MG TF vs Mazda MX-5 2008 UK twin test review
MG is back with a new version of TF roadster. We rate its chances as it meets Mazda MX-5.
Reborn, rejuvenated and ready to take on the world – MG is back in the UK! It has been three long years since the gates of the Longbridge factory in Birmingham closed for the last time. But now, the production line is up and running again, thanks to the brand’s new Chinese owner, Nanjing. And it’s time to put the first fruit of the Far Eastern MG to the test.
To get the firm back on its feet, the debut model to roll out of the Midlands plant is a redeveloped version of the TF roadster. Pretty styling and a mid-engined layout made it a success in the Nineties, but does it still offer a winning formula in 2008? Last week (Issue 1,028), avid MG fan Simon Robinson delivered his verdict when Auto Express invited him to take the wheel of the drop-top. He gave it a big thumbs up. Yet if there’s one model that could stand between the TF and success, it’s the Mazda MX-5.
A long-established class leader, the Japanese roadster has been replaced by an all-new third- generation model during the TF’s absence. Prices for the Mazda start at £15,750 for the basic 1.8-litre fabric-topped version. However, if you want a leather-trimmed steering wheel and gearknob, plus 16-inch alloys, you will need the £16,550 Option Pack model tested here.
Buyers of the well specced MG pay £16,399. Only one variant is available for now, powered by a 1.8-litre petrol engine. To celebrate the relaunch of the famous marque, the first 500 models will be badged LE500 – and this will ensure exclusivity for those willing to take the plunge with the firm’s new owner. We find out if the MG comeback has been worth the wait.
Verdict
The TF is the car everyone is talking about, and its popularity is already assured – nearly all 500 LE500 special editions have been sold. Put it head-to-head with its class-leading rival, though, and it soon shows its age. While the TF is still a desirable roadster, the MX-5 is way ahead for dynamics, engineering and design.
At every turn, the MX-5 has continued to evolve with Mazda’s sustained investment and development. In contrast, under MG Rover’s stewardship, the TF was allowed to go stale.
An entry-level car will appear by the end of the year, and this will be a better choice. While the long kit tally makes the MX-5 look basic, the LE500 struggles to compete at this price.
With the support of loyal fans and a raft of all-new models in the pipeline, MG’s comeback is sure to be successful. But the TF is unlikely to lift the brand back to glory single-handedly.
Mazda MX-5 1.8i
Fun in the sun – that’s the brief the MX-5 and TF both aim to fulfil. Yet their makers have followed very different approaches to achieve the same goal.
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The TF and MX-5 both feature two seats, two doors and a convertible roof – although that’s where the similarities end.
On paper, the MG’s layout is much more exotic than its Japanese rival’s. With its engine in the middle driving the rear wheels, the TF has more in common with a Lotus Elise. However, when Mazda made the first MX-5 back in 1989, it looked to a different Lotus for inspiration: the Elan of the Sixties. That means you will find the engine mounted at the front, feeding power to the rear wheels.
As a result, the proportions of the Mazda are very different to the MG’s. Unlike the TF, the MX-5 has been substantially re-engineered and rebodied. Yet the designers were cautious when changing the formula, and although that doesn’t detract from the elegant shape, when the two cars are side-by-side, the compact MG cuts more of a dash. Inside, it’s a different story. While the Mazda still feels claustrophobic with the hood up, the cabin is from a different era to the TF’s. It’s easier to find a comfortable driving position, and the dashboard, switchgear and gearknob are all far more modern.
Our only criticism of the 1.8-litre MX-5’s cabin is its miserly equipment. The first absent feature is air-con. With the manual hood up, the interior gets very warm, so to make the most of your Mazda in all weathers, you will need to spend an extra £1,280 on climate control, which comes with heated leather seats. A leather steering wheel and gearknob, plus 16-inch alloys, add another £800 to the £15,750 price.
That takes the cost of the MX-5 1.8 to £17,830 – which is £1,431 more than the similarly equipped LE500. And that’s before you consider the MG’s standard hard-top. So, can the MX-5 justify the extra cost out on the road? It doesn’t take long to find out that this is one polished package.
