What is it?
You have to be pretty old to remember an MG Magnette. Any MG Magnette, in fact, because there have been several pre-war cars (some of them legendary), while post-war there were the fine 1953-58 ZA and ZB saloons, and after that the inferior Austin Cambridge-based, badge-engineered Farina-styled model. The last of those was built in 1968, but it’s the Z Magnettes that MG would like you to think of with this latest version.
Credible or not, what the two do have in common, besides a decent chassis, is that they’re four-door sports saloons, although the ZA would have been a little upmarket of today’s Magnette and an equivalent to today’s sporty BMW 3-series.
And yet it’s 3-series buyers that MG Motor would like to see considering this booted version of the MG 6 GT hatchback. But before you start sniggering, the plan is to snare buyers of used 3-series searching websites in the MG’s price range – which starts at £15,995 – when a cheeky banner ad hoves into view. That’s £400 more than you’ll pay for the hatch, for no good reason beyond MG’s BMW dreams, it would seem.
What's it like?
What you get for your money is quite a big car, both inside and out, that’s identical to the hatch bar its rearranged rear. So that means slightly vague throttle response from the turbocharged 1.8-litre motor until it starts to rev, with decently lively thrust emerging after that. However, at 5800rpm the gearlever in our car started to zizz, and the shift itself felt like you were snapping saplings.
Better, then, to think about the truly excellent suspension. The ride is supple and quiet, the car is keenly agile in curves, and if the feelsome straight-ahead promise of its steering isn’t quite matched by the quality of its mid-bend weighting, this is nevertheless an accomplished chassis.
Should I buy one?
Keen pricing and fairly generous equipment – though you wouldn’t call it plush – are further attractions, but running costs will be high because there’s no diesel. Which makes this four-door as uneven as its five-door sibling. But unlike many value-brand buys, the Magnette has a few strong attractions to counter those flaws.
Richard Bremner
MG6 Magnette TSE
Price: £19,995; Top speed: 120mph; 0-62mph: 8.4sec; Economy: 35.6mpg; CO2: 184g/km; Kerb weight: na; Engine: 4 cyls, 1796cc, petrol; Power: 158bhp at 5500rpm; Torque: 159lb ft at 1750-4500rpm; Gearbox: 5-spd manual
Join the debate
Re: MG6 Magnette TSE
Rumour also has it there's going to be a pov spec Austin version, according to a Spanish motoring rag. Discuss
Well it makes sense. Though I would have thought that 'morris' would be a better choice as it fits in better with MG Morris Garages. The Roewe 550 (which surely is what this car is going to be based on - if the rumour is true) looks classy in my opinion and would sell well as an Austin or Morris if the price was right.
Shit top speed,crap nought to sixty,lousy mpg,high Co'2 for engine size,below average interior......need i go on, a let down for MG-ists,a question though..which European car maker would have got it right ?
Peter Cavellini.
Re: MG6 Magnette TSE
In the cold light of day this car is cr*p. Let's be honest. Compared to anything from the mainstream Euro OEM's it's like something out of China..
Thanks for that Maggie.
Re: MG6 Magnette TSE
Though I would have thought that 'morris' would be a better choice as it fits in better with MG Morris Garages.
It's got to be Austin because they are based at Longbridge. The obvious thing is to rebadge the Roewe models.
Re: MG6 Magnette TSE
In the cold light of day this car is cr*p. Let's be honest. Compared to anything from the mainstream Euro OEM's it's like something out of China
Err, ok. How have you come to that conclusion? Well it is out of China, you're right. It was designed over here though and (sorry RonMacdonald) was engineered here too. It is competitive apart from limited engine choice. Have you driven one? Have you even seen one? What car do you drive (please don't tell me it's kitt!) and let's see if I call it cr*p even though the chances are I won't have driven it.
Thanks for that Maggie
What has Thatcher got to do with it? Under Thatcher Rover were actually doing well!
Re: MG6 Magnette TSE
What has Thatcher got to do with it? Under Thatcher Rover were actually doing well
PRODIGY, as much as I agree with you that the MG6 is a fantastic car, I completely disagree with this statement. Anyway, let's not get into politics again. Some people have shown their true colours in such debates before!
