I wonder sometimes what people would prefer? MG to be dead and buried alongside Rover or to be owned by the largest car manufacturer in the largest car market in the would.

Well said, Steve.

What we have isn't perfect but it's far better than we could have expected in 2005.

 

The uk isn't there priority? But there using it as a marketing tool in there own country! Launching a car in Europe half arsed? It's a British brand and we are getting after thoughts ? Theyve had 5 years! 5 years and what do we get? One car with one engine.

I appricate it takes time to do things but come on! This is the 8th biggist car maker in the world! They know what there doing! You want to silence the knockers? Give us something to hope for! Give us a realise date for the diesal, give us some figures for the new engines? Give the marketing department some bloody money!!!!

 

The uk isn't there priority? But there using it as a marketing tool in there own country! Launching a car in Europe half arsed? It's a British brand and we are getting after thoughts ? Theyve had 5 years! 5 years and what do we get? One car with one engine.

There is a difference between using the heritage as a marketing tool and launching cars in the UK.

It goes back to simple economics. The market is far larger in China hence the priority put on that market, its also their home market.

Lets face it, if they didn't give two hoots about Longbridge or the UK, they'd have given all of LB back to St Modwen and there would be nothing in the UK at all right now.

I appricate it takes time to do things but come on! This is the 8th biggist car maker in the world! They know what there doing! You want to silence the knockers? Give us something to hope for! Give us a realise date for the diesal, give us some figures for the new engines? Give the marketing department some bloody money!!!!

The Diesel is coming, probably sooner than later. Dates are only good if you're cast iron going to hit them, MG Motor know better than to give dates or production figures until they know damn sure when the car is going to launch. My understanding is that we're not far off from the first Diesel production batch (probably an pre-production run actually), so IMO (and this is my opinion), we'll see the Diesel a fair bit sooner than the end of the year. Obviously they're not going to say this as anything could happen to delay it. Its far better to under promise and over deliver than over promise and under deliver.

Arguably what happened with the MG6.

Figures for the new engines are meaningless until they've got EU5 approval as they may well change. Also if they tell us what engine lineups are likely to be, they also tell the competition. We never got prior notice of new product with MGR, I don't know why people expect it with SAIC. Hell, at least we know what the MG3 and 5 will look like, we never got that with MGR. At least we know new metal is in the pipeline, how much did we want to know that in the MGR days?

As for marketing budget, I've said it before and I'll say it again - there is no point splashing millions around when you have a limited dealer network and one model to sell. It simply isn't economic sense, especially as within as little as perhaps 6-10 months we'll have 1 perhaps 2 new models.

Once you've got 3 models available (effectively ZR, ZS and ZT size), you've got a chance that someone seeing the advertising will see a car that suits what they're after.

 

Steve I agree completely. I think the problem if that there is a faction of MG fans that are entirely locked into the past both recent and quite distant. I don't have any issues with that but they are not the people who are in fact in any way interested in ANY kind of new MG and probably have no intention of ever buying one unless it was yet another MGB bodyshell resurrection.

This is a well established forum but perhaps that is its achilles heel - the old guard are ever waiting to crush anyone who shows the slightest interest or favourable view of SAIC.

We have had very new members commenting on here how surprised they have been to come here looking for a community but finding fighting, bickering and constant argument over every little detail about new MG.

Creating new sections in the forum doesn't seem to work, perhaps the only answer is to create a whole new forum for new SAIC MG?

 

Creating new sections in the forum doesn't seem to work, perhaps the only answer is to create a whole new forum for new SAIC MG?

That thought has crossed my mind... I'm not giving up on .org as a lost cause yet though! Although I have to say, even a new site would probably attract the same people to continue to slag them off anyway.

to be fair, the MG6 forum has mostly been free of the level of bickering tonight - I've just hardly got out of this part of the forum all night!

 

You do tend to see the word China often mentioned by the opposers.

I wonder if the same happens on a Jaguar site regarding India, or on a BMW site regarding the models built in South Africa or Aston Martin receiving funding from Kuwait?

