David,
Great to have you on the list. I find your insight fascinating.
I think that the present F would make a decent Midget. A Z3 type car but
better looking would make a good B replacement.
Future Midget:
Mid Engine rear drive to use FWD component for cost reasons
Under 2 ilter DOHC 4 with possible blower option
Under 2300 lbs
2 seat convertable
Future B type
Front engine rear drive preferred
2.5 - 3 liter V-6 or big 4 with balance shafts with blower as an option
Under 2700 lbs
2 seat convertable and 2+2 coupe
In the past the "big 3" features that have sold MG's have been
1. Fun to drive. A personality that is warm and friendly (unlike typical
German / Japanese cars)
2. Price / performance compromise that provide the most bang for the buck
in the market segment i.e. the present Miata
3. A mechanical simplicity that encourages invlovement. Very form follows
function.
4. (Bonus) The MG was usually the best looking of the alternatives (MGA in
particular but I'm not biased ;-)
The killer of fun handling and mechanical simplicity for a performance
level is weight. The XK8 is a wonderful car but it is no MG. The Viper
looses on both counts. The Elise would be a good MG if it was more useful
but it requires too many compromises to be considered even remotely as a
daily transport.
As far as retro styling goes. Two constants in MG history has been that
1) The purists scream that every new MG is the death of tradition and that
the new car can no longer be considered an MG 2) Each MG through the B was
a better car and outsold the model it replaced. From this I would say that
it is in the best MG tradition to build the best car for the money in their
segment and style it appropriately and let the traditionalists squeal. The
attempt to capture some MGB styling in the F has rendered it dated and
non-descript. On the other hand, the XK8 has done an excellent job of
combining modern design with traditional stying cues. I think that this
becomes harder as cars get smaller however and I would rather see a good
looking modern design than some cobble job that tries to look like an old
car. Just no Flying Wedges please.
If this make a difference I would buy a modern MGB type car if it were to
show up in five years. The Z-3 is too ugly and the Miata is too down
market for me. The Boxter is nice but spendy and then I'd have to hang
around with those Porsche people.
I hope that this helps.
Regards,
Bill Eastman
61 MGA
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