>I subscribed to this list in an effort to gain some more knowledge of the
>TR7. It has always been my understanding that the MGB is a much more
>reliable means of transport. I couldn't possibly afford to get him a TR8,
>they're quite expensive here. So, I guess my question is, which one is
>better for a young driver? Which is more practical? Easier to work on?
>More fun??? Thanks!
> Brian Furgalus,
> Avon Lake, Ohio (Suburb of Cleveland)
>____________________________________________________________________
>Get free e-mail and a permanent address at http://www.netaddress.com
Hi Brian:
I own an MGB and have recently purchased a TR7 Coupe and am doing a
continuing comparison report on the MG list which I am copying this message
to.
The two cars are a bit like apples and oranges. The MGB is a traditional
British sports car with all the quirks and foibles associated with its
Lucas electrics and archaic engine and suspension. It can be very reliable
if properly maintained and is a very satisfying car to own and drive.
All MGBs are relatively simple to maintain and restore. They will teach a
young man - with proper guidance from an interested and knowledgable parent
- the art of maintaining and repairing machinery. They will give him an
intimate understanding of the functions on an internal combustion engine
and the associated bits that surround it. MGs will also teach him
patience, manual dexterity and basic engineering principles. They will
teach him to be resourceful and to have faith in his own ability.
MGs are an excellent choice in terms of the availability of replacement
parts and reproduction pieces of all sorts. They have adequate power and
decent handling so that he shouldn't endanger himself due to inexperience
behind the wheel. They have also proven themselves to be quite stout in
case of mishap - for an open car.
They are comfortable and roomy and quite weather tight if the top is in
good shape. The trunk is adequate for most things and space behind the
seats when the top is up will hold a good deal of gear.
The TR7 coupe is a much more modern car internally and externally. The
construction is more modern and the coupe is tighter to the weather. It
has a better heating and ventilation system than the MG, with a powerful
fan and good internal ventilation system. The interior is quite
comforatable with good seats and good driving position. The dashboard is
very modern-looking with lots of plastic panels, useful storage bins, and
well laid-out instruments and controls. It has a large glove compartment
and console cubby. Both cars use similar multi-stalks to operate lighting
and wipers. The TR7 has no room behind the seats but does have a large bin
under the rear window - which is heated. The windshield is very large and
offers excellent visibility.
The TR7 uses a Saab-derived OHC cam slant four of 2 litre displacement
which runs very smoothly and makes good power. It uses a mechanical fuel
pump which is a real improvement over the Lucas electric version in the
MGB. The engine is generally very accessible and easy to work on -
especially because of the forward-opening hood on the car. The engine uses
Stromberg carburetors which are less desirable than the SUs on the MG but
probably do a more efficient job of mixing fuel Gas mileage in the TR is
better than the MG by about 3 mpg in average city driving.
The suspension of the TR is much more sophisticated and modern than the MG.
It uses Macpherson struts instead of coils with lever shocks. These are
cheaper and easier to replace than the equivalent MG bits. In the rear,
the axle is better anchored and uses modern tubular shocks. The TR rides
and handles better than the MG but requires a bit more skill at higher
cornering speeds. The TR is a faster car and has better acceleration but
this is not unusual for a larger engine. The TR also revs much higer than
the MG with its 7,000rpm redline. It has excellent brakes which are power
assisted unlike the earlier MGs. It is much less demanding to drive a TR
than an MG.
The TR has an inferior transmission - until the addition of the Rover
5-speed in later cars. The early transmission is an Austin Marina unit
which was not up to the work demanded of it. It is difficult to shift well
and the clutch is difficult to operate smoothly. Part of the trouble lies
in engine and transmission mounts and support rods. The differential was
also inferior to the job at hand and was subsequently replaced in later
model. The car is noisy inside as a result of these poor pieces and the
noise is amplified by poor or absent sound deadening material.
The styling of the two cars is very different. The MG is classic roadster
while the TR is '70s Japanese. Most people hate the wedge. The advantage
is that the droop snoot is very easy to see over and the high rear gives
incredible storage space. The car has a big trunk for a sports car. The
ugly bumpers are very forgiving in the parking lot shunt and aren't much
uglier than rubber-bumper MGs.
Pricewise, the TR (especially the coupe) will be cheap and the MG
relatively expensive. The TR will have more expensive parts, and they will
be less easy to find, but the bonus is that you will find TRs in junkyards
where you won't find MGs.
My recommendation is simple. Don't buy the kid a sports car at all. Buy
him a rusty, full-size Chev pickup truck. When he has his accident - and
he will - he will walk away. He'll probably even drive away, which is more
than the car he hits - or hits him - will be able to do. When he has
driven successfully for two years, let him go out with you and buy the car
he likes. You'll sleep at night and he will appreciate what he has. Keep
the pickup. You'll both use it for the rest of your lives.
John McEwen
|