MG TF LE500 Reviewers comments

Quality improvements are evident throughout the car, from the improved plastic component mouldings to the way the car is put together. The latter being evident in a number of ways, from the instant the doors are closed with a reassuring 'thunk' rather than 'clang and rattle', then to the complete absence of rattles, creaks or squeaks when driving on many 'B' roads and country lanes.

The car rides well on the carry over suspension from 2005 that only a few will have previously experienced the benefits of. This is the softer more compliant suspension set-up and the benifits are extremely appreciated. Now all can feel the benefits compared to the hard riding 2002 to 2004 TF models. Performance is sharp and brisk, not quite as quick as the limited 133bhp testifies too, yet the LE500 loses none of the enjoyment factor that made the previous TF so popular, despite the engine having to comply with EU4 exhaust compliance.

Other changes in the engine have also made the engine more reliable and should have put to bed the spectre of failed head gaskets that affected far too many MGFs and which tainted the TF, although the TF did not suffer anything like the same failure rates. The engine seems to run more quietly, with none of the pronounced engine tappet noise that was so distinctive with the old TF models. It also runs at a lower opperating temperature, so again less stress on the engine components.

Equipment levels on the LE500 are the highest offered on a TF and include air conditioning, leather, colour coded hard top, rear parking sensors, front fog lamps, wind stop, tonneau cover & CD player with MP3 compatability and Ipod connector.

Seen in the introduction bright orange with black wheels, the car stands out from the crowd and passes scrutiny from the attention it seeks. In some of the other colours the impact is not so great, which will suit many, and here the slightly re-modeled front bumper with a re-shaped grille with curves that tend to hark back to the 'friendly face' of the MGF, is the only real visual clue to this being one of the NAC MG TFs!!

All these changes aside it is in the driving of the car that generates a smile and a pleasure to drive for longer than needed for the pleasure of the drive. The car is softer riding and markedly more comfortable than the 2002 to 2004 models as mentioned, yet has lost none of the 'play-ability' that made the old models such a pleasure to negotiate 'tight bends'.

Allied to the willing 1.8 litre N series engine that encourages you to use the throttle, yet well within the capacity of the big AP Racing brakes to haul you back, you have a car that reminds you what a two seat open top MG sports car was and is all about.

Remember this is not a new car but it is extremely competitive at £16,399 on the road with the long standard equipment list, mid 30's mpg on average and well over 40mpg available on a run. It is a car to put MG back in the new car lists in just the same way the MG RV8 did in 1992 with the knowledge that a new modern was just three years away. Today we have almost the same scenario with the TF holding station until the new and fully up to date MG Sports car arrives, but which will be supported by other new MG saloons, making the MG future brighter than it has been for a while.

Following the 500 LE models, 60% of which are already spoken for, MG plan to launch a base spec TF 135 that will be cheaper due to the reduced specification. If the reduction in price is as significant as we hope circa £14000 then this should be a highly competive entry price point. Nevertheless the MG TF LE500 stays true to the MG roots of being an affordable and economic sports car that still offers excellent value for money while putty a pretty broad smile on your face, 'Fun really is back'!!

High quality parts support for new MG owners

Owners of new MG-TFs can look forward to high-quality aftersales support, following an agreement between NAC MG UK Ltd and Caterpillar Logistics Services (UK) Ltd. The deal will see XPart, a subsidiary of Caterpillar Logistics Services, manage the supply and distribution of genuine replacement parts for the new MG TF cars to NAC MG’s network of 55 new UK dealers.

“Supporting owners of new MGs with a high-quality aftersales parts programme is another major milestone in the re-introduction of the MG brand across Europe,” comments Jack Safiruddin, aftersales manager, NAC MG. “It is essential that we have a reliable and robust parts distribution programme in place to support owners of our new car. In the unfortunate event of an accident or a component failure, owners and garages will have fast access to replacement parts. With its experience in the distribution of MG parts and the management of high-quality service schemes, XPart is the ideal partner for this critical element of our business.”

As the historic supplier of MG parts, XPart has managed the supply of MG parts and dealer-fit accessories since 2001. Stock of replacement parts for new MGs will be held at XPart’s 60,000m2 distribution centre in Leicestershire. The company will hold NAC MG stock alongside its existing £20 million parts inventory. Parts will be supplied to MG dealers through XPart’s established wholesaler network giving NAC MG a professional and easily managed parts programme from the outset.

“New MG owners can expect to receive standards of support equivalent to that provided by the world’s best vehicle manufacturers,” says Craig Cooper, general manager, XPart. “Our excellent geographic coverage means that we can get replacement parts to the new MG dealer network in a speedy manner, ensuring repairs can be made in minimal time.”

NAC MG has already announced the names of 55 MG dealers who expect to start selling the new model in mid-September. To support these new vehicles XPart is already stocking replacement parts.

XPart (xpart.com) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Caterpillar Logistics Services UK Limited, one of the automotive industry’s leading supply chain management companies. It has established a network of more than 250 XPart AutoService centres (xpartautoservicecentre.com) across the UK, providing franchise-quality repair at aftermarket rates. Its product range contains more than 40,000 parts for MG and Rover vehicles and 35,000 parts for all-makes of vehicle and since 2001, it has been responsible for the supply of genuine MG and Rover parts.

MG, NAC and SAIC EXPLAINED

From the day William Morris started building bicycles at Oxford in the early 1890's, to the launch of the latest MG; the TF LE500, the MG brand has been in a constant state of growth, development and improvement. Since its first day as Morris Garages, MG has grown under the stewardship of some of the most well known, popular and exotic names in British and world motoring.
Successive owners have benefited MG in different ways and all have proposed their vision for its future. However, one thing each guardian of the MG name had in common was the need to retain the essential Britishness of the company, its values and the cars that it produced.

The British factor is just as important as it ever was for MG’s latest owners, the Nanjing Automobile Company (NAC), and their parent company, the Shanghai Automobile Industry Corporation (SAIC). To understand the level of backing that the MG brand, through MG UK Ltd, now enjoys it may be worth reflecting on a few facts, figures and details of the family tree that MG is now part of.
Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. Group (SAIC) is a Fortune Global 500 company and is one of the top three largest automotive groups in China. Its core business is the manufacture and marketing of passenger cars, commercial vehicles and a huge range of automotive components. SAIC is also involved in car leasing, auto parts wholesale and retail, and automotive financing.

In December 2007, SAIC merged with, and became the parent company of NAC, the oldest motor manufacturing firm in China. So the new company MG Ltd can now be said to be backed by one of the oldest and largest motor groups in the most rapidly growing sector of the world motor market.

SAIC has shown impressive growth, in the years up to 2005 selling around 1.05 million vehicles annually, of which more than 740,000 are passenger cars. In 2008, it is predicted that SAIC will manufacture in excess of 2.7 million vehicles. SAIC produces its own brand of saloon car under the Roewe badge, has a 51% stake in Ssangyong Motors and joint ventures with GM and VW.

In the UK, as well as being the parent company of NAC, SAIC is also the parent company of the Shanghai Motor Technical Centre; SMTC UK Limited, based at Leamington Spa in the West Midlands. SMTC UK currently employees approximately 120 engineers and designers, with a further 150 contractors, and provides engineering and design skills for MG and the Chinese brand, Roewe.

So as MG moves forward in the care of SAIC and NAC, it will continue to produce cars that are designed and built in the UK but that benefit from the R&D, production and component manufacture muscle of one of the largest motor corporations in the world.