Tigger wrote:

That's a real labour of love on the MG and what's a real shame is that we won't be far away from the Cotswold Wildlife Centre on the 4th, but not the 5th, otherwise we'd have dropped by Is it a good event?

That is a shame, this event has not been on for the last 2 years but is a very nice event in a very nice location. I do plan to show the car at this event in Stafford http://www.mgcars.org.uk/mgm/
Then on the 7th August at the Harrogate MG event in Pately Bridge. I plan to be at Duxford on 24th July but will have to be in the ZR-Express that time as it is Zed10 (10th Anniversary of the launch of the Zed Series)

Labour of love - Took it to my friend's house today to do the rear shocks = Nightmare as the n/s rear bottom bolt had siezed solid in the bush Took 4 hours to get the thing off with heat, hacksaw etc but didn't have a new bolt so have had to make do till I can get one. The o/s one was off & back on in less than 30 minutes!  (Past) Freelander 2 HSE 2010 MY In Rimini Red.
(Past) RR Evoque Dynamic Lux Si4 In Firenze Red.
(Past) RR Evouque Pure Tech in Barollo Black with bespoke Firenze Red colour coding.
(Present) Freelander Metropolis 2015 MY In Santorini Black with Ivory Premium Leather.

Hey EV - MG Montego looking good although why would you put those nasty Rover wheels on it? the origional cross spokes look far nicer and give a better OE look.

Also - whats with the top of the doors - is that black frame as it was from the factory cus it ooks a bit thick Freelander 2 TD4 Auto, SE, Narvik Black, Alpaca full leather, Rear Headrest Entertainment System, 6 CD, 18 HSE Wheels, Privicy tints

Captain Worm wrote:

Hey EV - MG Montego looking good although why would you put those nasty Rover wheels on it? the origional cross spokes look far nicer and give a better OE look.

Also - whats with the top of the doors - is that black frame as it was from the factory cus it ooks a bit thick

As a matter of curiousity, I've just checked the "how many left" site and MG seem to have registered 80 of them in the 8 or so months that they've been on sale (and that must include all of the launch day cars and dealer demonstrators); this must put them a fair way behind that other well known volume manufacturer - Morgan

Tigger wrote:

As a matter of curiousity, I've just checked the "how many left" site and MG seem to have registered 80 of them in the 8 or so months that they've been on sale (and that must include all of the launch day cars and dealer demonstrators); this must put them a fair way behind that other well known volume manufacturer - Morgan

That's one point of view. By way of contrast, here's aronline's rather less positive viewpoint:

http://www.aronline.co.uk/blogs/2011/10/21...-the-fish/

I particularly like MG's marketing department's idea of publicity shots from customer hand overs (this one is completely genuine!):



As a matter of interest, I wonder if they will be doing any manufacturing at Birmingham in the foreseeable future or will it remain little more than uncrating and very final assembly and testing of virtually finished "kits"? This is not manufacturing by any stretch of the imagination!

Tigger wrote:

That's one point of view. By way of contrast, here's aronline's rather less positive viewpoint:

http://www.aronline.co.uk/blogs/2011/10/21...-the-fish/

I particularly like MG's marketing department's idea of publicity shots from customer hand overs (this one is completely genuine!):



As a matter of interest, I wonder if they will be doing any manufacturing at Birmingham in the foreseeable future or will it remain little more than uncrating and very final assembly and testing of virtually finished "kits"? This is not manufacturing by any stretch of the imagination!

Looks like we'll have to agree to differ here

richardk wrote:

Tigger wrote:

As a matter of curiousity, I've just checked the "how many left" site and MG seem to have registered 80 of them in the 8 or so months that they've been on sale (and that must include all of the launch day cars and dealer demonstrators); this must put them a fair way behind that other well known volume manufacturer - Morgan

From small acorns and all that.

MG are leading a product led rebirth. The first design is out as the MG6 with just one engine - two more engines due next year (followed by hybrids).

The MG3 is due next year followed closely by the MG5 thereafter....then a cross over..then a new sports car.

