Wheel Arch Rust Assessment (Prior to purchase)

I agree with what you've said about the sills on that car that KidCreation is looking at,
looks very much like they have been spayed before.

you can use a fridge magnet, of the flexible type that real estate agents, home handyman services and emergency plumbers etc. hand our for advertising, to check for excessive filler. first you place it upon part of the car that is unlikely to be loaded with filler and feel the amount of effort to peel it off again, don't drag it across the paint work that can damage the paint. Then apply the magnet in the area you suspect might have filler in it, if it doesn't stick or is weak, then you may well have confirmation of your suspicions.
This isn't foolproof, there are proper instruments for non destructive determination of coating thickness but they are costly, and finding someone who both has one and knows how to use it properly maybe difficult.

Just another factor to consider is the actual colour.

If it is Sunspot yellow, that is a flip colour(biomorphic). It flips from yellow to a more mango colour...
Flip paints are notoriously difficult to match. A friend had a sunspot yellow.TF, which got a small but noticeable scratch on tne rear quarter. After three attempts to blend the panel the car had to be completely resprayed!
Check the paint code. If it starts with an I it's a flip paint.  IAC is sunspot yellow, FAR is Trophy yellow, a much easier to match colour...

Never knew that..thank you..I think silver is pretty cool now!

Hello much better to remove rust  etc,with a wire wheel in an angle grinder this will not remove good metal, which a grinding wheel in an angle grinder will .Then treat it with a good rust preventor and the U/C ant paint as normal Len

I already love this community, waking up to find support, guidance and an array of interesting thoughts is definitely making this buying process infinitely better so thanks again to everyone.

On the subject of the moonshine one i posted last night (which kept me awake because i found it just before going to bed) some closer photos reveal that the paint has its own issues;
     
as you can see from the above the rear arches have been repainted and it doesn't look like they match very well at all (i'm guessing moonshine is a very very difficult colour to match (presumably moreso than David has said about Sunspot as at least there the dual shades are similar whereas moonshine colours are all very different) you can also see a repair to the lower front bumper and boot lid which are quite noticeable. Obviously we've discussed the Sunspot 160 having its own paint issues inside the arches but at least the bodywork paint seems solid and i'd hazard a guess that the inside arches will be easier to paint correct than mid panel areas. I may go and have a look though as it does seem a well cared for car and TA22GT is probably right, the 135 is only very slightly lesser than the 160 really, especially as i'm not planning on racing this or anything, (and besides my daily driver is far faster than either)

Cobber i hadn't heard that whole "hero colours" thing before but it makes good sense arguably the mark 2 focus ST did that with a similar orange to make an impact and perhaps the greatest examples of all time can be seen in Ferrari and Lambo back catalogues. The moonshine does of course stand out on a sunny day (you being in Oz will have more experience of this "sun" thing), but the Sunspot stands out every day in absence of such celestial support

TA22GT my dad had an array of terribly coloured cars with some of leylands being in the mix, when he finally bought something child me thought was "cool" a Golf GTI Mk2 he got it in brown, i would never of course put down any colour as its the colour that person loves on their car and its a very personal thing as you say. In the TF lineup i prefer the Ignition Blue and Sunspot Yellow, but i have to admit this Moonshine does tickle somewhat especially as i can see people thinking "oh its just silver" untill the sun hits it and it becomes a 90s cereal packet toy hologram. Though i do worry its paint issues above may be harder to resolve that those of the Sunspot.

David Aiketgate, thanks for that, i had suspected that the more complicated colours would be harder to treat, and you can see from the photos above that's definitely been an issue with the rear arches of this moonshine example which also requires work to the bumper and boot lid. Would i be right in thinking that while neither is "easy" to deal with the sunspot would be marginally easier because the shades within it are all yellows whereas the moonshine has silvers, greens and pinkypurple? Similarly would the fact that the sunspot (currently) only requires paintwork on the inner arches make it easier to hide than the moonshine which has the issues in the photos above?

D4KGP I'm struggling to notice it as much but my eyes are not great at the best of times, i can see it in the moonshine example above where the rear arches seem a totally different colour, i also know i should be realistic as i doubt there are many 20 year old cars that haven't had or need to have some paintwork. Its a very difficult game this , as i guess there probably arent any (or many) perfect examples and its more a case of what imperfections can you resolve or live with.

Airportable i only wish i could be as eloquent as you, and again you are correct, part of this whole process i suspect is nursing your car when it grazes a knee, my daily driver does not need such nursing and that's great but then if it was all i wanted from driving we would likely not be here. I do feel with the Sunspot there is more i can do to put my stamp on it, some design ideas we've discussed already, whereas with the Moonshine it's more about trying to restore it (i can't imagine moonshine coloured gaitors would be a thing, nor would they appeal)

Digcot65, so a wire wheel is essentially more gentle i take it? only attacking damaged metal we want rid of, while a grinder would of course keep going and potentially do more damage (especially due to my amateur status)

Trying to give some balance here...they both need paintwork so they are equal in that respect...so go for the one that pulls on your heart strings.
If both sell whilst you are thinking about it  there will be others...and you are good company so you better by an MG of some variant!!

KidCreation wrote:

David Aiketgate, thanks for that, i had suspected that the more complicated colours would be harder to treat, and you can see from the photos above that's definitely been an issue with the rear arches of this moonshine example which also requires work to the bumper and boot lid. Would i be right in thinking that while neither is "easy" to deal with the sunspot would be marginally easier because the shades within it are all yellows whereas the moonshine has silvers, greens and pinkypurple? Similarly would the fact that the sunspot (currently) only requires paintwork on the inner arches make it easier to hide than the moonshine which has the issues in the photos above?



David Aiketgate replied:-
All paint codes beginning 'I' are difficult to match. You are right that the sunspot yellow, only needing inner arches done, would be easier than the moonshine's issues.
Incidentally, I also agree with the idea that the Sunspot is overpriced for its condition.




 

TA22GT Don't worry mate, I'm definitely getting one.
I actually first wanted one about 16/17 years ago when i was looking for my second car but i ended up going with a Mk1 Focus ST170 which arguably at that point was the right choice but the itch has always been there, and now i have a solid daily driver with room for a toy this feels like the time.
As for the battle between these 2 the power roof, heated seats, rarity and overall condition (its 3 years younger afterall) are the big strengths of the Moonshine, meanwhile the Sunspot is a 160 with X-Power extras and the visible paintwork is better, it likely does need more work than the Moonshine but it also has more room to add a personal touch. Swings and roundabouts.

David Aiketgate, I do agree that the Moonshine is better value for money, and the Sunspot is overpriced, though i think the Sunspot could be had for around the £4k mark which is a little better at least.

Tip: wear a face visor for protection when using wire wheels bits of wire can come adrift and stick into your face or worse your eyes!

When buying rotary wire brushes its worth noting the difference between a normal type and the 'knotted wire' one. The latter are much more fierce, for heavier duty work, than the normal ones. If in doubt start with a normal one.

In case you (or anyone else) is still in the market: The MGCC magazine Christmas edition has just appeared online.

Screen dumps of the relevant Cars for Sale section might be of interest. I do not think these pages are visible to non-members yet.