Which F / TF do you drive?

I've got a 1997 VVC in BRG. Few mods, lots more to come after Christmas.



Mine is beside the Elise.

Ours is a Mk2 F Freestyle 1.8mpi, seen here on last year's Border Patrol holiday to Scotland.

Loch Ness, with Castle Duart in the background.

I have 2 Mk1 MGFs at the moment
A 1997 VVC in Volcano Pearl. I imported it from Japan in July. It has 53,000km on the clock and is totally rust-free.
So far it has EBC rotors/Green stuff pads, Gaz Adjustable shocks, Pipercross Viper Intake, Optima Red-Top battery,
15" square spokes with Toyo T1R's.
It came with half leather, EPAS, ABS and Air Conditioning.
Parts waiting to go on include; Poly bushings, SS brake hoses, Toyosport SS manifold and flex, Silicone hoses and PRT,
Mk2 Door Cards & Tweeters, a K&H splitter and a bunch of small bits & pieces.


My other car is a 1996 MGF MPi in Charcoal imported from the UK.
It's more bare bones than the VVC, no Air-con, ABS or EPAS but it does have a passenger airbag!. It has lowering pins and poly bushings fitted, as well as Yokohama DNA GP tyres and an MS Slick shift with a K&H splitter on the front and a Trophy spoiler on the rear. It also has an MGF Mania Glass window soft top, a K&N panel filter, Magnacor plug wires and SS coolant pipes.
It was going to be my keeper but now that I have the VVC it's for sale.


It's interesting, the two MGFs have totally different personalities. The lowered MPi feels much more agressive and planted, the VVC is softer and feels more like a grand tourer. I wish I could keep them both!

Rich, your Volcano Orange car is fantastic looking. Definitely the best F colour

RB wrote: Rich, your Volcano Orange car is fantastic looking. Definitely the best F colour

I was just thinking the same and what a lot of car it is too! Tremendous. Must have been really well looked after over in Japan. I'm sure there'll be plenty of interest in your other one Rich. Don't forget to tell the new owner where we are. As if you wouldn't have thought of that. :lol:

We are lucky here that we are only one ocean away from Japan. I live just 10 miles from the west coast auto shipping terminal and see the car carriers going up the river weekly. The Japanese MGs are generally in very good shape due to their very restrictive regulations.
It is a real treat to work on a car with rust free suspension and undercarriage. There are actually original paper labels still on some of the suspension parts!
I love the Volcano. Unfortunately an owner in Japan had customised the car by painting the bonnet, door handles and air intakes a copper colour, but that is sorted out now. Of the (apparently) 75 Volcano VVCs built 3 are now in Canada.
Funny enough, a friend and I both had Charcoal MGFs at the big local British car this year, and next year we will both be showing Volcano cars. That should get a few confused looks!

More MGFs coming into port!

Mods? I'd never thought of doing mods..

I might go and try a few now lol

Diesel Destroyer wrote: Mods? I'd never thought of doing mods..

I might go and try a few now lol

Surely it would be easier for you to list the things that are still standard

Still standard.....

Rear view mirror
Internal door handles



One of yfav mods still is the Storm single wiper conversion .. Suits the car much better

MG mad wrote: 1.8i MPi and 1.8i VVC are still distinct models, much like the 115, 135 and 160 TFs are...

MGF "Madam" work done to date .
.Full service
New roof glass rear screen heated,
Set of Proxy (Poxy) Tyres,
SS Coolant pipes,
Aluminum radiator
Break discs all round,
Break pads all round,
Water Hoses x2Water pump,
Leather gaiter hand brake,
Leather gaiter Gear stick,
Front bumper,
Kenwood speakers,
Splitter,
Upgraded bulbs,
OS Hydragas sphere,
Electric window motor,
Washer Jets upgraded,
Boot SS grills,
SS Petrol cap,
Panels all re sprayed,
TT Exhaust Mk 4,
Lotus Elise de cat,
Bilstein monotube gas dampers,
Both front Wishbones replaced,
Both front ball joints replaced,
Both front bearing's replaced,
Rear tie brushes,
Carbon air induction kit,
52mm throttle,
Rear mudflaps (to be replaced oem)
Windstop with leather hoops,
Full mop and wheels refurbed,
New full leather seats red piping,
Matching gaiters and arm rest cubby,
New leather door pods,
Lotus Elise S1 S2 PG1 Close Ratio Gearbox Fully Rebuilt with steel bearings,
New clutch,
New Slave,
New carpets and soundproofing underlay,
New Chrome grills all round Alloy seat tides and T bar bit,
Full cambelt service and replacement, plus new water pump ..
New rear brake pipes,
Ripspeed DV720 touch screen Car DVD / MP3 /C, Refurbed alloys ,
New rear lights,
Trophy rear spoiler,
Trophy front Spoiler,
TF rear lights,
HD front and side lights,
Chrome scoops,
Chrome door handles
17" Team Dynamics fitted with Avon zz1 tyres, 205/40/17w front 215/40/17w rear.,
chrome engine grill cover,
LEDs on doors,
Disco light in rear boot grill ..

And a box full of chrome and new bits waiting to be put on plus TF steering rack and new arms, and Viper piper cross induction, track rod ends, 4 2 1 manifold , boot gas struts, braided brake line kit ..

I drive an 02 MG TF 160.

Since bought it I've changed the following:
Full Black Leather Interior
Corbeau adjustable lumbar cushion on drivers seat
Momo gearknob
Sony HU with Ipod control
Genesis Profile 4 amplifier
JBL cheapy 6.5" components
Steering Wheel Controls for stereo
Air Con Retrofit (Complete except for re-gassing)
LPG Conversion
MGOC Supersports Backbox
Bilstein Comfort Dampers
Heritage Colour Coded Hardtop
BMC CDA induction kit
Z&F Stage 2 ECU (although I just sold it as it doesn't have AC controls enabled)

Future mods:
Honda S2000 digital dash cluster
85LE ARB's
05 springs
Larger rear brakes (will try a 266mm setup first as it's almost ready to go on)
BAS Sportster hood with glass rear screen
Janspeed 4-2-1 manifold & flexy pipe
Grenadine interior if I can find one at a decent price!

Swap the engine/gearbox for the one from my old Metro:
Scholar EVO2 block
H-Beam Conrods
82mm Forged pistons (giving 1887cc)
Vandervell Uprated Main & Big end bearings
Lightened Freelander Flywheel
228mm T-Series Turbo Clutch
Ported Polished VVC Head
Paul Ivey 32.5mm inlet valves
Piper BP270 reground exhaust cam
Cam timing dialled in using offset dowels
218cc Injectors
Emerald K6 ECU
Baffled Sump

'K' Gearset with Diesel 5th
4.2 final drive
Quaife ATB Differential
Steel Caged Bearings (where available)
Roller Taper Bearings on diff
Vibra-technics gearbox mount

MGF 1.8i mk2 (120)

improvements:
- 52mm throttle body
- BMC air filter (on big air box)
- stainless brake hose
- yellowstuff and redstuff brake pads (but i prefer Ferodo DSp)
- Gaz adjustable damper
- lowering pins
- PRT thermostat (+mls and oil rail)
- pipercams 270 camshaft with vernier's pulley (.. waiting to be mounted since one year )


(without lowering pins)