Mazda has applied the same careful evolutionary approach to the dynamics as it did to the styling, and the MX-5 has retained the character of the original. With the long bonnet stretched out in front and a stubby gearlever, the Mazda feels special – but any inkling that it’s not a modern roadster disappears when you compare it to the MG.
Dynamically, the MX-5 is streets ahead. The steering is much sharper and more responsive, the engine is strong throughout the rev range and the transmission feels robust. In fact, the Mazda’s handling is hard for any rival to match. It’s also much more comfortable than the MG on motorway trips.
You will need to find nearly £1,500 more to enjoy your MX-5 in similar luxury to the TF LE500. But as soon as you pick up the keys, you’ll realise this is money well spent.
Details
Price: £16,550
Model tested: MX-5 1.8i Option Pack
Chart position: 1
WHY: Our favourite roadster is a top-class package that will provide a stiff challenge.
Economy
There’s no doubt the MX-5 is the better all-round car here, but buyers will have to be prepared to pay more. While the basic model is cheaper than the LE500, it does without most luxuries, including air-con. If you want as much equipment as the MG has, you’ll need to spend thousands on options. The MX-5 makes up some ground with its cleaner engine. Lower emissions and better combined economy help to reduce tax and fuel bills. Early indications are that the Mazda will be more costly to service, although the differences are minimal. The firm’s franchises have also received glowing reviews in Auto Express’s annual Driver Power survey.
MG TF LE500
Single-handedly responsible for bringing MG back to the UK, the new TF has a big job to do. In its heyday it was one of Britain’s best-selling sports cars, but will it be able to find as many hearts in 2008 as it did when its predecessor, the MGF, appeared in 1995?
The shape hasn’t changed much over the years, so it’s no surprise it remains largely unaltered in its latest guise. A new grille has been added, but the TF is still attractive, and comes in five hand-finished paint colours.
Perhaps its most striking feature is its size – the competition has got bigger, but the MG remains a tiny two-seater. Yet while that helps it stand out, it’s not good news for the interior, which suffers from the same fundamental problems as before.
Our biggest gripe concerns the driving position. As with the MX-5, the MG’s steering wheel adjusts only for rake, but it’s mounted much further away than the Mazda’s, leaving your arms stretched out. What’s more, the pedals are hinged close to the floor, making them harder to press than the MX-5’s.
As the TF is hand-made at the Longbridge plant, build quality is fine. We just wish we could say the same for the switchgear – it will be familiar to drivers of everything from the Land Rover Defender to the Eighties Austin Maestro, and makes the MG feel very dated.
Turn the old MG Rover-hinged key and the engine fires into life behind the cabin. The mid-mounted position of the 1.8-litre 133bhp powerplant in the TF is unique in this class. Even though the mechanicals have been upgraded over the old K Series unit, performance won’t set the world alight. At the track, the MG managed 0-60mph in 9.6 seconds. The MX-5 was not only quicker, but was much more refined under full throttle. The TF’s gearbox also suffers a stiff shift – a huge contrast from the short and accurate throw in the Mazda.
On the road, the MG is engaging to drive, due to its raucous engine and light weight. Yet as the speed rises, tiny steering inputs result in big and sometimes unexpected changes in direction. And while the MG is tauter in corners, the Mazda’s body roll is part of its more communicative driving experience.
The MX-5 is the long-distance choice, too. While the LE500 rides better than its TF predecessors, it’s firm and uncomfortable on motorways. But one thing you won’t get with the MX-5 is exclusivity. There’s a buzz about MG’s return that makes the TF exciting – and the part each car plays in this revival is marked by a numbered plaque inside. Will generous kit and a strong heritage be enough for the old stager here?
Details
Price: £16,399
Model tested: MG TF LE500
Chart position: 2
WHY: Britain’s last great car manufacturer is back with a re-engineered two-seater.
Economy
If we were in charge of MG’s marketing, we would have launched the basic version before the flagship. With a lower list price, the drawbacks of the roadster’s dated design would be easier to overlook. As it stands, the TF is similar in cost to an MX-5, but comes with much more standard equipment. Old versions of the TF had head gasket trouble, which often led to big repair bills, thanks to the two-seater’s mid-engined layout. But MG is confident it has finally rid the powerplant of its gremlins. Emissions of 185g/km are high for such a light roadster, even though its 28.5mpg economy was acceptable on our test.
