The Fifth Gear long term test of the MG TF LE500 can be found here.
Car: MG TF LE500
Mileage so far: 1734 miles
Highlights
- It's a sweet handling car. The mid-engine layout makes for beautifully balanced handling while rear-wheel drive means the TF is a lot of fun to drive.
- The TF's suspension is surprisingly compliant, despite sitting on 16-inch alloys. Many previous TF's were fitted with a Sports Handling Pack which stiffened up the ride to the point where it became uncomfortable on typically pot-holed roads here in the UK. On the LE500 the softer set up offers the best compromise between decent handling and keeping occupant's spines intact.
- The classic TF design hasn't changed much in the last ten years, and we're glad. The LE500 gets only the slightest redesign at the front but still manages to look decent in the presence of any other roadster.
Low points- 'Modern' radio looks like the sort of thing you'd picked up from Halfords in the late 90's. Most of the functions need to be accessed via remote control - which is pointless. You wouldn't always want your passenger deciding which radio station to listen to.
- The TF is a 10 year old design, and there's little to distinguish the LE500 from older TF models. It might come with a hardtop, piano black interior and full leather - among other extras - but this doesn't warrant the £16k price tag.
