind!
Hi there... I have an MG TF 160 and yes it does have faults. But it's a lot better than my Vauxhall Astra and much more fun to drive... I think that MG did have quality control issues especially in its final days, but I have come to a few conclusions. The head gasket fault occurs because the coolant runs low. This happens on almost all cars. I saw a complaint about the tyres wearing unevenly - specifically, they wear out on the inside before the outside on the TF. This is NORMAL on a car that has this kind of steering & suspension geometry.. it's what makes it hold the road so well, and a price you have to pay. Most complaints boil down to a lack of maintenance. By the way there were 3,000 MG TF 160's made...
Hi everyone, have been looking at the mg tf 115. would obviously prefer the 160 but I'm 20 and this seems to be the best/only choice for me at the moment due to insurance!! anyway I seem to be finding A lot of unhappy reviews, mainly on the other models especially the 160. do u's think this is because its the fastest model and people are maybe just driving it to hard?? I don't seem to see too many complaints about the 115 and just wondered if any1 had any views on it. would appreciated any comments.
Thanks Steve.
Have you bought a TF yet? Would be interested to know what you think if you have as been considering one myself, but do find some of the reviews worrying - it's seems like buying a British car made in the 70s with all the reliability issues.
Negatives, Negatives, Negatives.
If you want to conform, get a golf or a Peugeot.
My TF Sprint is lovely and wake up every morning looking forward to driving it.
Nothing has ever gone wrong, and if it does..it's a car, its got moving parts, they can fail...
Please guys, there's more to life, just chill and have some fun!!!
Anonymous, 26,