Originality v modification

I also like the look of the car as it is . But there is things I have changed and will change during my ownership.

ive changed the middle exhaust pipe to stainless . Ive fitted a stainless steel back box both for rust issues ive painted the calipers red just to look more sporty and more pleasing to the eye .and ive changed all the interior and dash light bulbs to blue just because I didnt like the yellow.

I need a new headunit because the stand one is nackered and ive got an active sub to fit when I buy the new head unit just to add some bass to the sound system.

im goin to change the headlight bulbs to ice white xeons because the standard bulbs are as bright as a tea candle is a jam jar. Oim fitting a k and n air filter for noise purposes and maybe even change the alloys to the later multispoke 16s again just for better looks but im still not sure because I like the standard 15 inch alloys that are on it now so may just refurb and spray them white. Id also like black leather seats just to tart up the cabin.maybe even fit lowering springs just to give it a better stance.
and finally front fog light in the bumper again just for better looks..

my point is I do things to my cars to be different not to follow a crowd to be an indivudual isnt that what modifying is all about?? I dont want to pull up next to another tf in a car park or at a set of lights and not be able to tell the difference if that was the case id have bought a 1400 focus 5 door ... were all different and have different tastes so what you like I may not but if we were all the same wouldnt life be a bit boring??

As for the picture of the silver f posted above... dont get me wrong its not to my taste but id never knock the owner for doing it his way and to his own taste so fair play to him or her.

Like I said, each to their own but that's one way to ruin a good car.

I doubt there's an origional, as it left the factory Mgf out there!!

Guilty as charged!

Totally non-original head gasket already in place - originality wrecked, but engine not wrecked!

So, if already on the slippery slope - SS underfloor pipes likely very soon, and why replace an exhaust with a mild steel one which is going to rust like the first...?

Happy with reliability and 'non-invasive' driveability mods, so where's the line? Probably the flames, bling and tribal tattoos for me, but each to their own... it would be a very boring world if we all thought the same.

Andy the tyre man wrote: Like I said, each to their own but that's one way to ruin a good car.

But Andy, not everyone feels that car is ruined, personally I'd take the roof off but it isn't ruined.

talkingcars wrote:

Andy the tyre man wrote: Like I said, each to their own but that's one way to ruin a good car.

But Andy, not everyone feels that car is ruined, personally I'd take the roof off but it isn't ruined.

Bonnet vents?? Tribal graphics?? Wing??

Not ruined as such as they can be removed but bits of pointless tat have ruined the look!!!

I have been noticing how low mileage looked after original mark 1 mgfs are starting to rise in value and i would love to buy some more but i simply dont have the room. suprisingly mgf trophys with 50,000 miles are still only selling for £1500 but sooner or later will rise in price.
However as we know there are a few modifications to the mgf that could have been implented from new, the shocks and gear lever design to mention just a couple so i sit on both sides off the fence.
I am currently after a mark one MGZR 160 in original condition with low miles,those on facebook might have seen my limited edition one owner dark fantasy one of 6 made got smashed when somebody crashed into my brother,nobody got hurt but all the same it was a bit dissapointing.
Most Mgzrs are 80,000 upwards mileage, back arches starting to rot, big speakers added to the door card etc and big exhausts,modded in some way, hypocritical of me to moan i done my fair share on the T16 scene when i was younger,but getting a bit older is bringing out the purist in me wanting a untouched one.

I'm in both camps, as I have a modified TF160 and an (almost) standard LE500.

Although I do think modifications should enhance rather than detract from the cars looks. I also realise that others might think I have ruined the car, that is the nature of modding.

First, I think CJJ's mods look great and I also think this sort of body mod looks better on the TF than the F which may have something to do with the history of the TF development.

There is plenty of evidence that collectors want original spec low mileage 'old' cars. However, even 60 year old MGs can be purchased quite cheaply partly because quite a lot were made and they were inexpensive when new (which is one reason why they sold well). So if you want to preserve an F or TF as an investment, you need to buy a low mileage, unmodified limited edition then lock it away and hope to live to be very old!

Most of us want cars we can enjoy driving when ever can so it makes sense to me to make them as reliable as possible and enhance the driving experience. So S/S pipes and some sort of coolant alarm are a must for me. The pipes were available anyway as a MG Rover part so how does that count towards originality? I've 16 inch square spokes on the car which are not the originals but are a correct option for a 2001 MGF (at £500) so is that OK with the purist? What's clearly not original are the LED DRLs but I'd not be without them living as I do in a heavily wooded area (not quite so wooded as it was 2 weeks ago) when you can be in and out of shadow frequently. I've also added a few good quality alloy bits to the interior. You could over do this and I'd claim that are nearly all functional (kick plates etc) but nearly everyone commented when the cars were released that the interiors were a bit lacking (perhaps unless you went for the full contrast colour leather).

So I'd not worry too much about the impact on value of most modifications and do what you want. Personally, I won't be buying a pink one though.

Richard

I have been in the mod camp...

:yesnod: :yesnod: He has