If anybody thinks I'm wrong then do a search for the words Tiananmen square

 

You do tend to see the word China often mentioned by the opposes.

I wonder if the same happens on a Jaguar site regarding India, or on a BMW site regarding the models built in South Africa or Aston Martin receiving funding from Kuwait?

If anybody thinks I'm wrong then do a search for the words Tiananmen square

In fairness you can't level much criticism at jag of late. Stunning new range

 

I personally think that SAIC have achieved a hell of a lot in the time it's had.

Models in at least 5 segments and a whole new range of engines in the pipeline.

 

In the pipeline doesn't sell cars. In production is where it counts

 

Rome wasn't built in a day John, it takes years to develop a new engine from scratch to production.

Manufacturers that have been around a lot longer rather than starting from scratch have more time to develop. Usually manufacturers start working on a new model not long after they release their latest.

 

But you appricate that paper counts for nothing don't you?

They could have bought some engines in to get them going

 

I think that the problem about buying 3rd party engines is that it might not have been the most cost effective solution and given that you probably have to perform loads of tests on these engines to make sure that they actually work well with your car before putting them in to production and then repeat the process again with your own developed engines, maybe it did not seem to SAIC to be worth all the effort?

Personally I don't think that the likes of Ford, PSA or GM, etc would be allowing the use of their latest range of smart efficient engines in an SAIC car.

Would you prefer an MG to be released with a Ford or GM engine which is at least 2 generations old?

Also, wasn't there a problem with the Pheonix 4 had before MGR's collapse where BMW were effectively making a mint on every diesel engine that were being sold in an MG? Plus didn't they have some rights to the Powertrain developed engines as well so they could charge what they liked. The sad reality for MGR was that no engines from their suppliers = no sales..

Cheers,

 

Even if there were a range of Oriental MGs available here, I doubt there would be many takers they way things are now in the land of the self-inflicted.

Picking up some Rover and MG parts from my nearest XPart outlet, which happens to be the Ford main dealership in Gloucester, I was amazed to see all the discounted offers available on the forecourt huge display and range and not one had a SOLD ticket on it.

Says it all for me and been like that for quite a long time now. Other main dealerships nearby show little activity.
..

 

Probably par for the course

Says it all for me and been like that for quite a long time now. Other main dealerships nearby show little activity.
..

We're in a recession (again).. everyone's probably stony broke..

Cheers,

 

I'll have to take your word that there is so much slating of saic?

But i have seen posts/threads on here titled something like this.

Why didn't the chinese save rover blah de blah de blah.

I nearly responded at the time but couldn't be arsed, as there would be little point.

Surely the obvious question you should ask before asking the one above, is why didn't we save rover? and or why didnt the british goverment save rover.

Bit of racism and a bit of jealousy i suspect, but of course i cant say that can I?

 

It's so true what you say.. "APATHY RULES" eh?

 

With respect Steve, I think it's called having an opinion. Some people like the product and the company; others don't.

We were used to cars in the past which slugged it out with Ford, Vauxhall, Volkswagen and in the guise of the ZT, could take on BMW. Now we've got a car - yes one solitary car - which at best is on a par with Chevrolet, but struggles to slug it out with Hyundai and Kia. We've got an assembly operation at Longbridge which makes my local Kwik Fit look decidedly high tech. A marketing campaign which comprises of little more than Facebook and 'My other car is an MG6' stickers - mind you, they won't have had to spend too much on them A product which in the private market is being outsold by Morgan and even a bin lorry manufacturer. A car which second hand and at auction, fails to find bidders, nevermind a buyer. A forum member who is sending PMs to people threatening that an MG-Rover.org member who speaks ill of the great, mighty, MG will be 'sent away for re-education'. Pleadings for us to 'give SAIC a chance', 'give them time', 'they're working on things', 'the UK doesn't really matter, they have to concentrate on China didn't you know'... to the point where I'm just waiting to be told 'Ask not what SAIC can do for you, but ask what you can do for SAIC'. A brand which has seen its Chinese sales plummet by almost 50% in a month. A corporate website which hasn't been updated for some time to even show the company's dealers. Dealers which don't even have a website... and you're asking us what's wrong?

