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TR2/3/3A TR3-A or an MGA?

Very true. I also like the TR shield which the ad shows so nicely.

At the time I had the TR3 I also had the MGA a Corvette and the wife had a Merkur XR4Ti. For just plain driving fun the TR3 was the ride of choice.
 
It is not hard to get to the MGA fuel pump and I have seen more than one car with 2 fuel pumps mounted and piped into the fuel line.
 
Nick,
Great photo...and agreed, TR3's are excellent rally, hard use, cars. I was unaware the MGA never came with an OD unit....can't wait to 'meet' one on the highway now I've the 5 speed....
 
...thanks from one 62 yr. old guy to another. You're helping me see the wisdom of the TR3 choice...

thanks,

dave
 
Safari said:
It is not hard to get to the MGA fuel pump and I have seen more than one car with 2 fuel pumps mounted and piped into the fuel line.
I never said it was hard to get to the MGA fuel pump. I just like things where I don't have to crawl under the car. :wink:

I much preferred the "puller" SU pumps used on the earlier MG-TD. To this day, I have vivid memories of playing, literally, a riding mechanic in my buddy's TD. The fuel pump was having a hissy fit; fortunately we were pretty close to my buddy's house. Top down and RH side of the bonnet folded up, I would occasionally give the pump a good THWACK :hammer: to stun it back to action (having already read Dick O'Kane's book and memorized most of it) until we could get to his garage and effect a more permament repair (i.e., clean up the points in the pump, after which it was fine again).

Oh, BTW, MG-TDs are amongst my very all-time favorite British cars! I guess it helped that two of my best friends in high school had them!
 
I had never thought of buying a TR3 until I drove one. They just overflow in character.
 
I can't believe this post has gotten this far without anyone saying, "I'd rather push a Triumph than drive an MG."

Having never even sat in an MGA, I can't speak to the differences, but having owned three TR3s, I can say that nothing (except, perhaps, my BMW R69S motorcycle) has been more fun to own/drive.
 
DougF said:
I had never thought of buying a TR3 until I drove one. They just overflow in character.
...and gas, and oil, and coolant, and gear lube....

C'mon, you were all thinking the same; now you're jealous that I beat you to it! :smile:

Moseso said:
I can't believe this post has gotten this far without anyone saying, "I'd rather push a Triumph than drive an MG."
I don't think Irv Korey is on this Forum (inside joke for those of you who know Irv and his famous coveralls)!
 
Andrew Mace said:
Safari said:
It is not hard to get to the MGA fuel pump and I have seen more than one car with 2 fuel pumps mounted and piped into the fuel line.
I never said it was hard to get to the MGA fuel pump. I just like things where I don't have to crawl under the car. :wink:

Maybe my MGA is different but you don't crawl under the car to get to it. You just take off the battery cover and it mounted on the passenger side. Of course it has been so long since I had to work on it I may be wrong. Maybe mine was relocated. :smirk:
 
Moseso said:
I can't believe this post has gotten this far without anyone saying, "I'd rather push a Triumph than drive an MG."...

Triumph drivers helping an MG owner park her car at a local show (died on the way onto the field):


mga%20push.JPG
 
Geo Hahn said:
Moseso said:
I can't believe this post has gotten this far without anyone saying, "I'd rather push a Triumph than drive an MG."...

Triumph drivers helping an MG owner park her car at a local show (died on the way onto the field):


mga%20push.JPG
I have seen that a several car shows.

OK, I own a TR6 and have owned more Triumphs than any other car I just happen to also own a MGA.

The other day I was in my garage cleaning up and I found an old trailer hitch, I then remember it came off my TR3. I used the TR3 to haul the rusted out frames and other junk parts off of 2 MGA's I had parted out to the dump. I did get some strange looks pulling a trailer full of junk MG parts with a red TR3. That was back in 1984.
 
Safari said:
Maybe my MGA is different but you don't crawl under the car to get to it. You just take off the battery cover and it mounted on the passenger side. Of course it has been so long since I had to work on it I may be wrong. Maybe mine was relocated. :smirk:
Or you might be right. This was a very, very long time ago that I did this on a friend's car. Likely I didn't know better at the time!
 
I have owned many of both. I have owned TR-2, TR-3, TR3A, TR3B, TR-4 and Swallow Doretti. I have owned MGA 1500, 1600, 1600 Mk 2, roadsters, coupes, and Twin Cams.

The TR has guts. It is faster than an MGA in a straight line. The MGA handles better. It is better built - frame, suspension etc.

If you want a fun play toy for summer, a TR-3 is hard to beat. If you want to cover long distances at relatively high speed in comfort, the MGA is the way to go.

I won't make any decisions based on styling as I like both for very different reasons. I would not touch another TR-4 - the styling does nothing for me.
 
I say get both.
 
I hope you guys are friends.

I have owned a 6, 4, an a 3. I still like the 4 the best. I really like my 6 but still see the 4 under the sheet metal.

A TR 4a IRS is something I could find room for.
 
My buddy owns 2 newish Jags, a TR3 with GT6 engine, a concours TR4A, a decent TR6, a sweet TR8 hardtop restomod, a restored Europa, a sweet Esprit, 2 Mini Coopers, and is restoring a TR2 to concours. His daily driver? A Miata.
 
198686d said:
If, trying to decide between these two classics, which one is the best to own and drive (est. 2,000 mi. p/yr)? No project cars or barn finds. I know what "good ones" cost and want a car at that level.

thanks,

dave in st. louis

without exception, everyone I know who owns an mga complains that they are quite underpowered! That's never been the case with any TR model.
 
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