I’m sorry, but I don’t know what OC stands for. But I was thinking of buying a cheap one and dealing with any existing rust and then rustproofing/undersealing. I have seen that a specialist in Lincolnshire has lots of cars that are pricey, and I thought I’d take my chances shopping round. 

A few weeks ago a car came up in Bristol that was a great price and looked good, but I was only beginning looking and it sold before I mobilised. I’m going to watch AutoTrader for a few months until I feel I understand the market and then look at some at dealerships before buying one. 

The advice here is extremely helpful. I think the MGs have loads more character than MX-5s, and having borrowed one some years ago, and having owned British classics, I feel a connection. 

I will chill about both battery and rust and just immerse myself in learning. 

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Hello.  I’m looking to get an MG TF. Some years ago a kind friend leant me his while I was having cancer treatment to take my mind of it, and it was a hoot. I have previously owned a Triumph Herald and a TR6, so I have some experience with unreliable British cars (and the RAC wrote to me saying if I broke down again in the TR6 they’d sack me as a member). 

I have two concerns about getting an MG TF, both linked to the fact I will have to park on the street. First is rust, and what I can do to protect the car. I’m on for getting it waxoiled or undersealed, but not sure where and how well that will work on a car that might already be a bit rusty. When I have time I will search the forum for experience with that.

Second is battery. This will be a fun car and won’t get used that often; maybe not for weeks at a time. I’m planning to use it loads but… life will get in the way.  Mrs Trash hates convertibles (or my driving, or both) so it really is for me to have fun in.

 I can’t put it on a mains trickle charger. I used a discarnect on the TR6 and that was perfect, but that didn’t have an ECU or a radio, and I’m not sure that leaving the bypass on achieves much as it will still drain, so I’d want to completely isolate the battery, but am worried the car won’t like that. I don’t care much about having a radio. I don’t care about an alarm, either. I’m happy for the car to be completely electrically dead provided it works properly when reconnected. 

I’m not convinced a solar charger will work, and it will be on the street, not on a drive, would have to be behind the windscreen, and it will be in shadow most of the day. I just can’t imagine it getting much charge. 

So I am left with the discarnect but unsure what will happen to the car’s electronics.  I will look on the forum for that but a quick look suggests the radio won’t work unless I have a code, which seems improbable. I could get a new radio, either one without a code or one that I know the code for, I suppose?

All help and advice welcome. 

 

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