Like I said, if they aren't going to produce a decent 21st century interpretation of an MGB there's little point in bothering with the MG brand at all IMO.If you are trying to revive an exhumed brand of anything you need to be imitating what the old company did best, and it wasn't slapping badges on mediocre and nondescript 4 door saloon cars!It was building light, agile and distinctive sports cars that had character, didn't have any competition on the market that was too similar, and had a real and long term following.
trogedon,
Sep 29, 2:06pm
I have "read" MGs that don't leak oil.
pebbles61,
Sep 29, 4:27pm
Clearly this post comes from someone who owned a BL car or took the advice of someone who did lol.
They're not that bad lol
natedg1,
Sep 29, 5:36pm
MG are made in China. so what, do some research and you will find a lot of large european brands have assembly plants in China now including BMW, Audi and Mercedes. Maybe this is why the German economy is in the crap.
mark68,
Sep 29, 6:08pm
They will sell really well.consumers everywhere are obsessed with brand names.which is why horrible cars like the Chevrolet Orlando sell well.and geeks queue up for iphone 5.
richardmayes,
Oct 1, 6:21pm
It's a fairly forgettable looking car. But it's cheap, it has a turbo and it's a reasonably small carrunning on 215s, so in spirit it's not too far away from the real MG sports cars of the 1930s.
More to the point.
Why did they get someone who clearly knows NOTHING about MGs to write this article!
pebbles61,
Oct 1, 6:32pm
I just hope they don't start making Wolseleys.
mm12345,
Oct 1, 7:15pm
They probably will - they own the name.
mm12345,
Oct 1, 7:17pm
Oops - but it's still the powerhouse of Europe.
pebbles61,
Oct 1, 7:22pm
I know, that's what worries me lol
socram,
Oct 1, 7:23pm
I thought BMW owned Riley, Wolseley and the other Ex BMC brands, other than MG/Rover!
mm12345,
Oct 1, 7:34pm
SAIC own Wolseley, BMW own Riley. Perhaps BMW will do a "Riley Mini" with a bonnet that gives no access to the motor, and a square boot attachment on the rear. Would be interesting - not sure if it would improve the mini or not.As BMW have (d)evolved the mini, it's looking more and more like a frog with a straw shoved up it's rear passage, inflated a little more with each model revision. Hideous disgusting cars.
maddog007,
Oct 1, 8:30pm
while i agree its a shame they havent come out with something capturing the old MG spirit, & i hope further down the track they might.
I dont understand why there is so much dislike of the styling, when comparing apples with apples, ie with current Honda's, Nissan's & ugly box Toyota's. Its not that bad in the flesh. Which is what matters.
As an example, the new toyota 86 looked great in the pre release pics. but in person I personally find them a little die-cast model looking.
But the thing ive noticed is when you pull up to a intersection or petrol station in the new MG, It seems to catch peoples eye, & in a good way, they always seem quite intrigued & seem to approve, maybe because they are just judging it on its own merits as a new car to a popular segment, rather than looking to the past. & yes the badge seems to surprise some.
socram,
Oct 2, 5:39am
As an ex Riley Elf & Wolseley Hornet owner, that made me smile.On my modifed ones, I detached the grille from the bonnet and simply attached it to the front of the car, using quick release buttons.(I have done the same with my current project car.I don't really like rear hinged bonnets anyway, so have adopted the Morgan, side opening style instead.) The extra boot space meant I could carry an extra spare wheel for competition use, so the Elf/Hornet was more practical than the basic Mini.
Agree the modern Mini's have rather lost the plot with each bloated model variant. I am happy enough with my 2002 'S' though.
kcf,
Oct 2, 5:51am
I must say that I associate my old Riley Elf with a serious of very nasty blows to the back of the head every time I tried to do anything to it (which was constantly, because it was a bag of rubbish car that had a very worked 1330cc running on a downdraft weber lurking in the front).