I'd suggest instead that maybe you may wish to call 0845 303 6464 and ask for Billy Wang

Regards

John

 

*cracks knuckles - right....*

With respect Steve, I think it's called having an opinion. Some people like the product and the company; others don't.

Opinions are fine John, its when they get rammed down peoples throats, constantly that it starts being a problem.

We were used to cars in the past which slugged it out with Ford, Vauxhall, Volkswagen and in the guise of the ZT, could take on BMW. Now we've got a car - yes one solitary car - which at best is on a par with Chevrolet, but struggles to slug it out with Hyundai and Kia.

Ok, and how exactly are they supposed to magic an entire range of cars from overnight? An entire family takes time to design, develop and homologate.

We've got an assembly operation at Longbridge which makes my local Kwik Fit look decidedly high tech.

And what do you expect, a full blown production line for 2,000 cars a year? John, you're smart and I've known you a long time - you know this and yet you keep slagging off what MG Motors are trying to do with (at the moment) limited product.

A marketing campaign which comprises of little more than Facebook and 'My other car is an MG6' stickers - mind you, they won't have had to spend too much on them A product which in the private market is being outsold by Morgan and even a bin lorry manufacturer. A car which second hand and at auction, fails to find bidders, nevermind a buyer.

As I've said many times and with you being a marketing man, I know you know this more than most people. Why spend millions advertising 1 car when in 12 months you'll have 2 perhaps 3 to advertise at the same time?

A forum member who is sending PMs to people threatening that an MG-Rover.org member who speaks ill of the great, mighty, MG will be 'sent away for re-education'.

Forward the email onto me and I'll deal with it if it breaks the rules. Suggesting someone would be sent away for education was either sarcastic, or infringes the rules.

Pleadings for us to 'give SAIC a chance', 'give them time', 'they're working on things', 'the UK doesn't really matter, they have to concentrate on China didn't you know'... to the point where I'm just waiting to be told 'Ask not what SAIC can do for you, but ask what you can do for SAIC'. A brand which has seen its Chinese sales plummet by almost 50% in a month. A corporate website which hasn't been updated for some time to even show the company's dealers. Dealers which don't even have a website... and you're asking us what's wrong?

I'm not going to defend what they do in China - I don't know enough about it (I do try and have a life outside of .org and keeping tabs on what the UK is doing is hard enough). But on the whole SAIC do need time to get the product ready, the UK does matter, but the priority is understandably China. As for being asked what you can do for SAIC - a bit of artistic license there John.

But you appricate that paper counts for nothing don't you?

They could have bought some engines in to get them going

They could have done, but I get the distinct impression they wanted to do everything own their own and show what a Chinese manufacturer can do on its own, rather than import components from other manufacturers.

I dont know how others view it but from my perspective British industry is slowly dying unable to compete with the economies of scale, investment and manufacturing costs afforded by companies from the emerging world.

Riiiight. and that's MG's fault how exactly?

Fair enough these companies are able to undercut British goods but for me to see a Chinese state owned company selling a brand on it's Britishness is just rubbing salt into the wounds.

I suspect the Chinese importer of Audi plays on its German roots, Rolls Royce on its British roots. Oh and by the way SAIC is NOT a state company, its publicly owned and has been for a while (I got corrected on that a while back).

I've said before many of my friends and relatives worked at Longbridge and I consider using what they did to effectively promote a Chinese brand a huge insult.

That's fair enough. But I'd consider having no Longbridge at all as a far bigger insult.

Comparing SAIC to TATA is to compare chalk and cheese. TATA have made huge investments in the UK and are actively supporting British workers and supplying firms. SAIC have a UK design centre and 40 assemblers reassembling kits sent in from China. I've said before as it stands MG Longbridge is not a manufacturing centre it's a distribution centre to allow Chinese built cars a foothold into the UK and Europe.

