MG Comet Reviews

MG Motor has introduced its first entrant into the Australian SUV market, with the small-size GS now on sale from $23,990 before on-road costs for the manual-only Vivid range-opener.

Looking for something cheap and cheerful to get you from A to B in 2017? Here are the best contenders under $20,000.

MG's GS mid-size SUV has been given a four-star safety rating from the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) ahead of the vehicle's launch into the Australian automotive market in March.

There are more than 300 individual nameplates in Australia today. From Abarth to Volvo, the badges sit on vehicles from 46 brands building electric cars, tiny runabouts, hulking SUVs and utes.The gold rush is not over by a long shot, with Chinese brands starting to get very serious about Australia and certain to push the number nearer to 50 in 2016.LDV has arrived via importer Ateco Automotive with a people-mover and delivery van. Haval is making big promises for BMW-style SUVs next year. A brand with British history but Chinese owners will have three new models next year: the MG 3, MG 6 and MG CS.Some brands have been in Australia, often for a long time, and are looking for a fresh start.Fiat is planning a renewed push, starting with the just-landed, family-focused 500X. Next year, it will have the 124 Spider, which it has cloned from the new Mazda MX-5. Having failed in recent years with the Panda and Punto, Fiat believes it can create some excitement with a new generation of cars."The last thing the Australian market needs is another nameplate or brand. I cannot turn up and pretend you need me," says Fiat chief marketing officer Olivier Francois.He is behind some creative work for Fiat Chrysler that features superstars including Pharrell Williams, J-Lo, Eminem and even Clint Eastwood, who starred in a Superbowl commercial.For Australia, he is banking on Fiat's Italian heritage and design, combined with better pricing and quality from Fiat Chrysler — an operation that is starting to get traction here.He is pushing — like the Chinese brands — a change in perception and says: "Think Fiat only builds small cars? Wrong."

Mazda has been the standout performer over the last decade or so when its cars have gone from "who cares" to "must haves" in a very short period of time. New It began with the ground breaking 3, continued with the 6, and then followed on with the mini 2. Sales of small cars like the Mazda2 have soared as Australians

Ferns, sheep and car models - New Zealand has probably more of these than most countries and thanks to liberal import rules, is just the place you'd expect to find rarities like the MG6. The Cruze-sized hatchback is available from 12 dealers in New Zealand and distributed through British Motor Distributors.It will be practically identical when - or if - it comes to Australia and on a comparative basis, it could be priced around $25,000 - about $5000 less than a similarly-equipped Cruze.The MG6 Turbo here may be about $38,000. Note that this article should only be seen as a guide to the MG6. If the model comes to Australia there may be changes to the features and drive review.VALUEThe big news is space. For the bucks - and we're talking $30,000 in New Zealand currency as a base - it's a surprisingly long car that translates into a spacious cabin and, especially, a long and useable boot area.In fact, space equates to a Skoda Octavia - and that's big! Equipment in the NZ model includes 17-inch alloys, iPod/USB audio, electric sunroof and a one-touch engine start button - and this is the base model.Pay more and the kit adds rear parking aids, cruise control, tyre-pressure monitoring, sat-nav with a colour screen, leather upholstery and heated front seats with electric adjustment for the driver.DESIGN The shape is neat with styling overtones of Europe. It's 4651mm long and sits on a 2705mm wheelbase and hence has heaps of legroom. The boot is a generous 472 litres with the rear seats up and a cavernous 1268 litres when folded down.Cabin treatment is generally good though falls down in appearance with the leather-trimmed version looking like its upholstery is made of vinyl, small instrument gauges and a handbrake that is badly positioned and requires a lot of effort to engage.The high rear tail looks good but begs a rear camera or, at least, park sensors - both are available in the top-spec NZ model while sensors are on the mid-spec car.TECHNOLOGYThe MG6 Turbo comes with a 118kW 1.8-litre turbo-petrol engine which is a revamp and blown version of the Rover K-series unit fitted previously - an infamously - to the Freelander Mk I and MGF. It was a temperamental engine that hated the Australian summers and displayed its discomfort by blowing head gaskets.It's been overhauled - now known as the N-series - since the company established in China but hard to say how it'll behave on its return to our warmer climes. There's only a five-speed manual gearbox in NZ but an auto in planned for the future, possibly in time for an Australian launch. Fuel economy is 7.9 L/100km with a 184g/km CO2 emission. The suspension is common MacPherson struts at the front and multi-link at the rear.SAFETYThis has a four-star crash rating in the European NCAP tests. It also has six airbags, ESC and a full-size spare.DRIVING A short sprint shows the MG6 is well behaved, pleasantly free of surprises and has decent roadholding. Basically, it's a simple and predictable hatchback and even the turbocharged engine holds no surprises. Power delivery is smooth and linear to the point where it feels more like a normally-aspirated 2-litre than a turbocharged 1.8. It won't scare any drivers.The fact it comes initially only as a manual will deter many buyers but the clutch and gearshift arrangement are light and easy to use. Less so the steering which feels too heavy at parking speeds.MG6 TURBOPrice: est $38,000Warranty: TBAResale: n/aService interval: TBASafety Equipment: six airbags, ABS, EBD Crash rating: 4 starsEngine: 118kW/215Nm 1.8-litre 4-cyl turbo-petrolBody: 5-door, 5 seats Dimensions: 4651mm (L); 1829mm (W); 1478mm (H); 2705mm (WB) WEIGHT: 1495kgTransmission: 5-spd manual; front-wheel driveEconomy: 7.9 l/100km; 184g/km CO2BREAKOUTIn 2005, MG Rover went into liquidation and was bought by China's oldest carmaker, NAC. NAC soon after merged with Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC), China's biggest carmaker. MG Rover became one of 10 SAIC-controlled vehicle companies.To maintain the UK link, many MG Rover parts were engineered in the UK and then made in China. Cars would be assembled in the UK and at SAIC's new Lingang plant near Shanghai. Under the Roewe badge (the Rover name couldn't be used in China), AIC makes three models in China - the 350, 550 and the 750 (the old 75) - while the MG6 is made in both Britain and China.The MGF roadster is known as the MG TF and is assembled in Britain from parts made in China. SAIC is on record as planning a front-engined rear-drive roadster in the ilk of the MGB.

