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MG TD TF 1500 - Our First MGTD (Part 1)

We have had our TD for about three months now and are preparing for our Great Adventure in October. That little trip will chronicled in detail upon our return.

But, I thought you folks might enjoy our TD purchasing experience after my riding a BMW K1200LT motorcycle for the past several years. So, here goes:


LT vs. MG TD (Part 1)
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Catchy title, huh?



"Well, visited the home of the MG TD after the HDDC dinner last night and I must admit...it kicked my butt right in the gutter!!! It is stunning!!!

Soooo...drove out to Wally's house and reaffirmed how truly nice he and his wife are. Like I had known them my whole life. Kept lookin at that MG out of the corner of my eye and Wally began the nickel tour...after walkin around and around the car and chit-chatting about history, original parts, and inspecting the overall restoration for half an hour, it was gettin dark thirty. Time to DRIVE it!

Er....actually, time to figger out how to GET IN the car with my BMW boots on. I forgot to bring my Rockport deck shoes and it was with much jack-knife bodily folding that I managed somehow to put my feet somewhere down in a dark area that was alleged to contain three pedals for operating a vintage car. Sat in that seat with adjustable steering wheel against my chest and I felt like I was transported back in time about 55 years or so. Kinda felt like Snoopy in the Sopwith Camel after riding the LT all day. Glorious!!!!

Wally folded in and proceeded to go through a pre-flight/drive check. Went through all the controls, key switch, choke, starter..STARTER? Pressed the left boot down til it stopped (musta been the clutch), put my right boot down on the brake (I thought) and Wally started the little beast. Ever hear a sewing machine at full tilt???? Dang! Got my boot on the brake AND the gas pedal simultaneously!!!! Memo to self...get narrow shoes! Finally found a quarter inch to move my right boot to the left and, ta-dah!!!, sewing maching quiets down to a purrrrr....but how the heck do I manipulate my feet that are totally numb to any sensation with pedals that are about the size of, I dunno, a tic-tac mint pack?

Getting nervous...heck, scared to death, actually. My heart wuz pounding and I was afraid of either wrecking the car, killing one or both of us, or, worse....doing some frightfully embarrassing stunt!

Oh, Lord.....now it is time to move out. Yikes!

Sweat beads up on my forehead and my breathing is getting labored? Sheesh.

Wally's driveway is a quarter mile long with loooong 10% whoop-de-doo grades right out of the garage. Wally removes the wheel chock and shows me how to use the fly-away brake handle. Now, I get nervous. The brakes are holding us from rolling off the tarmac down a 100' drop through the woods, but how am I supposed to operate three freakin pedals with two big boots that provide NO feel whatsoever???? PANIC!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here is the first shock in the LT comparison. Motorcycle control is really in the hands...ie-brakes, throttle, clutch, counter-steering, etc. The MG is really more BELOW the dash with the hands only moving a teeny steering wheel.

Drop the fly-off brake and OFF we go!!! Well, sorta....kinda like a herd of turtles."

(Gonna stop here and publish Part 2 later.)
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dave lackey

This thread was discussed on 18/09/2006

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