The only time I was ever really stranded with a MG is when I ran out of gas -
and that happened 3 weeks ago (see last event below).
However, in the last 20 years there were some close calls or near stranding
events:
1974 - Problem: throttle cable breaks 10 miles from home - Solution: bit of
string under the hood and over the windshield (BTW made for a decent cruise
control system when tied off on choke knob!)
1975 - Problem: drove into 18 inch puddle (aka road lake) at 50 MPH and crack
head 15 miles from home - Solution: None - just kept driving it like that for
the next year
1976 - Problem: lost 100 yard sprint race against a sp*tf*r* in front of my
house- Solution: Tied my shoelaces and for the next race I ran instead (and
won)!!!! (sorry - can't help myself)
1976 Problem: hood flies open at 50 mph at 2 am while returning from a local
"meat locker" 10 miles from home - Solution: After the tremors of sheer terror
have passed, take off work boots and use as a hammer to flatten hood and tie
down with a bit of string
1988- Problem: exhaust falls off at header 20 miles from home - Solution:
none just drove it home loud and dragging (well actually, I was kind of
pushing it as it fell off in the front)
1990 - Problem: flat tire 5 miles from home, no jack- Solution: made sign
"Flat Tire - No Jack" when finally home - put jack in trunk (no flats
since!!!!)
1991- Problem: SU pump dies 150 miles from home - Solution: rewired SU to horn
switch (yes that's right - horn switch) and for next 150 miles had to push the
horn about 6 times per minute to keep the gas flowing
1991 - Problem: rear spring collapses 220 miles from home (on rt 95)-
Solution: drove rest of the way home slowly and at a slight sideways angle
1995 - Problem: Blow engine in C 30 miles from home - Solution: Daily chant
to curse the genius who designed the canister oil filter system for the C
(which failed!!!) - limped home at 20 mph - complete expensive rebuild of C
engine.
1997 - Problem: ran out of gas 2 miles from home - Solution: called irate
wife who did not even know that I'd gone out for a spin!!!!! (uhh ... hi honey
--- WHERE ARE YOU?!?!?! --- uh .. I wuz out on a test drive and I ran out of
gas .... --- WHAT!, ARE YOU KIDDING YADI YADI YADI YADI I'M BUSY YADI YADI
YADI YADI I HAVE THINGS TO DO YADI YADI YADI YADI I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU YADI
YADI YADI YADI WHERE ARE YOU YADI YADI YADI YADI I'LL BE RIGHT THERE YADI YADI
YADI YADI --- uh ... thank you sweetheart - I love you (too)!!!!
So, in my experience a little roadside creativity makes the MG a very reliable
car!!!! And yes, each of the above is very true with only minimal editorial
exaggeration (even the foot race against the sp*tf*r*)!!!!!
Dr. Doug
69 C Rdst (newly rebuilt engine)
69 C GT (still looks great but doesn't really do anything)
69 B Rdst (the "beater")
71 B GT (more than a few of these stories are about this car)
75 Keds (when laced up properly leaves those sp*tf*r*s in the dust!)
87 Wife (quick tempered and talks a lot but has a heart of gold)
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-mgs@autox.team.net On Behalf Of RJohn50603@aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, May 27, 1997 11:42 PM
To: Ricko595@aol.com; mgs@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: MGB Reliability
In a message dated 97-05-27 11:10:16 EDT, Ricko595@aol.com writes:
<< How reliable is your 20 (or whatever) year old? Part of the answer depends
on
the job you have done and the other part depends on things completely beyond
your control. Rick >>
Rick,
I drive my '73 MGB everyday. I have put over 100,000 miles on it. I've even
taken it out of state to visit my oldest son (Only 175 miles, but without a
second thought). I bought it ten years ago and spent the first three months
getting it road worthy and to do a bit of cosmetic surgery. Five years ago I
took it off road for about three months to do further restoration. Other than
those planned downtimes the car has never left me stranded and almost always
has been at 100%.
My youngest son now drives his '76 Midget daily as well. He has almost as
good a record and has become a pretty darn good mechanic in the bargan.
By the way, I think we've also has some very economical transportation and we
love it when people give us the thumbs up sign or stop us to simply talk
about the cars.
My son even got out of a traffic ticket when the officer got sidetracked
admiring the car and let him go after about 10 minutes of reminiscing about
one he had a few years ago. I can remember about eight years ago not having
that much luck, though the officer did say "I really like your car" after he
handed me my ticket. That guy was just too focused.
R. Johnson - Dallas
'90 Maine Coon
'79 Midget
'76 Midget
'73 MGB
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