If I drive down the street in my convertible, passers-by would - sometimes quietly - remark on my second childhood or mid-life crisis or even an egocentric grey-haired man.But if I travel that same caustic road with a group of 10 or 40 or, as was recently the case, 60 MGs, the adoration, smiles and waves would bring a hardened man to tears. Beyond the snide remarks of the solo road trip, people tend to bond with people en masse in sports cars.You wouldn't, for example, find the same cheery disposition from bystanders confronted with 60 4WDs. Convertibles incite the senses, sparking thoughts as diverse as race car competition and romantic evening coastal touring. Throughout our life, the convertible has set the scene for adventure on a range of levels.Movies are made from the goings-on in convertibles. Girl kisses boy for the first time in a convertible; Elvis Presley drives a convertible racer through the desert to win the prize and the girl; and if Rhett Butler had his way, it would probably be him driving a convertible over the Alabama horizon waving farewell forever to Scarlett. There have been convertibles for the dreamers and the rich, the romantic and the would-be racer.Most of us wanted, or want, a convertible. But things get in the way. Children, on-street parking, the everyday limitations of two seats and even the security of maintaining a car with a fabric roof. Which is why the people who predominantly drive convertibles are - lets say - free of the encumbrances that would keep the cars out of reach for most people.Two days as the guest of the MG Car Club of Western Australia for its annual Safety Fast pow-wow, and you see how 120-odd members of suburbia solidify under the umbrella of the ownership of an obsolete car marque. The Safety Fast event is the club's premier social outing, held by the MGCC in conjunction with the TC Owners Club and the MG Owners Club, and is now in its 20th year.Club member Don Wylie was unable to attend the event, but his pristine 1971 MGB MkII was available. The weather is unkind on the first day of the two-day Safety Fast event. Grey clouds and plenty of rain means the journey is with the roof up and a rag on the windscreen to absorb the leak while an errant drip from elsewhere coldly wets my right knee. Those rumours you heard about early model English convertibles and their propensity to share the weather with the occupants - they're true.But the car loves the cooler weather, keeping the temperature gauge around 160-degree F rather than the warmer day that can see the needle pinch the 190F numeral. The water temperature gauge and the oil pressure gauge always have your attention. Oily things can become susceptible to driving conditions and the simple truth of becoming weary after 40 years of use.The MG is, however, a surprise. Under acceleration it's unique exhaust note fills the cabin. The gearbox snicks light and easy and the clutch, while firm, is positive. The steering is heavy - heavy at speed and quite weighty when parking - though this car retains the original, large diameter steering wheel. It can be flung with confidence, helped by this car's original lever-arm dampers being replaced with hydraulic units.The roof is easy to retract. This is a later model MGB and has the two metal clips and two press studs atop the windscreen frame. Owners of earlier models endure the disassembly of a number of vinyl fabric pieces, metal straps and studs - an awkward manoeuvre made frustrating in times when speed is essential.Like a sudden onslaught of rain. The route is quiet country roads south-east of Perth, edging the Darling Range then entering the hills in surroundings of tall trees and picturesque dams. There is no rush and only a few of the more daring overtake a fellow member. A few of the MG contingent get lost. One lost his steering wheel after enthusiastically rounding a corner and waited for the roving specialist mechanic.But that's part of the fun. From the pleasure of owning an MG to the camaraderie in events such as MG Car Club of WA's Safety Fast run, there's just something magnetic about the enormity, the rareness, of a group of old cars with their different noise and smell and flapping fabric.HISTORYThe now 50-year-old MGB was built from 1962 to 1980 with total production reaching 386,789 units. Almost nine of every 10 cars made was exported, mainly to the US.It was the first unitary MG sports car, designed for high integrity without a roof.This toughness and reliability suited it to endurance sports events.Its successes included outright wins in the 1965 Guards 1000 race at Brands Hatch; 1966 Marathon du la Route 84 Hours at Nurburgring; class wins at Sebring in 1966 and 1967; 1966 Targa Florio and 1966 1000km Spa race.It also finished second place in class at each of the 1964 and 1965 Le Mans 24 Hour events.In 1965 the MGB GT was added to the range and by the end of production in 1980, 125,323 of the hardtops had been built.Unlike the convertible version, less than half of the GTs were exported. A total of 512,112 convertibles and GTs made the MGB the world's top-selling sports car of its era, the first to reach a half a million and the top British sports car of all time.The total UK market volumes were 49,810 tourers and 64,907 GTs - perhaps a reflection on British weather. Many MGBs were reimported to Britain from the US over the years as demand for classic versions grew.The term "Safety Fast'' has been the motto of MG since 1929 after it Oxford Bus Company vehicles - whose chassis had been built by Morris Motors - wore a "Safety First'' badge to promote their then novel four-wheel brake system. MG marketing picked up on the slogan, changing it to Safety Fast. It replaced "It Passes - and Surpasses'' and ``Faster than Most''. MG was unhappy that pencil-toting wags added the word ``bicycles'' to these slogans.CLUB DATARising new car ownership by new generations of motorists and the increasing age of the older cars should mean declining membership of single-marque car clubs. But despite most MGs dating back to the late 1960s, the MG Car Club of WA - in line with trends across Australia - is raising membership each year. It now numbers 250 with an estimated 200 MG cars on the club books.MG owners get regular outings, newsletters, access to member assistance when rebuilding or repairing, club meetings and ar displays. The cost is only $100 a year for a couple.THE OWNER AND HIS CARRetired motor mechanic Don Wylie (CORR) brought a tired MGB as "something to keep me busy''. It followed other projects by the Perth enthusiast, including a Midget and an MG GT, both rebuilt and subsequently sold. Now the red 1971 MkII is as original as when it left the factory - save for the replacement of the rear lever-arm dampers for hydraulic shock absorbers - and runs like a Swiss watch."It'll still do 100mph (160km/h),'' he says. Don and wife Renee have owned the MGB for four years though it's not alone. The garage is shared with a MGF - a car Don says is much maligned as it is "great'' to drive, though because of its mid-engine layout, difficult to repair. But that won't stop the couple taking the F out for a spin in this year's 20th anniversary Safety Fast Run.

