No Budget Reviews: 2003 MG TF135 - Lloyd Vehicle Consulting
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- Опубликовано: 25 авг 2024
- -One 2003 MG TF135
-One Mobile Phone
-No Fancy Outfits
-No Obscure In-Jokes
-No DSLRs
-No Shotgun Microphones
-No Fluid Head Tripods
-No Idea about Exposure
-No Budget Whatsoever
It is time for the newest instalment in that beloved cinematic automotive RUclips experience where we film practical cars that can be bought for less than £1,000 in a manner befitting of their inexpensive value! This may go horribly wrong...
Would you like your car featured on No Budget Reviews? Please send me an e-mail at japl745@hotmail.com.
This time we examine a 2003 MG TF, in particular the TF135 variant, and I get really rather excited about the first review I have ever done on a car with the famous K-Series engine! Be prepared for a surprisingly inaccessible engine bay, two luggage compartments, some MG branded goodies, a very familiar looking dashboard, door mirrors from a certain exotic sportscar, a complete failure to operate the roof properly, too much darkness inside the cabin whilst driving and generally little of any consequence at all... Nothing untoward, then!
Follow Tom and his MG at: / iamtombailey1
As an independent vehicle consultant, I take potential buyers through the whole car buying process from choosing a make and model to a vehicle handover and road tax. In addition to information on this service, I also have a selection of written and video reviews of cars that I have owned, hired, borrowed or have somehow come into my possession. Please use the Contact Me page on my website to get in touch, visit my Facebook page for latest updates and share this video if you like it! Thank you for watching.
Website: www.lloydvehicleconsulting.co.uk
Facebook: / lloydvehicleconsulting
Means a lot to find a chap who appreciates rover products as much as I do. Most people in the UK chat rubbish on MGR because "it is a popular thing to do" without experiencing one themselves
Well, I have owned eight Rovers, several of them from the MG Rover era, and they actually aren't that bad. I have had a couple of dodgy cars, but also some great ones. They have a surprisingly high survival rate in comparison with many other cars of the era, and are starting to be perceived as very good options for starter classics. The 45 V6 that we bought this month is going to be kept for a while! Got more MG Rover content coming up on the channel soon.
I Bought a TF last week, wanted one for a long time. Used to own a 600 auto which I loved
My aunty had one of these. Proper back to basics feeling car. There's something quite satisfying about getting the roof down yourself.
Yes, absolutely, sir! I couldn't quite do it myself, as I didn't want to break it, but I think it would be pretty easy once you had done it a few times.
Matty's Cars Its a fantastic feeling!
@@lloydvehicleconsulting I've been in one. Quite easy if I remember rightly
It's simple when you know how, certainly!
Great review of the TF Joseph. What a lovely example. Gorgeous colour and condition. The engine sounds sweet. You are so fortunate to have a good selection of older cars in England. We have a limited choice in NI. Tom is one lucky guy.
Yes, he got a very lovely lightly used example! It didn't cost £1000, though, but you can still buy a TF in reasonable condition with an MOT for less than that, hence why this fits. I have heard that cars are generally a bit more expensive in Northern Ireland...
Andrew K. NI Thank you Andrew
@@lloydvehicleconsulting Yes, i would say cars are dearer here when I have checked on Autotrader. Garages charge high but trade in valued low! C'est la Vie :-)
Well, if you ever need a car sourced from the United Kingdom, you know where I am!
@@lloydvehicleconsulting Thank you Joseph :-)
Fantastic work Mr Lloyd, I’m pleased you enjoyed experiencing my pride and joy!
Well, we aim to please, sir, as you know! I did indeed very much enjoy it. Looks as if you aren't the only one who loves it!
My my, what a lovely MG! Looks very nicely kept indeed.
It's absolutely stunning, sir! Virtually perfect, actually. Tom has really, really looked after her.
The 'battery tray' on the offside front arch area is where the ABS brake control unit & associated brake fluid distribution pipes would have been fitted on MG TF's that had that checkbox ticked on the factory options list.
Here's what that would have looked like:
www.autocar.co.uk/sites/autocar.co.uk/files/styles/gallery_slide/public/mg-motor-mgtf-5A.jpg
Wonderful, thanks very much indeed for that information. I knew there was a logical explanation... Had lots and MGs and Rovers from the last 20 years, but still a lot of things to learn!
I'm just going to look at one of these fur £1400, so this was great. Thanks.
No problem at all, glad you found it useful! I filmed a 1.6 MG TF on No Budget Reviews in July and had a lot of fun doing that too.
