The MG4 EV is the Car of The Year in the Parkers New Car Awards 2024

[otherclive]

Plus 3

Have you ever owned a Saab?

 

[Buckman]

Do you know who and where the Wartburg knight came from? That also was a 2Stroke

East Germany and it had the old DKW engine in it. My boss had one and it used to smoke terribly until I checked the oil ratio. he was putting in too much oil.

 

[Beachball]

Have you ever owned a Saab?

Might not have owned one but they look a interesting build watch Wheeler Dealers they were doing a Saab 900

 

[Buckman]

Nice pictures of our local Wartburg with towbar too.

GDR Towcar Champion.

The photos I took this afternoon are of a Wartburg 353 1 litre three cylinder two stroke, complete with towbar . It is in outstanding condition both outside and inside. I saw it out over Christmas and it sound lovely with its high pitched exhaust. The GDR Towcar competition pitched the...

forums.practicalcaravan.com

Was the radiator behind the engine? My boss had the estate version and ran it for many years in Africa. Eventually a half shaft snapped and he could not get a spare.

 

[otherclive]

Was the radiator behind the engine? My boss had the estate version and ran it for many years in Africa. Eventually a half shaft snapped and he could not get a spare.

I haven’t a clue as I used my phone not an X ray scanner. I’m sure an internet search will give you the answer.

 

[Dustydog]

The Saab were legendary and probably too good for car bean counters who didn’t want reliable long lasting cars. These photos have been posted before but answer Buckman’s question . Note the twin pack version😉

 

[otherclive]

The Saab were legendary and probably too good for car bean counters who didn’t want reliable long lasting cars. These photos have been posted before but answer Buckman’s question . Note the twin pack version😉

Buckman was asking about the Warburg. Some did, some didn’t.

 

[Dustydog]

Buckman was asking about the Warburg. Some did, some didn’t.

Whoops ! Got carried away with the Saab🥴

 

[Buckman]

Whoops ! Got carried away with the Saab🥴

No matter as interesting reminiscing about old cars as brings back many memories.

 

[Parksy]

Plus 3

Have you ever owned a Saab?

Might not have owned one but they look a interesting build watch Wheeler Dealers they were doing a Saab 900

How can you miss a car that you've never owned Beachball ?
Adding meaningless comments for no apparent reason is called gaming the system and it's against forum rules.
It's got to stop.

 

[ProfJohnL]

I don't know of many vehicles that have been absorbed by other makers and then been reformed and finished upper of a higher quality than before...Gary

Skoda & Seat and Audi under VAG, Rover under Ford, BMW and now Tata, just to name a few. It could be argued that Stalantis have also revived the likes of Fiat, Peugeot Citroen and Jeep.

GM in my view, never fully understood the European car market, and really the likes of Vauxhall, Opel and Saab would have been stronger outside of GM.

I have always thought that Saab would have fared better under VAG than GM, but this is sadly now water under the bridge.

 

[toad a caravan]

Skoda & Seat and Audi under VAG, Rover under Ford, BMW and now Tata, just to name a few. It could be argued that Stalantis have also revived the likes of Fiat, Peugeot Citroen and Jeep.

GM in my view, never fully understood the European car market, and really the likes of Vauxhall, Opel and Saab would have been stronger outside of GM.

I have always thought that Saab would have fared better under VAG than GM, but this is sadly now water under the bridge.

Rover collaborated with honda early on
BMW'S bought them out app 2000.used the unrealised rover 35 as their series 1.. .ford supplied the thunder bird engine for the rover/mg 75.As most will know the r45 was a honda dominl came over here and called a civic.Rover made the first low pressure Ali injection "cast" engine.Ford acquired the K series engined Freelander when they took land rover manufacture Chinese company kept the MG name going going with the MG TF variable valve engine then they went home and took all machinery they needed back with them.Gary

 

[Buckman]

I remember the Rover SD with the V8 GM engine. Awesome car.

 

[Tobes]

I remember the Rover SD with the V8 GM engine. Awesome car.

If you think that was awesome you should have a test drive in the MG4 X-power, the car this thread was originally about.
Have a look at this video...

 

[otherclive]

If you think that was awesome you should have a test drive in the MG4 X-power, the car this thread was originally about.
Have a look at this video...

Decent range too at 239 miles, and a lot more in city driving.

 

[RogerL]

Skoda & Seat and Audi under VAG, Rover under Ford, BMW and now Tata, just to name a few. It could be argued that Stalantis have also revived the likes of Fiat, Peugeot Citroen and Jeep.