I agree, comparing TATA and SAIC is chalk and cheese. One of them bought a fully functioning company with an intact dealer network, the other inherited a shell with no network. SAIC have a design centre employing 300 engineers, most of them old MGR people, along with people drawn from other manufacturers. Yes the production isn't as comprehensive as I think anyone would like - but the problem at the moment is volume, it simply does not make sense to fully produce an MG6 here. As volumes get up, perhaps and hopefully it will make sense to draw more components from the UK rather than China. Longbridge will also make the cars for Europe when sales restart into there in the next year or so, so production will increase.

When SAIC make a genuine commitment to the area and I once more see proper assembly with locally sourced components I will be the first to praise SAIC and what they are doing but they aren't doing it yet.

See above. I'd also say the number of Millions SAIC have plowed into the site demonstrates their longterm commitment, but hey ho - I guess some people don't see that as a good sign.

Blind loyalty is one thing to see the bigger picture is another.

That, my friend, works both ways... I would argue you need to open your eyes, stop with the blind loyalty to the MGR days of old and wake up to 2012. Things have changed, times have changed and the bigger picture is SAIC.

With time Longbridge output will pick up, but to do that they need a) demand and b) product. Hopefully with more of b will come more of a and they can build more cars at LB.

I totally agree with Forehead and John S.
MG as we knew it is dead now, but many of us do not like what it has been reanimated as...
I could have forgiven them the dull family cars IF they had done a TATA. Instead we get production shipped to China, and left with 40 blokes in a Portakabin with a pencil and paper so they can sell a British Designed car at home.
They couldn't care less about the UK and European market and until they do, why should we support them?
The next models ship direct from China with zero British labour in them, when the. 6 is replaced will any cars be built here?
Why should we be grateful for whatever scraps the decide to toss down to us?
If I was in the market for a new family car I would be looking to Swindon or Washington to supply it to support UK manufacturing.

See the above replies Andy, I'm not going to repeat myself. Although there are a few corrections...

Instead we get production shipped to China, and left with 40 blokes in a Portakabin with a pencil and paper so they can sell a British Designed car at home.

First of all, there is no portakabin and you've forgot to mention the 300 Design & engineering staff. Funny that.

They couldn't care less about the UK and European market and until they do, why should we support them?

If that was true, we would be seeing NO cars planned for the UK or EU at all, or they would simply be the Chinese versions of the car with a GB number plate on - that is not the case.

Why should we be grateful for whatever scraps the decide to toss down to us?

If I was in the market for a new family car I would be looking to Swindon or Washington to supply it to support UK manufacturing.

If you wanted one with the highest UK component content, then I'd probably agree. Where you look for your next car is up to you. Yes MG don't manufacturer much in the UK, hopefully this will change as production increases and it makes sense to manufacturer components in the UK.

 

personally i like the styling of the mg6.

but i doubt i will ever own one or choose too.

why. because of my preconceptions of chinese products, i have serious doubts about the lifespan of any vehicles they produce,

however in 10 yrs time i maybe convinced to change that,

till then i will be content to see what the first mot reports are like in 2-3 yrs time on the current MG6's

atm im just a sceptical person,,, and this from a guy who respected lada and skoda,, ( still love skoda's design where the engine dipstick let you also check the gearbox oil, from inside the car)

 

i dont know which past all these mg fans are living in,after ww2 when it was export or bust mg cars were aimed squarely at the usa with a good deal of airmen with disposable income and a taste for"excitement"from a car.triumph and all the other manufacturers the same,this carried on through the fiftys,sixties,mg s from 74' getting jacked up suspension and rubber "armco"strapped front /back whilst they wobbled by on archaic suspension and 30yr old engines,triumph too detuned tr6s and delayed argueably the TR7 was always meant to be,a convertible!mg (abbingdon) died in 1980 with mgb of course mainy warmed over family cars got the badge engineering treatment over the years.not counting the 1990s mgrv8 the mgf was the first genuine attempt at mg relaunch which saic continued to build in limited runs i believe,the only time mg/rover really favoured uk over export was when they were reduced to a small time car producer just before lights out,and inspite of all this we still love our rover/mg/triumphs etc see you all at longbridge 2012?

 

I dont know how others view it but from my perspective British industry is slowly dying unable to compete with the economies of scale, investment and manufacturing costs afforded by companies from the emerging world.

