MG F 1.8i 2d Steptronic Auto (2000/W) Owner Review
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Economy
Value
New prices dropped in 2000 and we bought at further discount as it was a demonstrator.
Costs
Servicing cheaper than expected. Tyres not too bad. Head gasket failure mitigated by saving on 60000 mile serice costs with cam belt change.
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On the road
Driving
Quicker than it feels. CVT feels soulless at first, but once familiar it works well and is smooth. Steering is very light. It rattles a bit. With the hood up it's claustrophobic. Thumb switches on steering are a joke.
Performance
Not exactly overpowered. Point and squirt machine in traffic. On backroads especially where there are gradients and hairpins it's easy to make progress without pushing hard. The sport mode position on the gear stick is similar to dropping a gear.
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Living with it
Reliability
Dreaded head gasket failure at 50,000 miles. Cost £650 with engine otherwise undamaged or it could have been worse.
Image
Not that macho. My wife loves it to bits. Steptronic is underrated.
Comfort
Ride better than expected. Interior cabin reasonable.
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Security and Service
Security
Soft top. However, comes with an alarm.
Service
Varied from good to indifferent. Steptronic system not common and one mechanic suggested throttle problem (it needed lubrication) was an electronics problem with gearbox.
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Problems and Ownership
Problems
Engine
Head gasket failure.
Other
Throttle required lubrication.
Ownership
Did you buy the car new?
Used
Would you buy the same model again?
Yes
Did you buy from the same manufacturer again?
Yes