Re: MG6 Magnette TSE
It is competitive apart from limited engine choice.
You sometimes really do live in cloud cuckoo Prodigy, you really do. How on earth can you say it's competitive? Based on what? Seven cars a month in the whole of the UK even with an unpopular engine - I thought their std equipment, low price and packaging was supposed to compensate for that?
Thanks for that Maggie
What has Thatcher got to do with it? Under Thatcher Rover were actually doing well!
Oh really? Go on then Prodigy, let's hear your version of Rover doing well under Mrs Thatcher. (this I look forward to)
Just out of curiosity, how old were you when Mrs Thatcher controlled Rover?
Re: MG6 Magnette TSE
My sister in law's 3 year old BMW 318SE, metallic paint with optional leather & walnut trim (cost new £24,500) and 22,000 miles on the clock was valued at £8,000 against a new X3 costing £33,000. BMW residuals are a myth, pre-paid servicing or not.
Well the key letter (i or d) is missing but from what you have said it seems pretty evident you are talking about a 318iSE, in which case I am not surprised there is a depreciation issue as it must be the least desirable 3 series model made; any extra budget would surely have been better spent on having a 318d, 320d or even 320i, or better still any M- Sport version rather than "wasting" it on leather and walnut on a base spec. car.
Re: MG6 Magnette TSE
It is competitive apart from limited engine choice.
You sometimes really do live in cloud cuckoo Prodigy, you really do. How on earth can you say it's competitive? Based on what? Seven cars a month in the whole of the UK even with an unpopular engine - I thought their std equipment, low price and packaging was supposed to compensate for that?
Just because it isn't selling, doesn't mean it isn't competitive. If you compare similar engined rivals, the MG6 is cheaper, has more kit, is bigger and you get the added bonus of having a great handling car. Yeah 7 sales last month was diabolical and something needs to be done about that. The AVIS deal will help.
Thanks for that Maggie
What has Thatcher got to do with it? Under Thatcher Rover were actually doing well!
Oh really? Go on then Prodigy, let's hear your version of Rover doing well under Mrs Thatcher. (this I look forward to)
Just out of curiosity, how old were you when Mrs Thatcher controlled Rover?
I knew I would see a comment from you Ron 
I was born in 1981. During the 1980s when Maggie decided to sell the Austin Rover Group to British Aerospace, Rover were actually making decent cars (thanks to the Japanese). The first 200 series was bland but competent. It had a middle England image, but what it did was prepare us for the masterstroke - The 1989 200/400 (R8). The R8 was a class leader according to various motoring press and sold very well. When you compare the 70s with all the strikes and awful BL products with the 80s and 90s you will see why i say that Rover did well under Thatcher. It started going wrong when BMW took over and the 1995 400 (HHR) was launched to a dissapointed public and press alike. It was also way overpriced and chasing the wrong segment. It also didn't have the same classiness as its predecessor. The same goes with the 1995 200 (R3).. the car that was intended to be the new Metro and was going to be called 100, became the 200 and was targetted at the bigger Escort and Astra class. Ofcourse, none of this has much to do with Maggie, other than the decision to privatise Rover (which as I have just pointed out, was a great decision until Munich came along) and that's why I questioned Mr Knights "Thanks maggie" post with a true fact that Rover did better when she was in power.
I await your fully contradictive reply, Ron. I'm sure you will correct me and tell me that Maggie is the evil of all evils - worse than Kim-Jong e.t.c....
Re: MG6 Magnette TSE
Yep, that's what I thought, Prodigy was in still wearing nappies when this was going on. I owned an MG at the time and you're telling me what the situation was like? Wow! Put's you at a slight disadvantage, no?
I can let you keep dreaming your fantasy or reply with facts? Be warned though, the truth's going to hurt. It's up to you.
Re: MG6 Magnette TSE
If I remember correctly, when Rover were producing the 200/400 around 1989-1990, the MG badge was being used on 'hot' versions of the Metro/Maestro/Montego?? If I also remember correctly, they were not class leaders...