Had one of these 1.8 TF with the low profile it cornered on rails, it was gunmetal Grey and a real looker, had no real problems in the five years I had it but the well know head gasket problem reared it head just as I was about to sell it, also the wiring loom by the boot chafed with continual opening and the rear plastic window cracked. If I bought one again I would avoid the ultra low profile tyres, they don't do anything for the ride as choppy at best. It was fast and noisy but you knew you were going fast and great with the hood down, whereas you could probably get the same sort of performance out of a Ford Focus 1.4 Zetec and not realise you were going as fast. That's the difference in refinement.
Wonderful, yes, the handling is very good, I imagine that it would be even better with the low profile tyres. The plastic rear window was changed in 2005 for a glass one, I think that I would prefer the glass one personally. The ride must have been a bit hard with those smaller sidewalls. Driving it with the hood down or up is an absolute blast! The noise is all part of the experience, isn't it?
I’ve always loved MG TFS I remember when I was young I walked into a showroom years ago and I saw a 04 MG TF 160 in cool blue staring at me and I thought that is one beautiful car and I was smitten I even sat in it and I felt like I owned the car👌
Oh, yes, it must have been glorious! It was certainly a lot of fun to drive once I got used to the handbrake and gearbox. They do also look brilliant. Something about sitting in a sports car in a showroom, isn't there?
There is
The MX-5 was like that too!
Head gasket aside, these k series are actually quite reliable stong engines with a bit of care they are actually capable of getting to high miles. Ive had a 45 1.8 that I sold on 170k and a MG ZS 120 1.8 that I sold on 190k miles. If the head gasket is done properly and the engine is not allowed to overheat then it shouldn't ever fail again.
Yes, absolutely, I keep reiterating this in the increasing number of K-Series engines that I cover in reviews (I have two coming up next week alone) that as long as the head gasket used is of decent quality and the replacement is done properly, then the engines can be excellent if maintained to a good standard. I have had three K-Series engined cars myself and two of them had no problems in that area at all.
Lloyd Vehicle Consulting I look forward to seeing them
It will be a pleasure, sir!
This takes me back to my MGF that I owned a few months ago. I think one day I would love another one or a TF. Excellent review as always Sir.
We do like TFs on this channel, sir, which is why we tested another one earlier this year.
Great review, although I am probably a little biased. 😂
Thank you very much indeed! Yes, from the username that may perhaps be the case. I actually have a review of a 2004 TF115 and a 2001 MGF 1.8 on No Budget Reviews now as well.
That is a beautiful car. I think its condition is a credit to its owner.
It's still in excellent condition now, sir!
Down Under watching here, it seems a few youtubers getting into mgf/tf and led to me to one of your old ones. Maybe a channel idea, retro reviews, reposting old videos. Anyway as usual nice video, getting pricey here in Oz for a good one Sir, but I'm Very keen
It's a very old review now, it was filmed in about June 2020. I have so many new videos that I put out that we don't really need to visit these old ones at the moment.
We’ve always liked these, granted they had their cooling challenges etc, however when one of my old school mates got one, incidentally in this colour it gave me a real buzz. When mum chose her car this and the 206cc were in the running, we opted PSA due to the possibility of reliability, I’d have one of these in a heart beat.
Yes, it was a very popular colour for these. They are an awful lot of fun, and once you get used to the gearbox (it is mid--engined after all), surprisingly easy to drive. Interesting choice between one of these and a 206 CC, I must say!
Lloyd Vehicle Consulting the parameters were 2 seater-ish, fun and convertible
That's actually quite a lot of cars for £1000, but if you were buying a brand new car, there are very few affordable two seaters left!
Lloyd Vehicle Consulting bear in mind this was 2009, these were 2k for tatty and broken and above who knows, as was the 206cc
Yes, a very different market back then, the Peugeot has done very well indeed.
Perfect video ☺️ getting mine today. Thanks 👍
Thank you for watching! I have also driven a 1.6 litre TF and a late MGF on No Budget Reviews now, and enjoyed them both. I hope your new car brings you joy.
I've just changed my gear knob as I hate it, lol.. Now sporting an MGB style gear knob...
Hope you enjoy your newly improved gearshift!
There are also two interior lights built into that rear view mirror as you mentioned, with a separate switch for each.
Thank you, John! This is an old video now, must have missed it when I filmed the car back in the day.
The 2nd battery tray looking area is where the abs pump goes if fitted
That is absolutely correct, I filmed another TF last year, which also had no ABS, and an MGF last week which did!
A very good NBR Joseph, what a lovely looking car, I think the colour really suits it. I think the handling is probably a tad better than the Volvo. The only downside must be like you mentioned the difficulty in carrying out any engine work.
Yes sir, an absolutely classic MG Rover colour of the era, and an incredibly nice example! The handling is indeed much better than a Volvo 240. Bit compromised in terms of practicality, but all two seaters are like that!
