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
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