GM in my view, never fully understood the European car market, and really the likes of Vauxhall, Opel and Saab would have been stronger outside of GM.

I have always thought that Saab would have fared better under VAG than GM, but this is sadly now water under the bridge.

If GM had grouped Opel/Vauxhall with Holden and Saab it would surely been very successful - but they never would as Opel/Vauxhall and Holden, at different times produced enough profit to keep the rest of GM afloat - as well as providing cost-effective design/development which benefitted their US models.

 

[toad a caravan]

If GM had grouped Opel/Vauxhall with Holden and Saab it would surely been very successful - but they never would as Opel/Vauxhall and Holden, at different times produced enough profit to keep the rest of GM afloat - as well as providing cost-effective design/development which benefitted their US models.

While GM are a topical subject at present here's an image of a 1949 Chevrolet straight six step side pick up along side my caravan.it was shipped it t from Dakota with not much paint on due to probably being slowly sand blasted over the years.I have gradually got it in a decent finish using an age related black gloss spray paint,whilst my friend the owner has obtained many new parts from the USA.The rear flat bed has several pieces of American red pine that I vanished 11 times each time sanded down..something to keep me busy along with the mention caravan over winter

 

[Dustydog]

If you think that was awesome you should have a test drive in the MG4 X-power, the car this thread was originally about.
Have a look at this video...

3.8 secs to 60mph is beyond my wildest dreams , 100 probably in 7??
Great for the race track but for a trip to Aldi🙃🙃. I do find a lot of motoring journalists are inept at the average user requirements being bedazzled with F 1 numbers.
In my day burning rubber and 10 secs to 60 meant you’d “arrived”🤪

 

[ProfJohnL]

3.8 secs to 60mph is beyond my wildest dreams , 100 probably in 7??
Great for the race track but for a trip to Aldi🙃🙃. I do find a lot of motoring journalists are inept at the average user requirements being bedazzled with F 1 numbers.
In my day burning rubber and 10 secs to 60 meant you’d “arrived”🤪

"Burning Rubber" Ha! that's nothing!. It's burning batteries now.... Then you know you've arrived.

 

[Buckman]

If you think that was awesome you should have a test drive in the MG4 X-power, the car this thread was originally about.
Have a look at this video...

However the MG is just a fast mobility scooter. I would rather have a big V8 under the bonnet any time. LOL!

 

[Devonboy]

I know I have made this point not too long ago, but I feel it's worth repeating.

We have seen how much cheaper some of these new cars from the far east are, and that hopefully will spur the legacy european manufacturers to look at reducing some of their prices to remain competitive. But for me that is only part of the consideration.

I know I have made this point not too long ago, but I feel it's worth repeating.

We have seen how much cheaper some of these new cars from the far east are, and that hopefully will spur the legacy european manufacturers to look at reducing some of their prices to remain competitive. But for me that is only part of the consideration.

With the new brands from China appearing in the UK and some getting raarve reviews from journalists for value for money, but how many of the reviews look into :-
How reliable the vehicles are?
How good is corrosion resistance.
Is the material used strong enough to resist bending if you lean on the vehicle?
What is the after sales service like?
How well are cars with problems supported?
Are spares easily and reliably available at reasonable costs?

There is insufficient data yet to answer most of the above.

Would you say this about Volvo or Polestar ?

 

[ProfJohnL]

Would you say this about Volvo or Polestar ?

Thats a good question.

There are some significant differences. between the likes of Volvo and MG.

Geely who now own Volvo and Polestar( and incidentally the London Taxi Company) have recognised that retaining local input into the design of the cars and continuing to make them locally to their traditional markets, has ensured the local knowledge, strengths and identity have been retained. They also had a ready made dealer network established, and have a decade or more of proven products since their change of ownership. I personally think Volvo (like Saab) have always aimed their products at a more discerning buyer than the traditional British Leyland/ Ford/ Vauxhall offerings.

SIAC who own MG were more interested in the MG name, and not the manufacturing facilities or products and consequently they closed all MG plants and offices in the UK and removed everything to China. The present MG models have no DNA from the original manufacture. and are now essentially totally brand new Chinese designed and made products.

Essentially MG is as much an unknown entity as all the other new Chinese brands, lacking Uk infrastructure and history. They all need to prove they understand the the challenges of the UK car market in terms of product reliability, after sales service and costs.

 

[toad a caravan]

Thats a good question.

