In a message dated 97-12-01 20:45:30 EST, MGMagnette@aol.com writes:
Dear John:
I'll take the opportunity to answer your letter, if I may, point by point.
<<Such a flippant remarks are usually best left ignored, but the writer
decided
not to read the letter I had written and just give a knee jerk reaction.>>
I am not sure of the writers intention in his/her reply but I think
describing it as a knee jerk reaction is a bit harsh. This list has been know
to produce some witty remarks and replys--some of which MAY be taken as
"smart -ass". Perhaps the writer was just trying to be witty. No harm
done.... it's either funny or not funny...
nothing more or nothing less.
After having only an MGB-GT as a daily driver, an MGB for all the days it
wasn't running, and an MG Magnette for every other moment, I can honestly
say
that driving an MG daily is a foolish thing to do. (Particularly here in
not
so sunny New Hampshire with the god awful winters we have.)
First of all, you need more than one. Note that my critic said he is
proud
that his only daily driver CARS (plural) are MGBs. Even when maintained to
the hilt as my cars are, a 25 year old car is inherently less reliable than
a
new one.>>
I believe that there is an acceptance of unreliability factor that goes with
some foreign cars. It certainly easier to get parts and service for a Ford,
Chevy etc. rather than wait a few days, or worse from Moss, Victoria, etc
etc........ some Pontiac drivers would consider all our cars less than
reliable, knowing that we would have to wait DAYS for a certain part.
<< Second, for all people say about blasting through the snow at Monte
Carlo,
the MGB is skiddish and handles like shit in the snow, even with the best
tires.>>
Never tried it...... so no comment
<<Third, the heater is feeble even with a new core and a new valve.
Fourth, the seals only block out 90% of the wind. That 10% is what
freezes your ass off.>>
I own SEVERAL sweaters.........
<<Fifth, MGBs are extremely noisy and the MGB-GTs in particular can
cause
hearing loss. If you don't believe me, ask your doctor is prolonged expose
to loud noises will cause hearing loss and see what he says.>>
My car is not noisy in the cockpit, have you checked your sound deadening
material Yes, doctors will agree...... but you make the assumption that the
car is noisy.
I could go on and on, and if asked, I will.
<<MGBs are damn slow cars. The Magnette is even slower. They might have
been faster than thier BMC brethren, but you are gonna live in the slow lane
if you do any highway travel in your MG. Not being able to accelerate when
needed is not safe.>>
Once again, you make a statement and draw a conclusion as if your statement
were fact. Not being able to accelerate is unsafe, but MGs are able to
accelerate to keep up with most traffic. So, one drives in the slow
lane........ it is the sensation of speed that is important (to me). I get
the same "thrill" in the TC at 50 as I did in the Testarossa at 130. Guess
what is more acceptable to the powers that be.
<<MGs are very very small. In accidents, that is not good.>>
True enough..... but the MG has greater accident avoidance capabilities than
some of the larger cars.
<<The only time the MGBs size has been helpful to me was at a gas station
once. The gas tanker made a very wide turn and the middle of the tanker was
over the hood (yes, hood, not bonnet. This is America.) of the MGB. The MGB
was so low that tanker could partially cross over it without touching it.
Had I been
in a larger car, the car would have touched the under side of the tanker,
suffered severe damage, and possibley have caused the gas tanker to blow up.
Of course if it were a larger car the driver of the gas tanker might have
noticed it and the whole incident may never have occurred. So I guess that's
a wash.>>
It's a very good thing that children were not allowed at that station......
they're MUCH smaller than MGs----- what should we do, ban people under 5'5" ?
You, of course, reported the unsafe driver in the interest of preventing
future accidents and getting that careless (and seemingly blind) driver fired
and off the road before he kills someone.
<<MGBs uses expensive grade gas, and alot of it considering the performance.
They pollute excessively.>>
100% WRONG....... how much polution is cause by the manufacture of a NEW car,
how much resources are wasted. Recycle, don't waste. Bottles, newspapers
AND lbcs.
<<Fully re-built and excellent running MGB engines are designed to consume an
amount of oil that was normal years ago, but would make the average person
wince.>>
I don't know who rebuilt your engine, but mine has very little oil
consumption. The large amount of consumption when new was caused by the
manufacturing equipment being unable to repeate close tolerances during
production. The metalurgy has improved 10 fold also. All leading to a
reduction in oil and fuel consumption.
<<I'll stop going on a get to my point. I own an MGB, and MGB-GT, and a
MG
Magnette. I love them dearly. Having used them as my regular normal car, I
have found that they can not be used like regular normal cars. I find it to
be very distasteful, when those who have been brainwashed into thinking an
MGB can be driven like any other car, insult those who save their MGBs for
more leisurely driving than going down Rt 101 in New Hampshire in a February
ice storm.
<<Again, I will pose the question I asked in my first letter. Why are
MGs
getting so damn expensive?>>
BECAUSE THEY'RE FUN. With the Al Gores, Ralph Naders, and Jimmy Swaggarts etc
of the world trying to brainwash us, unsucessfully I might add, into
believing that if don't do something their way; all is lost, $6000 or what
ever is a small price to pay--to some-- for that little bit of happiness and
fun.
<<And if you can't question your own car, and are
totally blind to other cars, I don't want your answer.
Not particularly safe, or fast,>>
Then why would you drive a car that you do not consider safe...... that seems
to be the larger question.
Respectfully
"Midget" Susan
(who has an Easter bonnet, and Levi jeans...... which are Keister bonnets)
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