Well it seems nobody wants MG's. Last month's sales figured released by SMMT for MG make disappointing reading. Countrywide they sold a frankly poor 15 cars. That is less than 1 per dealer average. Also, the much needed diesel is a year away apparently. I cannot see any dealer sticking out for another 12 months. I think even Lada were shifting more tin before the UK pull out.

I do think the skeleton staff at Longbridge, who's job it is to glue the MG badge on the cars, and do basic final assembly will be fearing for their jobs.

The trouble is, the 6 and booted Magnette are not that modern looking, very expensive compared to rivals, and have very high running costs. Come on the basic Superb is cheaper than any of the MG variants now, and is much bigger, and cheaper to run, and in a much lower VED band, thanks to its modern engine, and there is normally a dealer fairly close to hand.

I live within walking distance of an MG dealer & they certainly seem to have a large number of unsold cars in their compound ! Also, I have not seen a single MG 6 on the road locally, which is slightly unusual where there is a longstanding dealer in the area.

I disagree about the Magnette though, it is (imho) a super looking car, particularly in the grey colour that is in the showroom. Sadly though the interior is dreadful (with the exception of very nice seats !!), easily as bad as you may have read in road test reports etc.

When it 1st appeared, I called in the showroom for a look and said.

" I drive a Skoda Octavia and I am your target customer..", then felt guilty when leaving; having given a very friendly salesman some constructive critisism about the interior....!

Like you I'm starting to fear for the brand in the UK already.

You made a slight mistake so I have corrected it for you.

The trouble is, the 6 and booted Magnette are 'kin ugly!,

Could be why nobody with decent enough eyesight to hold a driving licence wants to buy one???

My impression was cheapy made car with not too good engine or interior. Avoid.

Several dealers have already thrown in their franchises. Says it all. Their latest sales push with 5 year's 'this that & the other' I fear is much too little, way too late.

I was given a real roasting for telling the truth about this joke of a car firm by someone who had actually bought one, when I pointed out it had the resale value of nil, and no trade will touch it when he wants to get shut. It was a worse roasting than a pack of Yeti owners pouncing on Brimma :p

He didn't like it when I told him he should have bought an Octy. I think its jealousy from him to be honest.

You made a slight mistake so I have corrected it for you.

Could be why nobody with decent enough eyesight to hold a driving licence wants to buy one???

I was trying to be diplomatic there, but yes they are fugly. A cross between an old Datsun Almera with old BM 5 series rear lights, and front styling well, erm..... sums it up.

I am an MG owner of old (Maestro EFI many moons ago), and really this makes me want to blow chunks when I do actually see one. It is a dull, ugly wannabe repmobile, with zero sporting intentions.

My impression was cheapy made car with not too good engine or interior. Avoid.

Well -the origonal firm was BMC (also known as Badly Made Cars)---so the reputation continues

Well -the origonal firm was BMC (also known as Badly Made Cars)---so the reputation continues

No - the original firm was Morris Garages which predates BMC by 20+ years

As someone who drove a Rover 75 for 5 years & 170K of reliable service this is sad to see.

Well even Ssangyong managed 39 sales,and Perodua managed 42, but Skoda managed a respectable 2944, which gives them an almost 3% market share for October. Kia seem do be doing rather well, notching up nearly 5000 sales last month. Blimey!

Edited 4 November, 201114 yr by FellyMagic

No - the original firm was Morris Garages which predates BMC by 20+ years

As someone who drove a Rover 75 for 5 years & 170K of reliable service this is sad to see.

Forgoten about them - but Mg= Much Garbage -same thing

Just looked at their website, the super mini concept looks pretty smart! But what are the chances of it having a decent motor in it? They dont have the back up for a Twin charged 1.4 or even a small turbo I doubt. I`v had the perception that the cars are just reworked old motors with old uneconomical heavy polluting engines. :wonder:

I haven't seen one, I don't even know where I could buy one from.

The reviews haven't been especially positive...

Poor MG. It's like 2003 or whatever it was all over again.

