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Lola MG

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Yeah, but MG has access to Rover's great small 4-cylinder 1.1L, 1.4L, 1.6L K-engine....they could use it to reduce costs.

[ 09-11-2003: Message edited by: Basil ]</p>
 
Let’s do the math.

GBP15,000 at today’s exchange rate of GBP1.00:USD1.59 is USD23,850.

So let’s say we use the cheaper motor, that ought to save us maybe $3,000, and remove any “gadgets” that aren’t mandated by federal law, maybe another $3,000. That leaves us with our no-frills MG costing $17,850.


PC.
 
Although most FWD cars engines are straddling the axel (which doesn't quite fit a "mid engine design") if one took a power train out of a high production FWD car and mounted it in the rear of the car they would only have to "fix" the tie rods to the frame so they didn't permit the wheels to "steer" and they would have a fully independent suspension rear wheel drive car.
The design wouldn't be any more out of balance than a Porsche and they seem to do rather well in the sports car game.
So now we could have a inexpensive DOHC 4 valve FI power source.
Food for thought.
Jim
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Jim,

Yea, but when you turn the engine/transaxle around backward to keep it "mid-engine", you only have one very low forward gear and 5 reverses! Just kidding.

I really like the ideas everyone is coming up with. If all this seems so logical to us, why can't the factories see that logic too?

Without knowing anyone in a car company, I would bet the answer is MONEY. Every new car dealer in the US makes a substantial part of his profit on options, not the base-model car, and on financing, leasing, and dealer add-ons (the infamous undercoating/pinstriping ploy). In fact, try to find a stripped, base model of any make car at a dealer this weekend--with new models coming out in a few weeks--and you probably won't find one. They're all loaded up.

Rover makes a whole lot more profit on a 160-HP, 1.8L variable valve, AC, PS, PB, power window, AM-FM-CD, leather-seat equipped MGTF that would sell for $30K or more in the US than it does on a stripped down, 1.1L $13K Midget. And since both require very nearly the same build time on the assembly line, which would you build?

That's what happens when London School of Economics-educated bean-counters, instead of car enthusists, run a British auto company (substitute "Harvard Business School" with "American"). Of course, if we enthusiasts ran a car company, it would probably be flat broke inside 6 months!

Steve
 
the factories do use that logic, you guys are describing to the "T" the toyota MR2 spyder that is currently being sold. parts bin FWD engine (from the celica and corolla) put in the back making the car RWD with existing engine and transmissions. now add the most basic features you can get in a car and have it still sell and you have the $18k MR2
 
The MGTF does use the Rover 1.6L doesn’t it?

MSRP in the UK for the MGTF is about the same as the MX-5 (I love alphabet soup, don’t you?) so if it ended up similarly priced around here you’ve got a $17k car. Even if they gave you the motor for free you’d be looking at $12k car.


PC.
 
Tony - I had to delete the image link you have from to Rover site - it was causeing "login" screen to pop up when entering this thread (not sure why??)

Basil
 
Basil - not a problem...sorry to have created one!

The MG TF uses the K-series engine in 1.6 litre (115Ps), 1.8 litre (135Ps) and 1.8 litre VVC (160Ps) setup...MGTF base price is down around 15,000 pounds...a "less-gadgeted" Midget with the smaller K-series engine could be brought in under that price
 
You can buy a decent second hand MGF for between ÂŁ5 - ÂŁ8 K (UKP), here in the UK.
Is there a problem in importing second hand cars into the US?....there certainly isn't doing it the other way round.

Any one want one?........(you can have left hand drive if you want)


Cheers

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[ 09-13-2003: Message edited by: BEEJAY7 ]</p>
 
Importing a used MGF into the States would likely be a nightmare, unless you cheated and ran it on "antique car" plates (which I have heard is a popular way of registering Lotus Elises). Aside from the obvious problems of emissions testing (despite the fact that, say, a German marked car would pass most American states' tests), none of the lighting is correct (rear turn signals are wrong color, IIRC, and headlight patterns do not conform to American standards), and there's the little matter of crash testing. All of these are reasons that BMW didn't bring the F over when they still owned Rover (along with the fact that the MG would steal sales from the Z3). I'm sure bringing one over could be done, but it would not be easy to use the car.
-William
 
TVR is the smallist maker, and they decided to move way up market. Small businesses exist, but they are in the UK. "Dare" may be too small to be considered a manufacturer. but look at "Ravana". Can they sell enough to stay in business?


Click here: Welcome to Our Workshops


Click here: Ginetta, Vario, Marcos, Onyx Kit Cars, Raceline, Raceline Cars, Fereday Carsin_Ravana.htm

(You may have to cut and paste the site addresses.)
 
General questions to our friends in the Great White North:

Even with NAFTA, Mexicans seem to be able to buy cars that do not meet U.S. emissions and safety standards--like the original Beetles that they just quit building and the MGTF. So, can Canadians do the same, ie., buy a British car like a new MGTF? If you can, could you drive it until it became a "used car," then sell it in the U.S.?

Steve
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