But at the recent Spring Historic meeting a woman took the honours in the Aussie Special event. Newcastle’s Brenda Hunter claimed her win as she powered her 1958 Lasos Holden around the track.Adelaide’s Ian Motley finished second in the Aussie Special Regularity field. He was glad to be back on the track after a disaster earlier this year.Motley rolled his 1958 Austin 7 in April on the first turn at Mallala – and was presented with a Roll over Certificate for his efforts - but he was thrilled to make a return to compete.“It’s a real buzz to race this beauty around the track,” Motley says.The oldest car in the Aussie special field marquee allocation was Noel Wilcox’s 1932 Austin 7 Cardwell special.Terry White’s 1947 MGTC Special was the oldest of the MG collections. The 1947 MGTC travelled from Victoria parked inside White’s Ford Transit while trailering his friend Chris Farrell’s 1949 MGTC special.Although the Aussie Specials was the main attraction at the spring meet, the Production Touring cars saw a lot of action.In group N, Phillip Woodbury’s 1971 Mazda RX2 chipped an Apex seal in the practice heats which sent him home early for the weekend.While Joe Dominello’s 1963 Austin Cooper S came off course in Race 1 with throttle problems, he managed to get his car back on the track for the last race of the day. 

Almost a quarter of a century later he managed to buy one; an Alpina B10 replica. (Alpina is a German tuning, customising and motorsport company specialising in BMWs.) Kelly's car started life as a 1986 BMW M635 CSi. It was bought for $55,000 in 1993 by Martin Dibb of Melbourne who then spent $82,000 completely rebuilding it to Alpina B10 specifications.The first thing to go was the auto box which was replaced with a Getrag five-speed manual.  It also received a shorter drive shaft, engine remapping, Alpina-spec suspension, Bilstein dampers, stainless steel exhaust system, engine blueprint and balance, Alpina forged pistons, Alpina brake callipers, ventilated discs, Alpina wheels, a Stowes of Sydney paint job and exterior/interior fit-out with Alpina stickers, badges and decals, including a replica certification plate on the glovebox.The new owner fell in love when he saw it.  "My wife Gail and I love everything German," Kelly says.  The first car the Californian bought was an American 1955 Fordomatic V8 he paid $300 for when he was 16.  "I outgrew it and went to uni and sold it," he says.He then owned a Nissan 269Z, followed by an MG TD before he started his German love affair with a Porsche 924 which he took to Germany where he worked for a while.  "A bit silly to buy it in the States and then take it to Germany," he says  "That's when Gail started falling in love with BMWs. She had a 735i."The couple then moved to Australia where they owned a Toyota Camry, Honda CR-V, then a 2004 BMW X5 4.4-litre V8, a 1981 Porsche 928 auto and a 1984 928 GTS.  They still own the X5 and Porsches and belong to both the BMW and Porsche owner clubs.She says "German cars are reliable, comfortable and they feel safe."  He says, "I like the styling and power."  She says, "He used to rubbish me because I loved BMWs."Then he stumbled on the BMW Alpina replica and the friendly family feud over marques ended.  He bought it for $55,000 in December and plans to show it at various concourse events.  "I was looking for the perfect show car and this is it," he says."I didn't mind it being a replica.  "It was converted with Alpina's blessing, but they wouldn't give it a genuine coach badge."So how does it drive?  "Absolutely great," he says.  "It's got herb," she says. "But it's his baby. I don't drive it."  They haven't been driving it much at all lately as they don't take it out in the rain."The previous owner never drove it in the rain, either," Barry says.  "I spend a lot of time cleaning it, nourishing the leather, conditioning the trim."  He keeps his baby in his garage under a special tailored cover he had made in the US for $300.  "It fits like a glove," he says.  "And I always keep a chamois in our cars, just in case it rains."