The design centre is working overdrive (excuse the pun) on even more developments and MG Birmingham will become the european factory for the majority of models.

The big marketing push will come with the extra models as there isn't quite enough metal at the mo to make a song and dance about.

But the future looks good.

As a seasoned MGR buyer it was only them going belly up that made me switch to the other part of the old family LR...and now on 3rd LR.

PS MG6 at amazing prices right now.. OMG... http://www.mg.co.uk/news-events/latest-new...GWHATADEAL

It's interesting to see how the sales of the MG6 have been going over the last few months.

Following on from a grand total of 15 registrations on October, MG UK sold a grand total of 4 MG6's and 3 old stock TF's were preregistered in November. To put this into perspective, MG Rover were selling 10,000 a month when they collapsed in 2005.

MG UK have recently managed to dump 100 new MG6's with AVIS Rentals recently though. That should prove interesting for residuals when they hit the used car auctions....

Tigger - after very careful analysis (30secs) I'm padding up to come out to bat for your team.

Who needs a fake MG - no one in their right mind. Bust in Brum.

Thanks, athelstan.

I've been following the reaction of British car enthusiasts on AROline on the MG6 and if you what to take what they say seriously, you'd think that the MG6 was the renaissance of UK manufacturing!

In reality, MG UK employ 200 ish R&D staff and 40 in unpacking and final light assembly of largely complete, Chinese built cars, at Longbridge. By way of comparison, Jaguar Land Rover cover 5 sites in the UK (Whitley, Browns Lane, Castle Bromwich, Halewood and Gaydon), employ around 5,000 British workers in R&D and a further 4,650 Brits in all stages of manufacturing; these figures don't even include jobs in engine manufacturing and assembly at Halewood and Bridgend, or in the UK supply chain!

By all means, buy a Chinese car if you must, but don't be fooled into thinking it's made here!

Comparing MG to Land Rover is not really a true comparison as TATA bought a fully functioning and sound business whereas MG Rover had gone bust, suppliers gone bust, production of vehicles nigh on impossible without major redesigns and not owning one of the key brand names.

MG employs over 500 people in the West Midlands which isn't bad for a start up company with enough cash behind it to keep employing them whilst the model range is expanded.

MG have just announced they are entereing the BTCC.

MG sales have been slow, there's no getting away from that but with really only one model in the range with one engine/transmission option.

Those 400 are still working on new designs - the diesel MG6 comes out later this year, the MG3 & 5 follow soon after then the MG5 SUV the a new sports car...and some surprises too like hybrids popping up too.

MG is no longer British owned, neither is Land Rover, MG is not at its lowest point as that was in 2005 but it's on the way up. MG have retained the functional bulk of the Longbridge factory for a very good reason... to build cars...the current MG6 is a CKD but that will change when the new models arrive and more manufacturing will happen at Longbridge. The paintshop is still being kept live.

Having driven an MG6 it is a great car..much like the ZT/ZTT was..I'd have one if they did an engine/transmission that matches my needs.

MG is one of the manufacturers that will be on the up while the likes of Renault continue to fall into the oblivion.

MG in 5 years time will be one of the major car builders in the UK - and like much else here it will be foreign owned. There will always be those anti to MG as there were when it was MGR - well you pays your money and ye makes ye choice - buy a car you like. It is quite the British thing to slag of our manufacturing even though all the foreign companies see them as worth investing in.

just like land rover did with the complete knock down kits for there series vehicles and some defenders you bought
one of these vehicles transported in a box to where you wanted it you then un packed it built it and drove it  rainy-city
xs

richardk wrote:

. MG is one of the manufacturers that will be on the up while the likes of Renault continue to fall into the oblivion.

richardk wrote:

. MG in 5 years time will be one of the major car builders in the UK

Would care to enter into a small (or large) wager into your support of that prediction, for I predict they will not by (real manufacturing or kit parts assembly) UK volume output be in the top three. If I win the wager I'll donate my winnings to any UK Children's health related charity you care to mention. What do you say dear chap