Fair enough these companies are able to undercut British goods but for me to see a Chinese state owned company selling a brand on it's Britishness is just rubbing salt into the wounds. I've said before many of my friends and relatives worked at Longbridge and I consider using what they did to effectively promote a Chinese brand a huge insult.

Comparing SAIC to TATA is to compare chalk and cheese. TATA have made huge investments in the UK and are actively supporting British workers and supplying firms. SAIC have a UK design centre and 40 assemblers reassembling kits sent in from China. I've said before as it stands MG Longbridge is not a manufacturing centre it's a distribution centre to allow Chinese built cars a foothold into the UK and Europe.

When SAIC make a genuine commitment to the area and I once more see proper assembly with locally sourced components I will be the first to praise SAIC and what they are doing but they aren't doing it yet.

Blind loyalty is one thing to see the bigger picture is another.

 

Comparing SAIC to TATA is to compare chalk and cheese. TATA have made huge investments in the UK and are actively supporting British workers and supplying firms. SAIC have a UK design centre and 40 assemblers reassembling kits sent in from China. I've said before as it stands MG Longbridge is not a manufacturing centre it's a distribution centre to allow Chinese built cars a foothold into the UK and Europe.

The other significant difference between SAIC and Tata is that Tata makes money in the UK, whereas SAIC doesn't. The SAIC approach isn't just bad for the UK, it's also self-defeating.

Cracking post by the way

Regards

John

 

I totally agree with Forehead and John S.
MG as we knew it is dead now, but many of us do not like what it has been reanimated as...
I could have forgiven them the dull family cars IF they had done a TATA. Instead we get production shipped to China, and left with 40 blokes in a Portakabin with a pencil and paper so they can sell a British Designed car at home.
They couldn't care less about the UK and European market and until they do, why should we support them?
The next models ship direct from China with zero British labour in them, when the. 6 is replaced will any cars be built here?
Why should we be grateful for whatever scraps the decide to toss down to us?
If I was in the market for a new family car I would be looking to Swindon or Washington to supply it to support UK manufacturing.

 

They couldn't care less about the UK and European market and until they do, why should we support them?

Quite correct, I don't know why this should be such a hard concept to grasp?

 

MG manufacturing 500,000 cars in Birmingham would be nice of course. Is it likely to happen anytime soon? no. Is that SAIC's fault? no - why? because labour in the UK is expensive, our government is patchy when it comes to providing investment support - for example, MG Rover received no developmental support yet during the same time period, BMW (who has no problem with cashflow) received ten's of £millions in grants and investment support.

SAIC/MG is a commercial operation and unless you're totally blind to this concept it's hard to argue against SAIC using it's already considerable resources in manufacturing to continue to make it's products. Would we rather SAIC/MG didn't have any commercial sense like MG Rover?

Let's also not forget that whether you make or simply sell cars in the UK, VAT contributions for those sales far exceeds any benefit that owning a plant and paying wages to assembly workers ever will! So I applaud Nissan for continuing to make cars here in a plant that was heavily subsidised by the taxpayer to get them to come here. But it's not the presence of the factory that helps UK Plc, it's the VAT of £2-3k per model sold that really helps.

In this respect, wherever MG make their cars, any cars sold here help us all in ways that a lot of people are too lazy to consider for fear that it might hurt their argument that big bad SAIC is the root of all our ills...

 

MG manufacturing 500,000 cars in Birmingham would be nice of course. Is it likely to happen anytime soon? no. Is that SAIC's fault? no - why? because labour in the UK is expensive, our government is patchy when it comes to providing investment support - for example, MG Rover received no developmental support yet during the same time period, BMW (who has no problem with cashflow) received ten's of £millions in grants and investment support.

SAIC/MG is a commercial operation and unless you're totally blind to this concept it's hard to argue against SAIC using it's already considerable resources in manufacturing to continue to make it's products. Would we rather SAIC/MG didn't have any commercial sense like MG Rover?

Sorry, but this is the height of nonsense.

