A tale of two halves (MG TF le500) (From Campaign Series)

A tale of two halves (MG TF le500)

1:53pm Friday 3rd July 2009

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LOOKS FAMILIAR? That's hardly surprising because the basic design of the MG F, on which the MG TF LE500 is based, dates back to 1995. This is a car that, in one format or another, has been with us for quite some time.

That is much to its credit. An instant classic, when the MG F was introduced it was, incredibly, the first new MG since 1962. And like the MG B the MG F and later TF stayed in production in the same basic form for years, with customers happily getting behind the wheel of the two-seater right up until 2005, when the MG Rover group went bust. Even during the period when MG had simply ceased to exist, MG Fs and TFs were proving popular with roadster drivers.

That's because the model has always offered the same Ôbang for bucks’ approach, regardless of equipment levels or the suspension type.

That's what the people behind the resurrected MG badge are counting on, anyway. Chinese group NAC was keen to get its versions of the MG and Rover line-up back on to UK forecourts as soon as possible, and the MG TF was the obvious candidate to lay the foundations for further products.

A run of 500 limited edition (hence LE5000) models celebrates the return of the brand held close to the hearts of many UK drivers.

Special editions of the MG F and TF are not a rarity. Some are rarer than others. In 1997 a limited edition of one managed 217mph on the Bonneville salt flats. That must have felt like the speed of light, because the MG TF's ground-hugging roadster design exaggerates everything. The mission objective has always remained the same; big laughs from a small car.

The LE 500 is no different, and like the pre-takeover TF it provides the laughs courtesy of a rear-wheel drive, mid-engined layout. The engine will be familiar to MG fans, too.

The old K-Series lump is now the N-Series. It’s still 1.8-litres and it still sits directly behind the two seats, but it now boasts a reworked block and head designed to improve efficiency, emissions and reliability. The six-speed CVT transmission is no more - a five speed manual transmission delivers power the short distance to the rear wheels.

Clearly, it couldn’t be called limited edition without a few changes, and subtle cosmetic differences are present. A restyled front end is sleeker, while projector style lights and 16-inch alloy wheels over red brake callipers give the model a more modern appearance. Leather seats, shinier plastics and some discreet LE500 badges adorn the interior, while parking sensors, electric mirrors and windows, air-con and a hard top cover for the soft-top roof are also standard kit for the special edition model.

The folding roof has always been 50 per cent of the MG TF’s appeal. That hasn’t changed either. A manual affair, it’s easy to drop and raise and sits on top of the rear of the car without hindering the boot space, which is actually impressive for a car of its size.

The other 50 per cent comes courtesy of the driving appeal. The rear-wheel drive and mid-engined layout gives the MG TF a natural balance that even the novice will appreciate. Simplicity is the key. The steering is assisted but not a great deal - the lack of weight over the front wheels makes it unnecessary - meaning there’s a natural feel through the neatly proportioned steering wheel.

The light-weight model reacts extremely sharply to steering input and the 135bhp engine offers just enough power to be enjoyable, but not skittish. Only the slightly wooden feel to the brakes puts a dampner on things. Sat close to the ground with the engine buzzing directly behind you, it’s a very instinctive car to drive.

Of course, having the engine that close does have a downside. The lack of refinement is acute, with road, engine and wind noise combining into a constant drone on the move, roof up or down. Feeble performance from the after market radio-CD player means there’s little escape. A firm ride is fantastic on the B-roads, but proves crashy around town and highlights some build quality issues inside with rattles and squeaks from the interior.

But a compact two-seater roadster like the MG TF LE500 is always going to require some compromises. A tight cabin, a noisy interior are countered by a nimble and highly entertaining set-up. It’s a trade-off that’s historically proved more than acceptable. Time will tell whether roadster drivers still feel the same way.

FACTS AT A GLANCE

Model: MG TF LE500, £15,999 on the road. Engine: 1.8-litre petrol unit developing 133bhp and 122lb/ft of torque. Transmission: 5-speed manual transmission, driving the rear wheels. Performance: Maximum speed 127mph, 0-62mph 8.4 seconds. CO2 emissions: 185g/km. Economy: 35.8mpg.

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