"You can pay $70,000 or $90,000 for say, a new Audi and no one notices you," he says. "But you can go out and spend $20,000 on an MG and people are waving at you and saying hello. Everyone wants to stop and talk to you. They all know someone who had one over the years."Colwell owns a 1971 MGB Mark 2, complete with the four-speed electric overdrive gearbox. "It's bright red of course." he says. "I purchased the vehicle in 2007 from a couple at Pyrmont (Sydney). "They had owned the vehicle since 2001 and needed to sell due to parking issues," he says. "MG 146, the registration plate was on it. Lucky I'm not a Kiwi."Colwell says: "At the time I was not in a position to take on a restoration, so I purchased this car in good condition, and proceeded to make it better. "I have tidied the vehicle and added my own touches, such as the new chrome wheels and chrome grille, without destroying its ability to be reverted to original.""Preserving the breed is paramount on classic cars. Only ever do things that can be easily undone. "Parts are readily available for these as they are a popular model both here and overseas, and internet is making it easier than ever to source parts."He says he enjoys Sunday drives with his wife. With the roof down he says it's a pleasure cruiser. Colwell says he has loved the MG style since he was young. "My sister's boyfriend turned up in a beautiful Primrose Yellow 1969 MGB Mk 2. "I was in total awe of this sports car for playboys."He bought his first MG when he was 18 and eventually sold it to TV motoring show host Peter Wherrett. "He turned up with his trademark cap and took the car for a spin and the deal was done. The vehicle was purchased for his son." Since then he has swapped between MGs and the other British iconic car of the 60s, Minis.He says Minis are driven by everyone from the wealthy to the worker, but the MG has a different image. "There's a playboy image, a bit of snobbery that goes with the MGs." "Having the roof off and the sound. The MG has a sound all of its own. Most people will tell you that's what it's all about, the sound."And the sparkle of the wheels. The chrome-wire wheels on it attract people's attention." Although the MG is British they were assembled in Australia up until 1972. About 9000 MGBs were made here. The wide appeal of the MGs have seen their value fluctuate over the years.Colwell says he bought the car for $16,000 two years ago, but the people he bought it from paid $21,000 for it back in 2000. Now he says good cars are selling for well over $20,000. "It comes down to how many of them are around at the time." When he was shopping around he saw several in poor condition."When I saw this one I was surprised. This one was restored. It was a fair to medium job." Now Colwell's interests are switching back to Minis. If he can convince his wife, who loves the MG, he is looking to sell it to fund his next project. " I have found a rare ex-NSW Police pursuit Mini Cooper S MK2 and it's now undergoing a major restoration. I will go the whole hog on it. "As I have said to others, I'm investing my super in my Cooper." " So I will be selling the MGB, however this may be a decision I live to regret. Only time will tell."