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MG MGB Technical - To buy or not to buy,that is the question

Hi guys. Perhaps a question that will provoke varied responses. Im also posting on the MGF site.

In 1996 I bought a new MGF having been an MG fan for years. I looked forward to wind in the hair motoring for years but by the time I could afford to buy, most of the hair had gone!
I expected to keep the F for years but one problem after another finally convinced me to sell in 2001.
I'm hankering for another MG (time heals)but cannot decide whether to go for a classic MGB, (less hassle??)the car that started my MG interests or another MGF. Since the car would be for pleasure (ie not the main family car) I would be limited to spending aroung 5K max this time. What would you do?
P.G Hutchinson

Being across the pond I have no idea how an MGF handles, rides, maintains, or depreciates in value. However, when my mid-life crises loomed last year I pondered many options, later model pseudo sports type cars or a classic sports car. I researched what was out there, Fiats, Triumphs, MGs and such. I settled on the MG. It filled all the criteria I set. Cost, parts supply, strong club support, loads of information on the car, and ease of maintainance. (I enjoy working on it almost as much as driving it, I said almost.) Just having an active resource such as this bulletin board is a huge plus. Also I know that I will not lose money to depreciation, the "B" will only gain in value.
I vote for the MGB.
John

P.G. I support the MGB, but that said I would advise you to make contact with some of the local MGB owners and get some first hand experience with the car. There is a world of difference between a roadster and a GT and neither are going to give you the same sensations you had in the MGF. I think you will prefer the B, but you should drive one a bit if you can before you make up your mind. In the end I think you will become a B owner, but I wouldn't want you to be disappointed if you found out you prefered the F.
Bill Young

That question is like asking whether you should have vegetable lasagna or steak for dinner. It really depends on your personal desires since those two cars are as different as anything. I would highly suggest having a drive in a classic MG before making any decisions. Obviously the modern car will be far less maintenance, more comfortable, more powerful and easier in general to deal with. But a classic offers a driving experience you can't even approach with any modern vehicle. They are just different. Very different. If I had to choose for myself I would choose the classic. However I may be biased since I no longer own anything but classic MGs and drive them daily.
Steve Simmons

In addition to the previously described differences in the cars, there's also the maintenance/repair area. While the B requires more frequent maintenance than my modern Ford or VW, I find I can (with a little help fromthe BBS) do most of the work myself. And I don;t need it to get to work, so if it takes me a couple days it's not the end of the world.

The new cars, when they do need repair, it generally means a several hundred dollar trip to the shop. I hardly ever do a repair onthe B that costs more than $100 (plus a couple bloody knuckles). Personally, I'd have a hard time justifying a leisure car I had to pay to have repaired.

Steve
Steve Aichele

PG why not buy both !!!. only joking. costs for an early mgf have come down to around the 4500 mark so you should get a good example for your 5k. Having had both i think that a mid life crisis requires some decorum and style so i'd pulp for a b roadster. That said, the f is a better drivers car.

Oh, dont forget that to replace the head gasket on an f is an expensive job, but a but is reletivly in expensive.

just my opinion having had both i'm go for the original .

AL
Lister

Buy a VW Golf
Terry Drinkwater

The B , by a country mile. An MGF is a car , the B is the real deal.
S Best

The B will hold its value, but any modern car will depreciate. So as a second car you could keep the B for years and it will still be worth the same.
I would buy a tax-exempt B, play with it, drive it keep it.
Only I wouldn't as I would by a Sprite / midget by preference!

Guy
Guy Weller

P.G. This is one of those questions, "which if you have to ask, you cannot appreciate". The MGB is a "classic sports car", or, as others have described it, "a Gentleman's Sports Car". The Sprite/Midget is more of a "real sports car" than the MGB. However, having owned MGBs for something over 25 years now, I can tell you my life would be less complete without a classic MGB to drive. I have access to more "modern" cars--a Mazda Miata and a Mini Cooper. These cars are very fine. But, they are not MGBs. Thus, I drive one of my MGBs as a daily driver. If you cannot understand this, get the MGF or some more modern car. If you can understand such things, welcome to the "club".

Les
Les Bengtson

Buy a B.

£5k won't get you the best, but if you shop around you should find something reasonable.

Nigel Steward

I think buy the classic B, thats what I did just a week ago and I tell you, there is no experience like it. The looks you get (Particularly from women) the sound, it is just the most pleasurable thing going. I couldnt wait till my mid life crises, I had to get one now (im 22)
Gareth

P.G.,
Where in Surrey are you? I'm near Camberley, so if you want to come and take look at my GT I can show you where to look for tin worm etc., and talk about repairs and running costs - email me off line if you're interested. I've had it 15 years and it's been my daily driver for all that time so I've had a few problems come my way (although the earth has never fallen off the petrol pump before - just like it did this morning on the A331/A31 roundabout....).
Dave Smith

I was through the same process three years ago, when we decided our Midget was really too small for holidays and long trips. We originally decided to buy an MGF, but then changed our minds and went for an MGB, and have not regretted it for a second!

In addition to the pleasures of owning a beautiful classic versus owning a car that is just getting old, the MGB will give you more peace of mind. No matter what goes wrong with it, you will easily get it on the road again without breaking a bank.

It is so delightfully simple, working on it is a pleasure in itself. You will never make money on it, but it is not depreciating much either.

But for pure driving pleasure, you should really have a closer look at a Midget - and drive one!

Tore
Tore

This thread was discussed between 29/04/2005 and 04/05/2005

MG MGB Technical index

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