There have been four versions of the MG TF since 2002. The car produced from 2002 to 2005 has been poorly rated by Warranty Direct and ranked 12 out of 18 open-top cars, with above average repair costs according to their Reliability Index.

MG TF (2002 - 2005)

The MG F, which has been produced since 1995, was rebranded as the TF in 2002 having been re-engineered and redesigned. One of the major changes was that MG did away with the gas-filled suspension of the F and replaced it with conventional coil springs. What Car? suggests that this allows the TF to turn into corners more ''crisply'' than its predecessor but that it''s less comfortable over poor surfaces.

Other mechanical changes include a redesigned air-induction system and new camshafts which produce more power than the old MG F engines. The torsional stiffness of the MG TF''s body was also increased by 20%.

Cosmetically, the rebranded MG TF has a more square front, a revised grille, new front headlights, bumpers, side air-intake grills and rear boot. Aside from these changes, the MG TF isn''t hugely different from the original F. The MG TF was the first car of its class to be awarded a four-star safety rating from Euro NCAP.

Although the MG TF shares an engine with the Lotus Elise, What Car? says that the "TF feels much more like a hot hatch to drive than a trickier performance car." Some say that the electrically assisted steering feels vague compared with the Mazda MX5 that it was priced to compete with. The TF had a few niggles and common problems, including uneven shut lines on the driver''s door. Nonetheless, there were a decent amount of sales, although production was suspended in 2005 when MG Rover collapsed.

The Chinese MG TF

During MG Rover''s bankruptcy proceedings in March 2007, the Chinese-based Nanjing Automobile Group (NAG) purchased the remaining assets and restarted production of the MG TF at their factory in China. The car they produced was almost identical to the non-VCC engined MG TF from 2005, however there were some minor styling alterations around the nose and inside the car. In August 2008, the Longbridge plant was utilised to assemble the MG TF from complete knock down kits manufactured in China.

The car that was released was the MG TF LE500, a limited edition production of 500 individually number cars. These were very similar to the old MG TF but with a restyled front grille and bumper. The specification included leather seats, wind stop, rear parking sensors, 16-inch alloys, and a choice of hard or soft top. NAG MG then produced the TF 135 and the TF 85th Anniversary edition, of which only 50 were produced.

Low demand during the recession caused production at Longbridge to be suspended for a few months from October 2009. The TF stopped being produced in March 2011 because of a lack of demand and component supply issues. In total, only 906 TFs were assembled at Longbridge under the ownership of the Nanjing Automobile Group.

Cheap MG TF car parts

Many TF spares will be available to buy now. For other parts, you will hear back from the independent breakers in our network with some quotes to give you a wider choice. It doesn''t matter if you need a MG TF gearbox or engine, or simply switches or wing mirrors, all spare car parts are thoroughly checked, fully guaranteed for at least a month, and ready for delivery to your home or garage.