Ask most people to name the ultimate two-seat modern classic roadster and, chances are, they will pick the Mazda MX-5. And why not? After all, the perky little funster from Hiroshima did not just breathe fresh life into a long-dead sector of the market, spawning many clones and competitors in the aftermath, it is still very much a part of Mazda’s new-car range.
I love it. But - whisper it - I love the MGF even more. A new MG-badged sports car had been occupying the minds of Rover bosses long before the MX-5’s arrival and subsequent success. The waters were tested with the niche RV8 of 1992, but the real deal appeared three years later. The F was greeted with a rapturous response from the motoring press and, 27 years on and with second-hand prices starting to climb, there’s scarcely been a better time to buy one. Usable but tatty examples can be found for less than a grand; £2-3k should get you into something much more presentable.
I think a very great part of the appeal of the MGF lies in its design. Combining dynamic mid-engined proportions with classic MG styling cues, the car was a real credit to designer Gerry McGovern. Even today, I feel it has dated less than the contemporary Mk2 MX-5.
Sure, the interior is more of a mixed bag, with its (frankly crappy) ‘90s Rover switchgear and controls, not to mention a relatively high-mounted driver’s seat which somewhat ebbs away at the sports car drama. No matter, though: MGFs are huge fun to drive, with tenacious grip, a malleable balance and a remarkably comfy ride, the latter thanks in no small part to the interconnected Hydragas suspension set-up.
I remember, fairly vividly, my first sight of an MGF up close. I must have been about 7 or 8 years old, and a visiting speaker at my primary school turned up in a brand-new red ‘F. I’d always loved cars, so admiring the gleaming paintwork as it basked in the hot summer sunshine was a very enjoyable thing. It made far more of an impression than the speaker herself!
Oh, and don’t listen to the pub bores who relentlessly warn of head gasket failure. The truth is, this has been largely exaggerated; most cars you’ll find will have had either a replacement gasket fitted, or had the coolant pipes upgraded to the tougher stainless steel items.
Would I really have one in preference to an MX-5, though? As much as I love the Mazda, yes, I think I would. There is just something so evocative about a British open sportster wearing that Octagon badge. They are also far less rusty, along with being arguably a more usable modern classic to live with. At current prices, they are simply irresistible. Just don’t mention the Metro subframes, okay?
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