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Chinese-owned MG has changed its name to “reinforce presence and image of the MG brand”.

Since being taken over by Nanjing Automobile Corporation in 2005, MG has been operating as NAC MG UK Ltd, but will now be called MG Motor UK Ltd.

“It is anticipated that the new name will help strengthen the company’s reputation and re-emergence in the market by emphasising the already well known MG brand,” said the company in a press statement today.

MG recently relaunched the MG TF wit...Read the full article

As Jeff Lynne once sung,  "What's the difference, cos they say what's it a name..."

 It's like musical chairs. When the music stop a new name will be introduced. How about.. and this is just a random thought... that when the music stops they come up with some new models.

The quote of “It is anticipated that the new name will help strengthen the company’s reputation and re-emergence in the market by emphasising the already well known MG brand,” is complete cobblers. You can't re-emerge into a competitive market place with a design based on a donkey and cart, As much as I may want to support a British(?) car the MG has the technology of a 1980's 'Speak and Spell' machine.

I'm sure that finances are tight to build something better but the poor consumer has even tighter pockets. Catch-22 maybe... but you need to build something decent to make us want to desire / want / fall in love with it.

davidh88220:

 It's like musical chairs. When the music stop a new name will be introduced. How about.. and this is just a random thought... that when the music stops they come up with some new models.

The quote of “It is anticipated that the new name will help strengthen the company’s reputation and re-emergence in the market by emphasising the already well known MG brand,” is complete cobblers. You can't re-emerge into a competitive market place with a design based on a donkey and cart, As much as I may want to support a British(?) car the MG has the technology of a 1980's 'Speak and Spell' machine.

I'm sure that finances are tight to build something better but the poor consumer has even tighter pockets. Catch-22 maybe... but you need to build something decent to make us want to desire / want / fall in love with it.

What do you expect them to do?? They needed to get the marque up and running now before people forget the brand, then the other models will appear in the future. This will come together in time. The TF isn't a bad car to drive and it looks better than the current horrid MX5.

Brooklands:

They needed to get the marque up and running now before people forget the brand,

Just for those who forgot what the MG brand was, they're old, tired, and over priced unreliable bits of junk.   A sorry excuse for automotive dreams.   And I say dreams because I don't know which reality those who long for MGs are in!

From what I've read about the Chinese versions they're not built that well either.

I've got three bits of advice for anybody considering one.   Avoid.   Avoid.   Avoid.

Symanski:

From what I've read about the Chinese versions they're not built that well either.

I've got three bits of advice for anybody considering one.   Avoid.   Avoid.   Avoid.

 

I've just been driving one today. It's fine.

roadtester:

I've just been driving one today. It's fine.

That's contrary to what every other roadtester has said so far.   The one you've tested must have been improved since then.   But let's be honest, it's a very old design even for when Rover were building them.

A friend had one, a simple hose burst and caused the head gasket to fail due to over heating!   Which then warped the head.   A common fault with the K-series engine I believe.

I've met another person who was complaining that her car was in the garage with a head gasket failure.   First question I asked was if it was a Rover?   It was, and the mechanic guy there pipped in to say he's always repairing Rovers with head gasket failures.

Personally, I think you'd be mad to buy one.

Symanski:

Brooklands:

They needed to get the marque up and running now before people forget the brand,

Just for those who forgot what the MG brand was, they're old, tired, and over priced unreliable bits of junk.   A sorry excuse for automotive dreams.   And I say dreams because I don't know which reality those who long for MGs are in!

From what I've read about the Chinese versions they're not built that well either.

I've got three bits of advice for anybody considering one.   Avoid.   Avoid.   Avoid.

Then don't drive or buy one then. You sound like you are the type of person who attacks a brand for the sake of it, rather than an individual who makes a comment in a neutral, balanced and fair manner. I bet you haven't even driven the new one and instead prefers to listen to gossip that is centered on the negative, no matter what the car happens to be like. Personally i think whoever does buy one, good luck to them. I need 4 seats so i won't be buying one, but i do like them and did get to drive one late last year and loved it.

Symanski:

roadtester:

I've just been driving one today. It's fine.

That's contrary to what every other roadtester has said so far.   The one you've tested must have been improved since then.   But let's be honest, it's a very old design even for when Rover were building them.

A friend had one, a simple hose burst and caused the head gasket to fail due to over heating!   Which then warped the head.   A common fault with the K-series engine I believe.

I've met another person who was complaining that her car was in the garage with a head gasket failure.   First question I asked was if it was a Rover?   It was, and the mechanic guy there pipped in to say he's always repairing Rovers with head gasket failures.

Personally, I think you'd be mad to buy one.

I gather they have sorted this issue on the new cars and no, all the road testers haven't been saying the head gaskets are blowing on the new cars. Sounds like that's more what you want to hear and just hate MG's. You sound like Jeremy Clarkson, the man not known for common sense.

@Symanski

I can't really argue with prejudice and anecdotes - only with expertise and experience. 

I don't always agree with Autocar's assessments, but this time its reports of the relaunched car are IMHO basically more or less spot on. The interior is dated but the fundamentals of the TF's design are still strong.

Of course, HGF is a well-known K-series fault (albeit not affecting all variants/vintages) - it has supposedly been addressed in this revamped version, which I believe has been renamed N-series. Time will tell.

As for the age of the TF design, it is about as old as the Elise and the Boxster, both of which have, like the F/TF had one or two major revamps. That said, a bit of Porsche-style attention to detail and continuous improvement wouldn't go amiss in the TF's cabin, which, as I said, is the car's main weak point.

A bigger obstacle to success than the car itself will, I feel, be whether MG can re-establish a good enough distribution network.

roadtester:

I can't really argue with prejudice and anecdotes - only with expertise and experience.

Unfortunately, I've not driven as many cars as yourself but I have driven a MG.   And the anecdotes from from people I know personally who have had those experiences.

roadtester:

A bigger obstacle to success than the car itself will, I feel, be whether MG can re-establish a good enough distribution network.

Can you honestly say to someone that they should spend 16k on a new car like this especially when you can't say in a year's time MG UK will still be with us?

BUT....   Can I just say that personally I wish that Rover was a superb manufacturer still in existence.   Selling cars in huge volumes around the world.

Brooklands:

You sound like Jeremy Clarkson, the man not known for common sense.

Clarkson is one of the few reviews who will give you an honest verdict on any car.   If it's rubbish or excellent.   Too many reviewers are busy trying to make a name for themselves that they forget what they're being paid to do!   I say this while watching Fifth Gear, but does anybody remember Driven?   How bad were they?

While I'd have to say that Top Gear doesn't really review cars now, if you look at the other work Clarkson has done outside the Automotive arena it's quite impressive work.   He's smarter than the fool he plays.