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MG MGF Technical - MGF Trophy or MGTF 160?

Hi,

I'm thinking of buying a used MGF Trophy or MGTF 160, personally I prefer the looks of the Trophy than the 160 but other than looks are there any big advantages of choosing one over the other?

Any replies much appreciated!
Dave

Dave

I assume you know that the F and the TF have totally different suspension systems? There is a split about whether this is an advantage or not. Many people with an F have test driven a TF and declared that they would never have a TF. I have owned both and prefer the TF. The first TFs seemed to have very stiff springs and harsh rebound. My TF is a 2004 model and seems perfectly OK to me - and to my wife, which is equally important. I spent the first month questioning if the suspension was harder than the F, too hard to live with etc. A year on and I wouldn't have anything else.

Also, the F (including the Trophy) will always be older than a TF (very self evident). The price you are prepared to pay will determine the age of the car.

You have a difficult decision. The above is, of course, only my personal opinion.
JohnP

Cheers for the info John, looks like i'll be taking a test drive in both, hopefully I will have warmed to the TF style by then too. I'm looking to spend no more than £15k. I'm getting bored with my Clio 172.
Dave

A test drive is really the only way to go Dave: there are so many detail differences between the cars - mostly in favour of the TF, but not all, that it is difficult to call. You'll probably fall for one car or the other - and decision made. :o)
Rob Bell

>> probably fall for one car or the other<<

Rob, got some tweezers, if you need to get the splinters out of your backside from the fence post!!

:o)
Mark.L

LOL
Rob Bell

A Trophy with Tech-speed suspension - no contest! And it looks better than a TF too! No splinters in my ass Rob!
Blue Pocket Rocket

Thanks for the info everyone :)
Dave

IIRC the TF160s standard spec is ABS, however ABS wasn't initially available on the Trophy so will only be found on the very latest examples.

Make sure the test drive route includes a reasonably poorly surfaced national speed limit stretch, this is where I found the difference between the suspension systems will be most evident, the Trophy being just a little more fluid (no pun intended!).

Typically the residual values of the TF will hold slightly better than the F, although long term the difference will be negligible, maybe even favouring the Trophy (more of a 'special', not just a standard model).

Whatever you buy, be ready for the waving thing - to my eternal shame I failed to reciprocate when a typical English gent in something from the 1930s waved at me, as we passed each other on the road from Beaulieu to Monte Carlo; took a second to register that he probably wasn't just waving because of the English plates, but by then it was too late, and I am forever in his memory as a hooligan upstart with no respect for tradition ;-)

Mike Hankin

This thread was discussed between 26/01/2005 and 27/01/2005

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