Exactly. Almost zero publicity, virtually no dealer network whatsoever. I do feel for the dealers who signed up to try and flog these things. They really might as well have burnt a big pile of used £20 notes.

15 cars sold! Surely thats a 1500% increase from 0, pretty good in my book.

No - the original firm was Morris Garages which predates BMC by 20+ years

As someone who drove a Rover 75 for 5 years & 170K of reliable service this is sad to see.

But I thought the 75 was designed and used engines from BMW?

Supposed to be a good car from the people I knew why had them.

I had a 1999 Rover 400 for a day when it was 3 months old. It was terrible. More uncomfortable than a Morris Minor I've had since. I sent it back after one hour.

But I thought the 75 was designed and used engines from BMW?

Supposed to be a good car from the people I knew why had them.

I had a 1999 Rover 400 for a day when it was 3 months old. It was terrible. More uncomfortable than a Morris Minor I've had since. I sent it back after one hour.

The 75 was designed by Rovers own design team & the diesel was a BMW unit. I'm still sad to see what's happened to the marque & the British jobs.

Aye - had the later 45 for a day too & it seemed like it was was from a past time. I believe that was the next car for the big makeover when it all went Pete Tong. There was some good motors on the drawing board at MG Rover including a 75 Coupe.

http://google.mg-rover.org/showpost.php?p=4694600&postcount=9

And they got some Gov cash didnt they?

Yep, much like Skoda before VW took over & pumped cash into them & the Rover workers taxes went back to the government.

They are really going to struggle to relauch a failed brand with only one new car and a limited range of engines, from looking at website can only actually see one engine advertised,

It was a shame when the MG brand went pete tong as i didn't actually mine the sporty models and i drove a 75 turbo and it went like stink for a 1.8t in a big car

I've seen a couple of the new MG about and there is a dealer not far from me. I agree that I can't see it lasting though, I remember driving something like an 02 plate, bright yellow MG hatchback? It was only the 1.4 but the seats were easily the most comfortable place I've sat, yet still supportive and sporty. It handled well too, think it might of had an aftermarket exhaust on but sounded sweet! Amusing thing was it wasn't that quick - just felt it. Annoyingly high insurance group for the performance.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MG-Motor-UK-MG6-Saloon-MAGNETTE-/360397577721?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item53e95e9df9

:rofl:

Are they having a tin bath with that price? I think it should be in pence!

I'm quite happy to stick my head above the parapet and say that I liked the MG6 that I sat in.

From the outside it's a decent looking car and the interior was a very pleasant place to sit.

List price (which nobody pays) for the top spec hatchback is £20k including heated leather electrically operated seats, reversing camera and satnav, sunroof, alloys, climate and so on - for a car of that size it's quite reasonable.

Pricing up an Octavia Elegance with the 1.8T engine and some of those features as options was coming up as about £24k and if you do the same for a Focus, Astra or Golf you'll see just as large a number.

I expect the driving dynamics aren't class leading and they definitely need a good diesel engine sooner rather than later but it's a shame to see them struggling so badly.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MG-Motor-UK-MG6-Saloon-MAGNETTE-/360397577721?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item53e95e9df9

:rofl:

Wow.

That is a lot of money.

I'm quite happy to stick my head above the parapet and say that I liked the MG6 that I sat in.

From the outside it's a decent looking car and the interior was a very pleasant place to sit.

List price (which nobody pays) for the top spec hatchback is £20k including heated leather electrically operated seats, reversing camera and satnav, sunroof, alloys, climate and so on - for a car of that size it's quite reasonable.

Pricing up an Octavia Elegance with the 1.8T engine and some of those features as options was coming up as about £24k and if you do the same for a Focus, Astra or Golf you'll see just as large a number.

I expect the driving dynamics aren't class leading and they definitely need a good diesel engine sooner rather than later but it's a shame to see them struggling so badly.

Just looking at the kit tally on this one, it's quite extensive but if the interior feels cheap and nasty, I'd regret it everyday I sat in it. I've only seen one in the metal and not had access to the interior so can't say for definite what it's like inside but from what I've read on't interweb, it's not good. Maybe they should knock off the 9995 bit off the price...