There are some significant differences. between the likes of Volvo and MG.

Geely who now own Volvo and Polestar( and incidentally the London Taxi Company) have recognised that retaining local input into the design of the cars and continuing to make them locally to their traditional markets, has ensured the local knowledge, strengths and identity have been retained. They also had a ready made dealer network established, and have a decade or more of proven products since their change of ownership. I personally think Volvo (like Saab) have always aimed their products at a more discerning buyer than the traditional British Leyland/ Ford/ Vauxhall offerings.

SIAC who own MG were more interested in the MG name, and not the manufacturing facilities or products and consequently they closed all MG plants and offices in the UK and removed everything to China. The present MG models have no DNA from the original manufacture. and are now essentially totally brand new Chinese designed and made products.

Essentially MG is as much an unknown entity as all the other new Chinese brands, lacking Uk infrastructure and history. They all need to prove they understand the the challenges of the UK car market in terms of product reliability, after sales service and costs.

I beg to differ.the petrol 1.4 engine used in the petrol variant was designed by the Rover Group and upgrades include an improved oil rail and an increase of the tensile strength of the stretch bolts plus they adopted the MLS head gasket as used by Ford on the K series engine whilst they were responsible for the Freelander.All above upgrades will fit on the Engines produced by Rover/MG . LOTUS etc as such they not only share DNA they share design.Gary

 

[otherclive]

Thats a good question.

There are some significant differences. between the likes of Volvo and MG.

Geely who now own Volvo and Polestar( and incidentally the London Taxi Company) have recognised that retaining local input into the design of the cars and continuing to make them locally to their traditional markets, has ensured the local knowledge, strengths and identity have been retained. They also had a ready made dealer network established, and have a decade or more of proven products since their change of ownership. I personally think Volvo (like Saab) have always aimed their products at a more discerning buyer than the traditional British Leyland/ Ford/ Vauxhall offerings.

SIAC who own MG were more interested in the MG name, and not the manufacturing facilities or products and consequently they closed all MG plants and offices in the UK and removed everything to China. The present MG models have no DNA from the original manufacture. and are now essentially totally brand new Chinese designed and made products.

Essentially MG is as much an unknown entity as all the other new Chinese brands, lacking Uk infrastructure and history. They all need to prove they understand the the challenges of the UK car market in terms of product reliability, after sales service and costs.

How can you say MG is an unknown entity? Nanjing took over in 2005, and not long afterwards were taken into SAIC. In 2011 the first “new” MG from SAIC sold in U.K. was the MG6 and since then there has been a steady stream of models. Look at Wikipedia to see the breadth of countries the MG brand is exported to.

In UK there’s an established dealer network and the brand has been steadily increasing sales year on year. So your comment that it’s an “ unknown entity “ is patently incorrect.

The MG brand may lack DNA from the original bloodlines, but that may be no bad thing. But have a look at their new sports car due in 2024, and from Initial reviews Longbridge would be proud.

MG Cyberster | UK’s First All-Electric Roadster | MG

Meet MG Cyberster: the UK's first all-electric roadster. Stylish design and boosted performance, discover the thrill of an electric sports car. Learn more.

www.mg.co.uk

New MG Cyberster 2023 review | Auto Express

The new all-electric MG Cyberster more than delivers on the hype

www.autoexpress.co.uk

 

[ProfJohnL]

Perhaps I've been guilty of not doing enough research before my last post. I wasn't aware of the engine carry overs, or the extent of MG's dealerships.

But a quick search on Google has revealed the brand does have some of the issues I listed in #9, suggesting that like the early Japanese and Korean imports the Chinese have under estimated the UK's environmental conditions and failed to include enough rust protection.

And even reported on this forum, the dealer network seems to have problems accepting some problems with their products do exist.

MG may be leading the pack here in the UK, but in general the Chinese car manufacturing is still on its infancy, and with the plethora of new manufacturers, they are likely to not have fully grasped the engineering and vehicle dynamics wisdom the legacy manufactures have. They still have a lot to learn about the uniqueness of the UK market.

I'm fairly certain there are many new owners of MG's and other new Chinese brands who are delighted, but will that delight continue as Thier vehicles get older. Will they be easy and still be as cheap to maintain over the long term.

We are going to see an increase in the numbers of Chinese made cars on our roads, and like the Japanese back in the 1970's they are very likely to cause many of the legacy manufactures some real problems.

Like respect and trust the reliability of the vehicles and after service has to earned, not purchased.