Manufacturing cars in the UK for UK and EU markets should be cheaper than making them in China, India or any other fast growing, Asian economy. Why? Because the labour costs in an automated plant are far less significant than the financial and opportunity costs of transporting the same product half way around the globe. Hence, most Toyotas sold in the UK and EU are made in the UK and EU; hence why Honda Jazz models sold here are now made here instead of China; hence why Tata are investing billions in UK production facilities for JLR; hence why any manufacturer of any significance has assembly and manufacturing operations in the UK and EU.

Let's also not forget that whether you make or simply sell cars in the UK, VAT contributions for those sales far exceeds any benefit that owning a plant and paying wages to assembly workers ever will! So I applaud Nissan for continuing to make cars here in a plant that was heavily subsidised by the taxpayer to get them to come here. But it's not the presence of the factory that helps UK Plc, it's the VAT of £2-3k per model sold that really helps.

In this respect, wherever MG make their cars, any cars sold here help us all in ways that a lot of people are too lazy to consider for fear that it might hurt their argument that big bad SAIC is the root of all our ills...

Bunk.

There are three ways to make money to paraphrase Sir John Rose. You grow it, you dig it out of the ground or you make it. Anything else is simply sloshing money around and is ultimately of zero benefit to the country.

Besides which it isn't MG which pays the VAT, it's the consumer

Regards

John

 

I am in agreement with Forehead, John S & AndyC

It seems that maybe MGRover.org is having to cosy up to MG UK and this translates to you can have any opinion as long as it toes the line.

I dont see what is wrong with people having an opinion that questions what is going on with SAIC and MG UK, they have hardly made a roaring success of introducing the brand. Only now are they offering a competative deal to tempt people to buy the MG6. At best the efforts in launching and marketing the MG 6 can be described as amateur.

I think the MG brand is all a cynical marketing ploy for China to cash in on the percieved Britishness, which i find bizarre to say the least, why would a load of old cheese from the past help sell a modern car made entirely in China. I dont see that the MG name really helps sell them to the rest of the world, if the cars do the talking you could argue a clean sheet start with a new name would of been better.

For me MG Rover died in 2005 and I am undecided about aborted rebirth of MG we have now, maybe in time they will introduce a car that would tempt me. I also if I am totally honest I have no real desire to own a Chinese manufactured car, before the lickers pull the race card, I would not own a German built car again either, its called personal choice.
I would rather buy into another brand with some sort of credible UK operation, LandRover, Honda, Bini or Nissan, there are far more compelling reasons to buy from these.
That said if no one buys into MG they will never grow the UK operation, personally I am not all that convinced they have any major plans for large scale manufacturing in the Uk as I cannot see how the numbers would stack up against low costs in China. (I have been involved in several companies transfering production to China and its a one way trip that makes no sense to reverse)

I have seen the MG6 and driven it and I would be the first to admit I was suprised how well made and built it is, the drive and handling is very good, the only things I didnt like were certain bits of the interior, but all said it was a very well made car and the styling ok, if a little generic. But thats not a bad thing to appeal to the masses.

I apologise in advance for my opinions.

 

No need to apologise for your opinions, that's fine and we are not having to 'cosy' up to MG UK at all. I'm just trying to get a handle on the continual vitriol aimed at SAIC & MG UK.

Personally I want to see MG become a major player in world the automotive business and in 10 years or so I can well see this happening. Yes I would naturally have preferred it to be UK owned, but that didn't really work out very well, did it. Choosing between a dead and gone MG brand and a new MG brand with a bright future is a simple decision.

I appreciate not everyone will have the same view and that's fine, opinions are fine, just not when they keep dredging up the same rubbish and falsehoods time and time again.

Which I hasten to add, your post doesn't do. I don't agree with the 'cynical marketing ploy' bit, but I can see how things may look that way. But I'd argue the point that I'm sure where Audi, BMW, Jaguars are sold in China, their heritage is used in the exact same way. I'm sure if MG was sold in the US, it would be played the same way as well, as Americans do tend to like anything with a British angle to it.

