2002 MG-F 

MG makes a comeback with the F

The long wait has been worth it. Here to tackle the Toyota MR2, Mazda MX-5, Alfa Spider and, to some extent, the more expensive BMW Z3, Audi TT and Merc SLK, is the awesome MGF. Let the battle for roadster supremacy begin…

Building fine cars isn’t an art learnt overnight, especially not when you’re talking about specialised, open top sports cars. Which is why MG is such a respected name in its field – sports cars bearing the MG badge first appeared some 77 years ago, and while Morris Garages has built some other four-wheeled machinery in the interim, it’s always the open roadster that it has come back to.

South Africa’s love affair with the marque goes back to the early 1950s when the TD was assembled locally, and estimates are that there are still some 2 500 MGs of all kinds plying our roads – this despite the fact that the last MGB was sold here two decades ago. There’s still a very active MG club in operation, supported by its own cottage industry and with strong links to like-minded clubs around the world.

But while the MGF will appeal to the hardcore MG enthusiast who will appreciate how faithful it is to the ideals of the brand, it’ll also pull in a new type of buyer: either empty-nesters who finally have the wherewithal to buy the sports car that they always wanted, and the young and trendy who want a car that makes a statement about who they are. A fair number of female buyers are expected, as well as youngish males who will value the engineering features of the car.

And that’s the essence of the MGF – it really is the genuine article. From its trick 1.8-litre fuel-injected multivalve engine with variable valve timing to its mid-engined layout, the F is a car designed from bumper to bumper to be a roadster.

According to a Rover release, a mid-engined layout ensures perfect balance and a low polar moment of inertia, which means it reacts instantly to driver input. Taking that thinking further is speed-sensitive, electric power steering, operating a rack that is geared to keep the driver ahead of the car, rather than vice versa.

The suspension of the MGF is another talking point, and while the wheels are all fully independent and located by double wishbones all round, the actual springing medium is the Hydragas hydraulic system, linked front to rear to keep the car on an even keel at all times. In addition, there is a pair of anti-roll bars.

The F’s power figures are 107 kW and 174 Nm of torque transferred via a five-speed gearbox. The engine is controlled by the Modular Engine Management System (MEMS), which in the latest 2J version controls all major engine functions, and contributes both to excellent drivability, and low exhaust emissions. It also means that spark plugs can last as long as 100 000 km.

Safety features include driver’s airbag, seatbelt pre-tensioners, reinforced doors, and high tensile steel tubes in the windscreen pillars.

The F is fitted with a woven acrylic fabric hood with a tinted, zip-down rear screen, which can be raised or lowered in a matter of a few seconds.

Standard equipment include air conditioning, a front loader CD player/tuner, electrically adjustable mirrors, and a height adjustable steering column.