1972 MGB....oh yes...it's RED!

Henry Gale · 07-24-2006, 08:43 PM

The girlfriend is on the verge of buying a 1972 MGB.
I'm pretty sure this is a really bad idea but I need some documentation to back me up.
Obviously it's 34 years old. We're not mechanics, or rich.
You'd think that would be enough good reasons but she is remarkably..uh...stubborn.
"It's RED!"
I love the idea of her getting a little roadster, just not this one. My previous mate had an MGB 20 some years ago. My main memory of it is it sitting dead by various roadways.
Help, please.

Steve Schaffer · 07-24-2006, 08:48 PM

Find her a red Miata.

Bob Graz · 07-24-2006, 08:57 PM

What Steve said. MGB's in their time were great cars to drive. Stuck to the road like glue. They were hobby cars though even back then. You certainly don't want one now.

Dennis Nicholls · 07-24-2006, 11:46 PM

A 1972 MGB is actually one of the better years of the marque, as are most of them before the terrible "rubber bumper" smogged cars of 1974 onwards. You WILL become a mechanic if you own one. Parts are still available from places like Moss in Santa Barbara www.mossmotors.com and Victoria British in Saint Louis www.victoriabritish.com .

Mazda has sold over 700,000 Miatas for the reason that they are all the fun of the old British sportscars with the ease of ownership of a Honda Civic. I'm on my second one now. The only reason I sold off my 1992 Miata is that the 2004 was a much better platform to turbocharge.

A Miata with 150,000 miles on it will be a MUCH more reliable car than a carefully restored MGB. Try a 1.6l car from 1992-93 or an early 1.8l car from 1994-95. These should be available for about $3-4K for a low miles decent car. See http://forum.miata.net/vb/ .

I've previously owned a 1954 Austin-Healey 100-4, a 1959 AH Bugeye Sprite, and other British cars so I know from where I speak.

Chu Gai · 07-25-2006, 06:41 AM

If you don't want to invest, and invest heavily in the car over a period of time, then don't buy it. While a cute car in its time, it was always easy to spot the MG owner by the oil puddles on the ground. This was not a vehicle that was built to any great degree of engineering accuracy. I second the Miata recommendation and even the Honda del Sol is nice.

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Jeff Gatie · 07-25-2006, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chu Gai

If you don't want to invest, and invest heavily in the car over a period of time, then don't buy it. While a cute car in its time, it was always easy to spot the MG owner by the oil puddles on the ground. This was not a vehicle that was built to any great degree of engineering accuracy. I second the Miata recommendation and even the Honda del Sol is nice.

Thirdly on the Miata. An MG requires a person who is handy with all aspects of the car or else it requires a very close relationship between your wallet and your mechanic. A Miata just requires keys, gas and the occasional wash and wax.

Mort Corey · 07-25-2006, 10:10 AM

Not sure about the later model MG's, but my TD also required that you have three different type of wrenches....British Standard, Wentworth and Metric....and if it's been worked on in the US over the years you'll probably need American sizes as well.

Join the Auto Club.

Mort

Garrett Lundy · 07-25-2006, 11:53 AM

I also recommend buying a red Miata... or a Honda s2000. Or go all-out and buy a motorcycle. You know you want it.

Tom Fynan · 07-25-2006, 12:26 PM

I have owned both an MG (1953 TD) and a Miata (1990). Both are fun to drive, but unless your girlfreind owns the repair manual, is handy with a wrench, and has a lot of spare money for spare parts, you must talk her out of the MG. I wholeheartedly agree with everyone who has recommended buying a Miata.

A Miata is a car; an MG is a hobby.

Tom Fynan

BrianW · 07-25-2006, 04:56 PM

Wentworth?