64 replies to this topic

[djegiant]

Being pedantic... the MGF/TF was front wheel drive

In reverse gear?

Amazing how many people are unaware of the engine position/driven wheels on some pretty mainstream cars!

And this place is meant to be full of car enthusiasts!

[Guy182]

yeah but who the hell is enthusiastic about an mg F ??!

[TurboTomato]

Am I the only one that keeps reading the title of this thread as 'Similar Breasts'

[JimH]

Almost certainly

[MajorGav]

Almost certainly

[speedster]

Am I the only one that keeps reading the title of this thread as 'Similar Breasts'

[stuarth1]

Am I the only one that keeps reading the title of this thread as 'Similar Breasts'

Sorry to get off the subjects of breasts but...

Does a Honda NSX count? - saw one on the way home - pretty old but still pretty nice

[speedyK]

Does a Honda NSX count? - saw one on the way home - pretty old but still pretty nice

Well, Honda is pretty mainstream, but the NSX isn't really VX/MGF category. It was designed as a supercar to show off Honda's high tech engineering capabilities – one that you could easily drive to the shops and also blow F348s into the weeds (well, keep on the road where they fell off).

'Fraid my testdrive of an NSX was my biggest motoring disappointment to date. If you search, you'll find my write up from two years back. Incidentally, I was at that same garage today. They had a DB7 Vantage for not absolutely impossible money! Despite the fact that it looked absolutly fantastic in a bluish silver metallic, I firmly told myself not to be blinded by the appearance and that it was basically just a glorified 30 year-old XJS chassis (and you can get an end-of-the-line, 6 litre V12 XJS for a fifth of the price, if you want that type of car – my bro has a minter but it doesn't do it for me – far prefer my 300ZXTwinTurbo). For the same money they also had a couple new Corvette ZO6, some F355s and even an early F360... definitely not mainstream in nature or upkeep! Stopped to look at a Smart Roadster-Coupé too – tempting little toy...

* Warning *Being a petrolhead can seriously damage your bank account!

[jules_s]

Keith, I hope you can't get sky1's Vroom Vroom.....last Tuesday they put an Exige S up against an Enzo 70-140 A waste of television time if ever there was one No offence

[speedster]

Does a Honda NSX count? - saw one on the way home - pretty old but still pretty nice

Well, Honda is pretty mainstream, but the NSX isn't really VX/MGF category. It was designed as a supercar to show off Honda's high tech engineering capabilities – one that you could easily drive to the shops and also blow F348s into the weeds (well, keep on the road where they fell off).

I agree speedyK, the NSX is in another league.

So far we have

• Toyota MR2 (power steering)
• Fiat X19
• Rover MGF (power steering)
• Smart Car
• ?

Not a great list!!

[speedyK]

So far we have

• Toyota MR2 (power steering)
• Fiat X19
• Rover MGF (power steering)
• Smart Car
• ?

Not a great list!!

You really should include the Murena. The third seat did not increase the length of the car and it was possible to make it into a spacious two-seater with two swift actions: the centre seat back folded down to provide a generous centre arm rest and the centre headrest rotated down through 180° out of the rearview mirror's line of sight. You can see the plush buttoned velour (yes, it looks questionable now, but it was good compared to what most manufacturers were offering at the time) of the three seats here:

>clicky<

You can see it in 2-seat mode a little better in a bigger pic – sorry, not got a better interior shot on my Mac. The casual observer would not suspect the presence of the (very useful, fullsized) third seat.

Edited by speedyK, 17 August 2006 - 11:22 PM.

[speedster]

OK speedyK

• Toyota MR2 (power steering)
• Fiat X19
• Rover MGF (power steering)
• Smart Car
• Matra Murena

[speedyK]

Keith,

I hope you can't get sky1's Vroom Vroom.....last Tuesday they put an Exige S up against an Enzo 70-140

A waste of television time if ever there was one No offence

Ah, but the Enzo is "uncool" and even a common-or-garden Elise is "cool" >clicky<

[Ferguson]

OK, I'm going to get killed here for waving the GM North America flag, but since this has turned into a historical list , I still think the updated Fiero should go on the list. I'm not saying it was the best car, but still a somewhat sporty, mid-engined, 2 seater with potential. The problem is Pontiac killed it before they could really explore its potential. Lose the big 80s wing and the "flying buttress" body style of the final year is quite pleasant. Most ended up on the scrap heap, or turned into badly modified heaps, but there are a few very interesting examples out there with a Northstar V8 conversion and proper suspension setup. The RIM plastic body construction was a bold step at the time



(Even the humble 4cyl version could be given credit for trying to introduce an efficient-yet-fun 2 seat commuter into a sea of single-driver, large sedans)

...too bad the MR2 came along 2 years later and carpet-bombed the Fiero with a much better engine and chassis

Edited by Ferguson, 18 August 2006 - 08:18 AM.

[JimH]

If the Murena is included then so must the Bagheera (we'll overlook the rather brilliant three seat arrangement for now >Bagheera/Murena info here<). The Beta Monte Carlo must be included as should the 914. The 916 probably shouldn't because it sold for 911 money at the time so probably prices itself out of consideration. Also you could get an MGF without power steering - it was optional on the early 1.8i. That makes the list:

Toyota MR2 (power steering)
Fiat X19
Rover MGF
Smart Car
Matra Murena
Matra Bagheera
Lancia Beta Monte Carlo
Porsche 914
Pontiac Fiero

I would still argue to have the Europa included on the list because that started the whole thing off.

Edit to include Ferguson's nomination. Even though those cars are responsible for so many dreadful replicas.

Edited by JimH, 18 August 2006 - 08:22 AM.

[Ferguson]

Edit to include Ferguson's nomination. Even though those cars are responsible for so many dreadful replicas.

I am certainly no Fiero apologist (my mid-80s cash would have been firmly in Toyota's pocket) but I would counter that I've seen shocking creations which started life as perfectly good X1/9s and 914s (although these tend to fall into the "overdone bodykit" category rather than the "let's pretend it's a Ferrari 308" genre).

[JimH]

True, true. The X1-9 had that dreadful Eurosport body kit which seemed to be a cross between a Dallara and a Testerossa with just a hint of epileptic fit thrown in for good measure. I can't think of a similar one for the 914, however.

[Ferguson]

True, true. The X1-9 had that dreadful Eurosport body kit which seemed to be a cross between a Dallara and a Testerossa with just a hint of epileptic fit thrown in for good measure. I can't think of a similar one for the 914, however.

The first two are actually SCCA derivatives, but I used to see things like that on the road in Canada. I also used to see lots of crap-looking slantnose conversions.

[JimH]

Yelp!

[SSH1]

As Jim suggested earlier, the Boxster should be included as could the Cayman.