Don't know what they were thinking with that grill.Then also to get into the boot you basically had to lie face first on the ground.
franc123,
Oct 2, 3:53pm
All this talk about these dead BMC brands has made me think why an MG version of the original Mini wasn't created! Maybe one was created but not put into production because it was considered to be a competitor for the non S Coopers. I can see it now, a unique grill, bit of woodgrain on the instrument oval, roll up windows, twin carb 1000cc engine, unique upholstery, hydro suspension and bumper overriders etc, wouldn't have been hard to do. It might have had more appeal than the Hornet or Elf.
socram,
Oct 2, 4:33pm
I don't think it would have been different enough, but they did it with the 1100/1300, where there was no Cooper in the range, but by this time, I think they were clutching at straws with the badge engineering, trying to keep the old names alive. Sure I miss those old names (I loved real Riley's more than MGs) but in many respects, it is better to leave them be, along with Alvis, Daimler, Austin Healey, Lanchester, Singer, and a hundred others. Nowadays, it is all about high volume and mass market appeal as the compliance costs are so horrific. With little ole NZ banning TVRs and the like, as they don't have some of the modern gizmos, it isn't going to get any easier to launch cars that are a little bit different - and the modern driver doesn't even want to change gear, parallel park etc., without handing it all over to a magic box of electronic trickery.
pebbles61,
Oct 2, 4:40pm
On that note why didn't they make an MG version of the 1800! instead of making the 'S' types!
"All this talk about these dead BMC brands has made me think why an MG version of the original Mini wasn't created! " One was considered a sports model based on the Mini but canned - The New Mini Roadster reminds me of it a lot! It was going to replace the MG Midget and would have been front wheel drive.
In fact current shape Mini and its previous model was what the Greek designerhad originally planned for; it was originally planned that 59 Mini was to be a bigger car.based on early sketchs I have seen. There was even a 1 off MG Badged Morris Marina coupe! a proto was made and last heard is still lives.
as for MG been Morris Garages - Chinese version of it stands for 'Most Honourable Gentleman' !
In Feb 2012 at Britiish Car Show in Trentham on MG Car club of Wellingtons display one of those new 5 door Hatch Chinese MGs was there in red from memory - I think I have a photo of it somewhere
sgrants,
Oct 2, 7:04pm
plus 1
mm12345,
Oct 2, 7:06pm
No. "basic design requirements: the car should be contained within a box that measured 10×4×4 feet" Original mini: 10' 1/5" long x 4' 7" wide x 4' 5" high. So the Mini was actually larger than the original design brief. but 4 feet wide would have been a bit too cosy - jeesh.
The present so-called Mini is about 2 feet longer, 10 inches wider, about twice the weight, and an abject fail in the other design briefs, to be simple and inexpensive.Some people love them though - but there's nought so queer as folk - especially when they've been sucked in by a bit of slick German marketing, reinforcing some assumptions about so-called German quality. The Japanese have a much better grasp of the concept of the "Mini" than the Germans, which is a little ironic given that kraut mini-cars of the time inspired the creation of real Mini as a better alternative!
socram,
Oct 2, 7:56pm
I am not the only one who likes the old 'S' and the new.The new one isa brand name only with certain styling cues from the original, but it is not mini, as in small, or basic, or slow and was never meant to be.
Several car makers went the cheap economy route in the late 50's early 60's with various models and failed miserably, notably the basic Standard 8 and the el cheapo Ford Anglia, both without chrome trim, heaters etc.
Nowadays, all drivers seem to want air con, fancy sound systems etc, and the market for tin boxes is limited to 3rd world countries.The modern Mini might not appeal to some, but as one who has owned Minis continuously since February 1967, from basic Minivans, through 850's, 998 and 1275 Coopers and Cooper S, Hornets and Elfs, I appreciate what the modern S is, as a comfortable, reliable, fast, economical car with superb brakes and a build quality second to none.In ten years of ownership from new, it doesn't show its age in any area and the true residual value is way way higher that the accountant's/IRD book value. What it isn't, is small, and no one can doubt the sales and marketingsuccess and yes, it is still assembled in the UK, not Germany as many would have you believe.
mgmad,
Oct 2, 8:52pm
And your one was even designed in the UK socram - can't say the same for the latest generation though.
mike1345,
Oct 3, 5:55am
Better off buying one of these if you want something a bit more like a modern MGB GT.
That would go well in the fantasy garage alongside a Beacham Jaguar.Being a purist is admirable, but a Mk2 Jaguar or even the MGB with reliable modern running gear means you get the traditional looks without the downsides of the original.
On my list, a MK2 Jag on chrome wire wheels is still one the best looking 4 door saloon cars of all time.
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