I really like my '72B - And in my younger days it would have been my only
car. But there is no way that an B makes a good winter car. Handling on
ice and snow is crap, and ditto the other comments. On dry pavement,
nearly any modern car has superior performance numbers, and compared to my
Audi A4 quattro, well, it's hard to even come up with words to describe the
vast difference.
With all that said, I have the B because I have fun driving cars with
tractor-like engines and other unique qualities, and they have a classic
design. It's a great, welcome change from the Audi from time to time. But
if I had to choose one car to drive always - It'd be the Audi - no contest.
Kurt
----------
> From: Donald Scott <scottdon@napanet.net>
> To: mgs@autox.team.net
> Subject: Why an MG? The heretic
> Date: Monday, December 01, 1997 9:01 PM
>
> At 05:47 PM 12/1/97 -0500, you wrote:
> >Someone said:
> >
> >If you have to ask this question then you are on the wrong list.
> >Safety Fast,
> > (proud that the only cars I have for daily use are MGBs)
> >
> >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.
> >
> > 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.
> > 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.
> > 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.
> > 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.
> > I could go on and on, and if asked, I will.
> > What the hell, I'm gonna go on without being asked. I got alot more
> >critiques about MGs and MGBs in particular. 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.
> > MGs are very very small. In accidents, that is not good. 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.
> > Ofcourse 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.
> > MGBs uses expensive grade gas, and alot of it considering the
> >performance. They pollute excessively. 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'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? 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,
> > John
> >
> >
>
> John,
>
> I have had MG's for 30 years. I too love the cars and still have one. I
> did use them (B's, A's, Magnettes, Austins, English Fords, etc. ) for
> everyday driving, and it was somewhat feasible years ago. Now that
traffic
> goes so fast and now that the MG's are so old, it is not a wise
proposition
> to use MG's as everyday transport. I have a Miata that works great, is
warm
> when it's cold, and cold when it's hot (nice AC). Not to mention a CD
> player to entertain me. Three cheers for the Japs! They know how to
make a
> good product. Unfortunately, the Brits never did.
>
> Don Scott
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