My daughters "new" car

[Murphyv310]

Hi.
This comes highly recommended, I've done a lot of research, looked at them, spoke to some owners and decided they are a really good buy. Now this is after my daughter made up her mind.
MG3

[Geordie McBoyne]

Hi Trevor,
I believe the MG3 will be a sales success for MG Motor as the Chinese company is called. I would have thought "MG Motors" would have sounded better but that's the name SAIC has given the revitalised MG name.
Read about the MG3 here: http://www.aronline.co.uk/blogs/cars/mg-cars/mg3
The designers have kept things simple, MacPherson struts up front and a torsion beam rear axle, a similar arrangement to the Rover 25. and the original Golf. Evidently the engine is new. The 1.5 litre "N" series and is not a derivative of the "K" series, the new engine has a chain driven camshaft.
Will a diesel version of offered? Perhaps not now that diesel engines are becoming discredited.
The MG6 large saloon was a sales disaster but all that will change with the MG3 and the newly introduced MG-GS crossover SUV.

Geordie McBoyne.

[Murphyv310]

Hi.
Today the UK has many cross country projects either in the pipeline or actually in progress with China.
The Blair government should really have stepped in to save or at least prop up MG Rover, they did aid the banks remember!
When MGR went down SAIC & NAC got plant and other goodies.
If MGR didn't go bust we would be driving a Rover 1 Series not a BMW 1 series as it was a Rover design, as is the BMW Mini.
The often maligned "K" series 4 cylinder engine is actually a peach, wonderfully smooth, light enough for one man to lift it and efficient. The head gasket issues are more pronounced with the biggest engines, the 1.1 litre being very reliable and the 1.8 having the biggest problems.
Rover did make changes as time went by but we have to admit that we didn't effect a total cure. It was the Chinese that did the donkey work and did cure all the problems, to the extent they called the revised unit the "N" series. This was fitted into the Chinese MG7, Roewe 750 & MG6. These have found their way into enthusiasts Rover 75 & MG ZT cars with 100% success.

The import of the MG3 & GS SUV mean jobs for us here in the UK as SAIC's facility at Longbridge is far more than an importer.
Personally after driving Emma's year old MG3 I am impressed, it's in the middle of the range and is extremely well specced and put together.

[Geordie McBoyne]

Hi Trevor,
So does the "N" series engine still employ the long stretch bolts to attach the cylinder head?

Geordie McBoyne.

[Murphyv310]

Hi Trevor,
So does the "N" series engine still employ the long stretch bolts to attach the cylinder head?

Geordie McBoyne.

It does indeed.
The MG3 is a totally different engine.

[AlanBeckett]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bir...m-37449289

Alan

[Murphyv310]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bir...m-37449289

Alan

Hi Alan.
Seems the Chinese operation was in a way similar to what Skoda did with their cars up the the demise of the rear engined versions.
The Estelle & Rapid Coupe went to Skoda GB's facility in Kings Lynn and were kitted out with British made wheels & tyres, centre console & Philips stereo, speakers etc. Other items were fitted too.
Skoda though were selling upward of 17,000 units in the UK at their peak.

I knew that the full car was never a UK build but with only 25 production staff they are contributing less to the UK economy than Skoda did during the 80-90's
I doubt this will make any great difference to sales. companies like Dacia do OK so why not MG?