2000 MG MGF 1.8

This Tahiti Blue over Black Ash MGF 1.8i Steptronic has had just one owner from new. First registered on the 10th of June 2000, it has also covered just over 21,500 miles from new, which is barely believable but 100% true as you can see from the online MOT history.

Last used seriously four years ago to travel down to the south of France, it has been garaged all its life and is still, we are told, wearing all of its original paintwork.

Now being offered for sale with no reserve, we can’t think of a better way of spending a few thousand pounds than on an MGF like this. After all, with prices this low, there’s only one way they can go from here, surely?

Finished in the unusual shade of Tahiti Blue, the paintwork is very good indeed. It has really nice panel gaps too, plus the sort of consistent shutlines you rarely associate with MG cars of this era; more proof that their reputation for poor build quality has more to do with unsympathetic owners and penny-pinching maintenance, perhaps?

The folding fabric roof is in a very good condition too, fitting tautly and sealing very well. There’s a good tonneau cover as well, and the whole kit and caboodle is free of rips, tears, and other damage.

The tyres, Goodyear Eagle NCT 5 on the rear and Infinity INF-040 on the front, have very good tread but are probably time-expired by now having been on there for at least a decade. They sit on very smart six-spoke, 15-inch alloy wheels, all of which are clean and unsullied by careless parking.

The light lenses are clean and bright too, as are the badges and glass. It really is a rather lovely, unassuming thing and doesn’t need anything other than someone who will continue to love it.

Problems? Well, if you accept that there will be a few minor stonechips here and there then there are none other than the possible need to buy some new tyres to enable you to properly enjoy and exploit the MGF’s legendary handling.

The Black Ash leather and cloth interior is simply wonderful; very close to ‘as new’ condition, everything is exactly as it should be bar the very lightest creasing to the leather edges of the seats.

Other than that, it could be an ex-demonstrator with no more than a couple of thousand miles on the clock. The embossed pattern on the hard-plastic surfaces is still sharp and unsullied, the white lettering on the switches is bright and vivid, the footwell lights work, and everything operates with the same precision it did when it was first installed. It really is a remarkably clean example of the breed and a credit to its owner.

The MGF eschews the more usual flappy paddles in favour of weird thumb-buttons, and while they might look odd we actually like the Steptronic gearbox; after all, if F1 drivers accept that a machine can change gears faster than them, I think we can agree that it might be worth thinking again about the macho obsession with shifting cogs manually, eh?

The rear boot might be tiny but it is immaculate, as is the spare wheel well in the frunk. Hell, even the light works in the latter, and that’s not something you see every day… The metal floors of both are solid and free of rust.

Work to do in here? Nothing. Nada. Nil.

The transmission fluid has just been replaced with the correct CVT fluid. Other service work includes:

• 22.08.2001 and 5,765 miles - service by SGL Phoenix

• 20.08.2002 and 6,538 miles - service by SGL Phoenix

• 05.06.2004 and 8,755 miles – service by SGL Phoenix

• 21.08.2020 and 21,441 miles – oil change by Woodford Motor Co Ltd

• 13.10.2020 and 21,450 miles – gearbox oil change by Woodford Motor Co Ltd

The engine bay is very clean, as is the underside. In fact, the only issue we can see is one slightly bent bracket, presumably as a result of a carelessly placed jack.

The MGF starts, runs, and drives as it should – and if you’ve never driven one, prepare to be amazed at just how much fun they are.

The MGF’s MOT certificate, which is valid until August 2021, was gained without a single advisory point, something it has done more often than not over the past couple of decades.

It has a number of expired MOT certificates plus some old invoices and bills to confirm the work that has been done to it over the years.

It also still has its original owner’s handbook, stamped service history, book pack, and storage wallet plus two sets of keys and even the original sales invoice - showing a discount of more than £4,000!

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this and other paperwork to support our claim that this car has been maintained to a good standard.

If you’d like to inspect the car prior to placing a bid – something we would encourage – then please use the Contact Seller button to arrange an appointment.

We’ve sold a few low-mileage MGFs in the past few months and they always do very well. Not that that should surprise us because we’re huge fans and think their reputation for fragility is unjustified – and when you buy a good ‘un like this, you can’t help but wonder why people prefer the rust-prone Mazda MX-5…

But, the cat is slowing inching its way out of the bag as more and more enthusiasts start to appreciate the MGF’s many charms - not that this growing popularity is necessarily represented in their value yet because they’ve still got a long way to go before they reach the heights we expect them to attain in due course.

For now, an almost unbelievable £3,500 to £5,500 would almost certainly be enough to make this one yours – and this is, you’ll recall, a genuine low-mileage pampered example in need of nothing. Fun really doesn’t come much cheaper.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.