MG F / MG TF - Reception

Reception

Throughout its production, the MG sold successfully - which includes outselling the Mazda MX-5 and Toyota MR2 in the UK. In a number of road tests the MGF matched its main rivals the Mazda MX5 and BMW Z3 in terms of handling, performance and practicality - and the MGF could even boast it had a bigger boot than the front-engined MX5, but it could never meet the standards of build quality, reliability and UK dealer support that it's Japanese and German rivals offered.

However, after Nanjiing took over and restarted production, the car's sales plummeted until production was eventually ceased in March 2011. Parkers gave the car 2.5/5 and said its pros were "Styling, handling and brand heritage" and cons were "Dated interior, patchy build quality and poor reliability." This is unsurprising given the basic design was by now over 16 years old. WhatCar? gave it 2/5 saying its pros were that it's "pretty and affordable" but its cons were "The driving position and steering are not what you'd expect in such a sporty car." AutoExpress reviewed it after Nanjiing took over and also had a 2/5 verdict, liking how it's "well equipped and compact" but disliking how it was priced more expensive than a basic Mazda MX5, stating it has "barely changed since 1995 and can be mistaken for a much older vehicle" and also commenting on its cramped interior.

The K-Series engine used in the MG F has gained a reputation for head gasket trouble. This is due to a range of problems including build tolerances, block face stiffness, casting quality, gasket material and cooling system layout. A number of changes were made over the years to improve the condition. Because of this, the MGF and TF have a higher reliability index than their Toyota and Mazda rivals in the same class, which actually means that the car is less reliable.

Despite this, the MGF and TF models are in reality usually major fault free with the head gasket the only model specific downfall. It should be noted however that the later head gasket design, which consists of a multiple layer metal gasket or "MLS", is widely reported to dramatically reduce or completely remove the chance of a head gasket failure, with cars fitted with these gaskets rarely suffering from a failure. It is now standard fit to K Series engines in Ford Land Rovers when Ford deal with a head failure.