1997 MG F VVC 1.8 petrol from UK and Ireland

Summary:

It's a girl's car

Faults:

Very unreliable when bought (from a dealer).

Had to make several trips there, but seemed to find reliability - eventually.

Thank God there was a warranty.

General Comments:

Dead good handling from the mid-engined layout.

Reasonably practical for a two-seater.

It goes! Not the fastest machine in reality but you'll need a something well meaty to beat it and, importantly, it FEELS much faster than it is.

Fun roof-down action, great on sunny days. Bloody noisy on rainy days, especially on the motorway.

Overall, great fun. Only problem is IT'S A GIRL'S CAR (and NO, I'm not a girl).

I have argued with my mates what a top bit of fun this car is, given all the good reasons for having it and defended it 'til the end. But, they're right - it's not something other blokes tend to admire.

But I don't care. I'm happy and that's all that's important!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 15th February, 2001

6th Mar 2004, 02:59

A girls car? It may not be the most powerful or fastest car out there, but 0-60 in 7secs (1.8vvc) doesn't sound girlie to me. That will see off most boy racers, in style. What it is that actually makes this a girls car I don't know, but what I do know is that I'm looking to get one for the summer, and with me being a male, if it appeals to girls then that's just fine!

28th Sep 2004, 06:01

Having owned an MGF 1.8 VVC now for 6 months I have heard the 'girls' or 'hairdressers' car comment several times. I think it's because it's quite a 'pretty' car to look at and not aggressive. One thing I have noticed is all the people that have called it have been A. Male and B. Driving some family saloon when they would rather be driving something sportier.

My response has always been 'why should girls and hairdressers have all the fun!'

29th Nov 2004, 11:54

I can see what you mean by calling it a girls car is because I agree it is a pretty car, but I have driven one and now am looking to buy one in the coming weeks. they are amazingly fun to drive and they leave most other cars standing (Toyota MR2 + Mazda MX-5 especially) which I believe it was originally designed to do.

17th Feb 2005, 08:47

No. Jealous people (Toyota corolla drivers and such) will call your rag top car girlie for 1 reason only. Its got no roof. A word from a Porsche 911 owner, "people still call mine a girls car, and always will if its got no roof"

Its not a girls car (unless you got the 1.6 version)

9th Apr 2005, 17:42

I`d call an MX5 a girls or hairdressers car, but not an MG F, it`s a great looking car that handles well and is rewarding to drive, BMW did not do anything for MG, they only wanted to get the Range Rover so they could copy the design for their own off road vehicles.

1997 MG F VVC 1.8vvc from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Mid-engined grins...

Faults:

Head gasket - probably my fault (pushed a little too hard when cold!)

General Comments:

Very quick with excellent handling.

I have been shocked by the fuel economy which is excellent!

Looks good with the top up or down.

Leather seats are very comfortable, we can quite happily go several hundred miles without having to stop!

Nice noise from the engine behind your head :-)

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 12th February, 2001

1997 MG F VVC 1.8i petrol from UK and Ireland

Faults:

I purchased the car at the beginning of September 97. So far nothing has gone wrong (touch wood).

General Comments:

I am delighted with the car. I have now done around 4000mls and am now seeing vast improvements in engine performance. The road handling is excellent. However I do have to be careful taking corners in wet weather (maybe I'm going too fast).

Anyone looking to buy their first sports car, I would fully recommend an MGF.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 16th March, 1998

1997 MG F VVC 1.8 petrol from UK and Ireland

Faults:

1) rubber sealing around windows falling off.

2) paint peeling from side radiator surround.

General Comments:

Seats uncomfortable on long journeys.

Poor brakes - wrote off car within 3 months!!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 14th December, 1997

15th Dec 2000, 05:55

You should not have been driving it so fast. If you put a set of Brembo brakes on it, it stops a lot better.

3rd May 2001, 08:28

Poor brakes??? You wrote it off???

Like the last comment says... you shouldn't have been driving it so fast on public roads. I've just been tanning an MGF (normal road spec - probably the same as yours) around Knockhill racing circuit in Scotland and the brakes were fine. About 6 other people abused the same car that day and none of them failed to stop when they wanted!!!

19th May 2004, 16:39

Some have brakes that fail, some don't. This is just another example of poor quality control, which has spoiled what should have been a great car.

26th Jun 2006, 19:43

Take some extra driving lessons.

1997 MG F 1.8i petrol from UK and Ireland

Faults:

Nothing, as yet. Although I have heard that some have had clutch problems. However I use mine nearly everyday and so far no problems, just glancing looks!!!!!

General Comments:

Lovely car. I had a look at the BMW Z3 and decided on the MGF. Firstly because it was faster than the cheapest Z3, cheaper than the Z3 and looks a damn site better with the hood up than the Z3. After all we are prone to a little rain in this country.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 19th October, 1997