I have one in the same colour, and yes the engine placement does make it awkward. I had to change the fuel pump/sender unit a few months ago and there's so much to do before you can even see it lol Brilliant cars, so underrated. Great review and a lovely looking example too :-)
Head gaskets go again as the liners fret down once the block overheats so a normal garage doing one will never get a good seal, you need to check the liners in relation to the block, if there down, even a few tho, you're in trouble.
I have done well almost 95 episodes of No Budget Reviews now and at least ten of them are about MG Rover era cars (I own a Rover 45 V6 myself), so we discuss the K-Series head gasket issue all the time. In fact, I just filmed a review of an MGF that will go live in a couple of weeks. This is quite an old episode now, and I don't know why it has necessarily been a lot more popular than many of the others.
You mention an output of 135 bhp. That is actually a lively power output. I remember the 1.6 Mk 3 Cavalier had 90 bhp and it was fast. My Father owned a 1989 Toyota Camry 2.0 GL which had 125 bhp and that car was a flying machine. I love the TF because the face looks more purposeful. I have never driven one but I have seen some lovely exterior colour and trim combinations. The head gasket issue is a worry but until I take plunge on a K Series I have no experience. Lots of cars can blow head gaskets.
Yes, lots of power outputs for an MG TF. Certainly 135 bhp is perfectly adequate for this type of car. Trophy Blue is a very good colour for these, and if you have one as sorted as this, then you probably won't be worrying about any common issues like head gaskets! Certainly worth a go if you can find one.
That's one very clean MG.Was the an electric option for the roof?
Oh gosh, I don't know! Tom would probably know... Certainly the MX-5 of this era didn't have one.
paul It was an extremely rare option. I don’t know of any cars that have it and only know it existed having read David Knowles’ book about them.
I haven't heard of one either, I think that most of them were manual.
I think they are all manual roofs from the factory but Im not 100% certain
Yes, most of them must have had manual roofs like this one...
9:30 - A little bit faster than a Volvo 240 🤣🤣🤣🤣
It certainly was!
Interesting video, cheers
Thank you ever so much indeed! Glad you enjoyed it. I have lots of other episodes of No Budget Reviews on the playlist if you are interested, we seem to specialise in Rover Group and MG Rover cars!
Yeah tom's really looked after that car its in great condition. Oh and you claim "no fancy outfits", but them 1976 (the year the sd1 was released) sideburns are a bit "fancy"!!!!
Oh sir, Tom has really, really looked after it! It is lovely to drive. Once the hairdressers open on 4th July, I will be booking myself an appointment to get rid of the sideburns...
@@lloydvehicleconsulting keep them (sideburns) for when/until you review a car from the mid 70s (SD1) may be?!......btw you might of realised by now if i havnt made it obvious enough that the SD1 is my favourite classic, my dad's friend/accountant had one in the mid 80s and i've loved it since! do you like them?
Oh sir, as a true Professionals and New Avengers fan, how could I not love a nice SD1? I much prefer the later cars, and would very much like to review a nice Vitesse. Haven't been offered one yet, though, sadly.
A review from someone whose got no real idea about it (battery tray? Engine access?) nice
And your point is...?
@@lloydvehicleconsulting it's not 2 battery trays mate it where the abs would be, you don't drop the engine to maintain it there's a tin cover under the rear parcel shelf, even thou it's mid engined gearbox and engine are together, it was a good review tho and fun, nothing personal mate.
@@roystonvehicles9129 , I know about the trays, I have subsequently reviewed another TF and an MGF and we discussed them then. One of the problems with RUclips is if you do make a mistake (and this is No Budget Reviews, so there are many), you can't go back and add in a note to correct anything.
@@lloydvehicleconsulting OK bud, sorry
@@roystonvehicles9129, no problem at all, if you want to see some more of the MG Rover era episodes of No Budget Reviews, then they are on a playlist. The second TF review is better than this one, but hasn't performed as well as this for some reason...
Get one today
Oh, wonderful! I do hope that you enjoyed the video. Thank you ever so much indeed for watching and commenting.
I've just brought the same model
Oh, wonderful! I hope that you are enjoying it so far. Hope you enjoyed the video.
Not used yet got of lady owner had for year but failed its last mot so she brought new car and was going to scrap off
@@tukaruss8680 , excellent, proves that there are still some MG TF bargains out there to be had!
Yes sure is comes with hardtop as well got for £200 failed mot on track rod ends and bushes so will be put back on road for small coast for parts
@@tukaruss8680 , that sounds like an absolute bargain! Funny how the prices of these do very much vary depending on condition, Tom's one was almost perfect.
Lack of anti roll bars puts me off, how stupid of them not to fit them from factory. Typical BL
I mean, you could always fit them aftermarket, couldn't you?
You don't look comfortable driving this lol 😂
I drove another one (a TF115) the next year, and I look much more comfortable driving that...
@@lloydvehicleconsulting saving for a zt 260
Very good, sir!