How long before MG close?

B00st

oliverr wrote: »

The only time I've ever seen one out and about (ie not in a magazine) was at a nearby dealership they are co-habiting with Mazda.

The reason that there hasn't been many sold is a) the fact it has less publicity/less known than other manafactuers (I bet some people don't even know MG are making cars again) and b) its not that it's a bad car, it's just that there are many better cars available.

and I also read the Mg3 will be on sale later this year I believe. From the preview shots it looks around Nissan Note size, maybe a bit smaller.

A big part of the issue was that the MG6 was launched with a relatively inefficient old tech petrol engine (essentially an upgraded K-series with a turbo stuck on the side). The CO2 emissions make the tax band unappealing to company car drivers. It is only recently that the new diesel has been added to the range.

I had one as a hire car last year for a couple of days and 300 or so miles. It is a mixture of the excellent, barely average and awful.

You get a lot of car for the money, it is close to Mondeo size at Focus money with fairly decent spec (satnav but the bluetooth was optional), no iPod connectivity and the aux in hidden to the right of the steering wheel.

The engine is average, able to keep a comfortable 80ish cruise and return to cruising speed easily but very rough and loud when extended.

The ride / handling balance, though, is fantastic. Comfortable and well damped on motorways yet able to take B-roads without losing it. BMW could learn something from this with regards to their M-Sport suspension which is stupidly harsh.

The interior though is absolutely awful. Everything that can be touched feels cheap (obviously where the cost savings come from) and the instruments garish.

LandyAndy

I have never seen one

skivenov

The only ones I've ever seen on the road have been around Longbridge, and I mean like literally within a mile of the old plant..

motorguy

Strider590 wrote: »

Unfortunately it all comes down to poor management of the business. At some point in the mid to late 80's we stopped promoting up from the shop floor and started putting inexperienced graduates into management roles....

Are you trying to be surreal or have you dropped in from 2005?

mattyprice4004

My friend and I went on a test drive in one, and I got to have a good poke around including under the bonnet. I've also done quite a bit of homework on how the N series is different to the K series engine.

It's not a bad car, just not really my thing I guess. It feels a lot like a 'eurobox' having nothing that really sets it apart, but it isn't all bad.

With a bit more poke it'd be lovely, I hope the diesel is good and torquey. Going back to the factory for another test drive in a few weeks.

I reckon now they've got a diesel in the range plus the MG3 will mean they're going to have a good few more sales - I'd own the diesel if it was cheap enough.

Fingers crossed for them - we need some more UK manufacturing. The busier it gets, the more parts will be sourced from the UK.

steve-L

pgilc1 wrote: »

Are you trying to be surreal or have you dropped in from 2005?

I think it sounds surreal due to context but I actually think believe he also has it correct!

At some point making cars went from engineering based to ask the consumers what they want, then stick it all together and tell the engineers to make it work somehow?

Result was for several manufacturers a series of cars that were little more than the sum total of the 'priorites' of consumers given tick box questionnaires.

Its like taking a 2000 mobile then asking customers what they wanted....and then missing the whole idea of a smart phone because non the management type surveys had any options for it.

colino

They bought the brand and are using the "Made in Britain" as a selling tool in their true home market. They'll continue to have the innovation house in the UK while they develop sales in the huge Chinese market and as an added bonus, when they have the time, have sales in the UK market which is the most expensive, least price-sensitive showroom in the world.

PDC

I've driven a 6 and its a nice car but given the economic climate its not the best time to be selling a large size saloon.

They are supposed to be bringing a smaller hatchback sized car later this year and then a mid size model after that as I understand it. I did have a look around the new showroom at Longbridge and at the large design centre there when I had the test drive. They have a lot of people working there, designing these cars, and also many plans for the future, they say the Chinese are in this for the long haul and I think once they have a range of models and some dealers then they should start to see some success.

I agree their marketing and advertising is awfully poor, they just seem stuck in the past. I saw a truly embarrassing photo of two women sat in the boot of an MG6 looking rather fed up posted on their own facebook last year. I'm not sure what they were trying to say with that one.

I think the touring car racing did them a lot of good in terms of visibility, at least more people now seem to know that you can buy an MG again!