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MG MGF Technical - Techspeed

Hello all

Just back from the infamous techspeed and guess what? the car is actually now enjoyable to drive. No question about it if your experiencing irratic handling over bumps or even motorway white lines these guys can sort it. In addition to this they can turn your car around in about a day and I can defintley say hospitality is second to none.

Thanks to Marvin and the lads.

Stephen Laithwaite

Stephen
What did they do to it? I'm thinking of fitting lowering knuckles (we'll actually, getting them fitted as I've no hope of doing it myself) to lower the car and reduce body roll. However, I was wondering if Techspeed could do something to achieve a similar (or better) effect, without me having to sell everything else I own!
Cheers
Paul
PE51MPF
Paul

Paul

Dont quote me exactly on this as I am no expert but basically they lowered the car with new knuckles and replaced the rubbish factory fitted shocks with very impressive bilstein shocks. They also did the tracking and alignment and all is well agin only better ! Visit their website or contact them, the number is on the website www.techspeed.co.uk. Good luck.
Stephen Laithwaite

I second Stephen's positive comments regarding TS's work- the results are outstanding and speak to themselves...

I wonder whether the TF is capable of such rounded ability as a TS fettled car...?
Rob Bell


Hi all,

Rob, this is THE main thing for one of the comming issues of "You know what mag " !! Get a well prepaired VVC with all the essentials as 4 nipples, big brakes ,lowering knuckles, Bilstein or Koni shocks, K&N with cold air, big bore TB,decent tyres and last but not least a proper wheel aligment. The test should run at both track,town and country roads... This would indeed be very interesting and should tell the final story if the TF is THAT much better . I am in no doubt that many refinements has been done and incorporated into the TF but once again as You say over there : The proof is not in the pudding but in the eating ..

Best regards , Carl.
Carl

PAUL wordof warning i have lowering knuckles fitted to mine really does lower the car considerably i also have adjustable shocks BUT when i informed my insurance of change to vehicle the royal and sun alliance whome i have been with for many years they refused to continue my insurance and ime 50.plus have clean licence ext,no claims with them ,my heart sunk at first with shock, i rang mg club and they gave me phone number of pete best insurers who reinsured me thanks heavens for almost same as sun allianceand didnt i tell them where to go and cancelled house ins as well.,.
david morris

David Morris WROTE:

>didnt i tell them where to go and cancelled house ins as well.,. <

Dont you just lurve it when the little guy gets back at the big un ..... :)
John McFeely

One of the good things about the Techspeed conversion is that they can set the ride height to whatever you want. So for those who are concerned about low ride height with lowering knuckles this is the way to go.

Paul, Blackburn - There isn't a snowballs chance in hell that Techspeed will be cheaper than the lowering knuckle option. They simply won't cut corners or compromise their standards to achieve lower prices. My advise is to wait and save some pennies and have the job done properley. Techspeed have at least two customers who initially went for the lowering knuckle option and wern't happy with the results.

Paul
P9 VLS
Paul

I went for lowering knuckles fitted by my dealer and the car did look better but the cold the weather got the lower the car got until running about 300mm which was too low and was grounding every where.

At the time I was sprinting so was not allowed the full Techspeed work.
As I had retired from sprinting I decided to visit Techspeed as I had driven there demo car and was impressed so had full monty done on it uprated shocks, nipple job, and set up correct.

Since I have had it done the car has kept a sensible ride height although in cold weather it does go down slightly it is more consitant.

As Paul suggest save your money up and have a techspeed suspension you will not regret it and will be cheaper in the long run.

Tom
Tom Randell

Thanks for your comments everyone. I just have had replies from Mike Satur and B&G to e-mails I sent before reading your comments. They are quoting between £250 - £300 for supply of knuckles, fitting and laser alignment. What sort of premium over that would I have to pay for getting a decent set-up from Techspeed? I would like to get a good set-up first time, as I won't be able to afford to have it done again!!
Thanks again
Paul
PE51MPF
Paul

Paul,

Do give Tech-Speed a call and ask - they are a friendly bunch and have a number of options. Their costs will be broadly in line with MS and B&G i.e. labour rates at about half of an MG dealer. In addition to fitting lowering knuckles and setting the tracking (no laser alignment here, they use string, but believe me it works!) they fit new shockers (Bilteins set to their own specifications) and these are what make the big difference to ride and handling. They are in the order of £85 each so that adds the majority of the difference in cost over basic lowering, but as I say this is well worth every penny. A final option is the 4 nipple job i.e. cutting the front to back hydrogas connection and making it possible to adjust the ride height of each corner independently. This doesn't add too much to the total bill, but is an icing on the cake option. Anyway, give Marvin a call and ask for his current pricing. If you choose the TS route I can guarantee that you'll come away with a car that will feel far more secure and planted when cornering. HTH

Dave
Dave

Carl- I am working on it, and I can confirm that we are very much on the same wavelength on this! :o)
Rob Bell

>>>should tell the final story if the TF is THAT much better<<<

It is for one simple reason - the suspension doesn't need any 'owner commissioned' work, it's how it comes from the production line. On that basis is achieves what the F should have been, but for all the reasons we know about it wasn't. Now quite whether you would achieve the same with a fully modded F is an interesting thought. I feel that this will be a closely run thing but that structural rigidity would provide a clear advantage for the TF.

Now what would be the difference if the TF had the same degree of investment as a full TS converted car has? All quite interesting, but simply shows that the F and TF have different starting points. Needless to say though the arrival of the TF, with it's quite significant advantages in standard production form, provides a much stronger incentive for current MGF owners to achieve and hopefully improve upon those standards, the Trophy 160 unfortunately falls somewhat short.

Rog
Roger Parker

Rog, that's an excellent point- and something that will show when one compares the TF with a standard F.
Your point regarding what would happen if you compare a modified MGF v a modified TF- very interesting question, but one we'll not be able to answer for some time. Will the TF be limited by the 'law of diminishing returns'? Or would a modified TF be hugely better again given the stiffer chassis?

Definitely one for future consideration.
Rob Bell

This thread was discussed between 06/02/2002 and 11/02/2002

MG MGF Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGF Technical BBS is active now.