The new Road and Track arrived today and the front cover reveals a tragedy for
North American MG fans. The cover shows the new BMW Z3 . Also on the cover (
at
the bottom ) " The Return of MG. "
The Jan. edition has a road test and article on both cars.( not a
comparison ) On looks, performance ( the 143 bhp version of the MG ) and
detail, the MG wins hands down. Yet we don't get the MG in North America, and I
don't believe we ever will.
The acquistion of Rover last year by BMW doomed our chances. Why would the
parent company market a rival car (MG) in North America when it is building the
Z3 in a new plant in South Carolina. We have a choice between the Miata or the
BMW Z3. In other words the market (the biggest in the world ) is all theirs. I
had hoped when the MGF was being developed that there was a chance we would see
the car by 1997 sold through Rover dealerships. The Range Rover does well here.
The purchase by BMW ended that.
If you see Golden Eye , you can understand the power of the parent company.
James Bond drives a lovely Aston Martin in the early part of the movie, but in
a
totally unnecessary scene spends thirty seconds in an ugly Z3 for no apparent
purpose but to advertise the car for American audiences. Gee, James Bond drives
a BMW! Poor Ian Fleming.
I'm sorry if I offend those out their who love BMW's but its no MG, its not
British, and Bond would hate it.
The New York Times a week ago Sunday had a clue in the Sunday crossword.
"small sport cars" The answer wasn't Miata or BMW. MG means sport car, the
Brits
have a new one the Germans can buy it, the Japanese can't get enough of them
and
we get a BMW made in South Carolina! Its a cruel world.
Mike ( I'm angry ) Leckstein
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