Used MG TF review and buying guide (2002 to 2005): which one to buy and what to check

Which used MG TF should you buy?

The MG TF to buy is one whose K series four-cylinder engine has already had the multi-layer steel head gasket kit, with its stronger lower oil rail, new head bolts and water pump. The engine holds very little coolant, so a small leak quickly turns into overheating and a blown gasket. That's the fault that decides a TF whichever engine it's got, and a car that's had the full kit rather than a gasket on its own is the safer buy.

Look for stainless steel coolant pipes too. The original steel pipes run under the car and corrode, and a leak from them can cost the head gasket. A retro-fitted low coolant level warning is another good sign, since it'll tell you the level's falling before the engine runs short. There's no glass rear window on a TF, so don't go hunting for one.

A 2003 recall dealt with the bolts fixing each damper to its upper suspension arm, which could work loose and, at worst, snap. TF production restarted later, and a limited LE 500 run was being built by September 2007. Judge a later car or an LE 500 on exactly the same cooling system evidence as an early one, because that's what decides whether a TF's worth having.

Which MG TF engines and gearboxes are the safe choices?

There isn't a TF engine that dodges the head gasket problem: the 1.6, the 1.8, the 1.8 Stepspeed and the 1.8 VVC are all K series four-cylinders with a tiny coolant capacity. Pick the car with the best cooling system history rather than the engine size, because a 1.8 VVC with the gasket kit fitted is a far better buy than a 1.6 that's never had it.

The inlet manifold gasket, which has coolant running through it, is the engine's weakest point, so that's where to look for weeping. Once a car's covered about 30,000 miles, the stretch bolts on its modular engine should have their torque checked at a service, since they slacken slightly over time. Ask whether that's been done and whether a receipt shows it.

The proper repair is a kit, not a gasket alone: a one-piece multi-layer steel gasket, a stronger lower oil rail, longer high-tensile head bolts and a new water pump all go in together. A TF with paperwork for that complete job is the one to choose, whichever engine it's got, and a car that's only had a new gasket fitted on its own doesn't count.

What should you check when viewing a used MG TF?

Check the coolant level before the test drive and again when you're back, because a level that drops is the first sign of the leak that ends a TF's head gasket. Get down and look at the coolant pipes under the car for corrosion and damp patches, and around the inlet manifold. Keep an eye on the temperature gauge throughout, and don't buy one that creeps up.

Find a straight road and brake firmly. The TF shares its electric power steering with the MGF, and MGF owners have reported steering that's heavier turning one way, the car pulling under braking and, in the worst cases, an MOT failure. If the wheel feels heavier in one direction than the other, don't buy it until the steering's been looked at.

Try the horn, every electric window, the central locking, the alarm and the immobiliser. The TF's security control unit can fail, and owners have reported it starting with a dead horn or window but also upsetting the immobiliser and leaving the car undrivable. Ask for proof the 2003 damper bolt recall was done, plus receipts for any head gasket kit and stainless pipes.

Paste the advert into the free check and it runs these against the listing, the MOT history and the DVLA record before you travel.

What do MG TF owners like about them?

It's a car you can look after properly, because there's a detailed service and repair manual written for the TF itself, supplied on an electronic disc. It covers the servicing and the repairs, so jobs on it don't have to be guesswork, whether you do them at home or hand the disc to whoever looks after the car for you.

The cooling system has a sturdier answer than the original parts. Stainless steel coolant pipes are made for manual TFs on the original factory tooling and tested to a strict quality standard, and they're a tougher alternative to the plain steel pipes the car left the factory with. Fitting them means you're not putting the same steel pipes back in.

• New stainless steel coolant pipes are available for the MGF and TF, offering a robust alternative to the standard pipes prone to corrosion.
• The MG TF, launched in February 2002, offers excellent, confidence-inspiring roadholding and handling, complemented by effective brakes.
• MG models generally showed slightly below average warranty repair costs in the 2003 Warranty Direct Reliability index.