As I said in another thread (or earlier in this one, I can't remember now), I would agree the MG6 doesn't have that 'special something' that the Zeds or the TF had. Perhaps in the move to mass-appeal this has been lost.

But it doesn't make the MG6 a bad car, its a fun car to drive and perhaps that is an MG characteristic in itself. Its not perfect, but its also not a steaming pile of poop that some on here like to make out.

 

Re: the heritage thing - the Audi TT is designed in Germany but is one of Hungary's biggest exports. Don't see a lot of Hungarian-bashing around Audis... and why should we?

 

I've spoken out a few times on here about the relentless negativity coming from some people on the forum. Potential buyers who want to do their homework will check places like this for info & feedback on their potential purchase, and let's face it, reading some of these posts would probably make the average punter run a mile from an MG dealership.

For those wishing to hark back to some flawed halcyon vision of what MGR was 2000-2005, please be advised that the vast majority of the UK car buying public stopped agreeing with you around 2002 hence Rover's haemorrhaging sales in the final years. Poor management of the brand, ridiculous management decisions, and exceptionally bad PR made the end of that particular chapter depressingly inevitable in its outcome.

I completely agree with Steve's analysis - MG Motor UK has effectively had to start from scratch and while the MG6 isn't perfect, it does represent a strong signal of the potential the MG brand still has, and the design & engineering talent SAIC is willing to invest in the marque. As "enthusiasts" we should surely be pleased that an operation at Longbridge continues to exist, and that it has the potential to grow. I predict the MG6 diesel will do well, and the MG3 will really get the show on the road. I'm reliably informed that both are likely to debut in the UK around October time (the MG6 diesel perhaps sooner - July/August). This, combined with the BTCC campaign, stronger marketing and the prospect of the MG5 in 2013 will get MG Motor UK on a much stronger footing.

There is an alternative forum for those who want to continue to snipe & undermine MG which isn't hard to find, so please feel free to head on over there and make your views known. The toxic brew over there will suit you. In the meantime, those of us who believe in MG, are willing to give SAIC every opportunity to develop & implement its strategy, and have always valued this forum as a place for good, knowledgeable and "enthusiastic" debate will continue to support the marque we hold above others.

 

.
I've spoken out a few times on here about the relentless negativity coming from some people on the forum.
.

Yes, but the naysayers number is small. However, those few are incessant and prolific with their continuing negativity. That does create a false impression to anyone visiting this site for information. I suspect that is part of their intention.

Just as the Nipponese did sixty years ago, the Chinese are coming big time whether folks like it or not. Their only 'crime' in my eyes is looking after number one very effectively and the UK is obviously not at the top of their priorities and never likely to be. We could learn from this but... Fat chance! Too bluddy late. Far too late. Continuing decline is the way ahead.
.

 

The only thing I don't quite get is why MG released the 6 over here with only one engine and minimal promotion, which has made it extremely difficult for dealers.

Why not wait and launch the 6 when the full range of engines is available? Especially as China is currently their main market, so they don't need UK sales to make a living.

 

I suppose that as MG clearly want to rebuild a presence in Britain and the rest of Europe, the question is "could they have delayed the launch of the MG6 without the MG dealers giving up with no cars to sell?" Selling a car which wasn't ready yet would have been disastrous IMHO.

 

So basically the two sides of the argument are those who would support MG if it released a range of cars based on the Skoda Estelle, because the badge is the most important thing and those who believe it was about way more than just a marque and would happily support the new company if it was manufacturing and investing in LB on the Tata model as well as making cars in China for the Asian markets...
Would that be a fair analysis?

 

Not really Andy. The cars still have to be worthy of wearing the badge. Yes MG is being stretched as a brand, but the MG6 is worthy of the badge as far as I'm concerned.

Lets face it, if the MG6 facelift appeared as the MG ZS replacement, we'd have been singing its praises.

Ok, it would have had a few more engine options of course - but the car itself is fundamentally sound.

 

In response to Steve's original question - it is only fair to point out that it isn't just MG-R.org where the majority of people are underwhelmed by the 6. I mean just take a look at the Official* MG6 Forum and the response is little better there

Regards

John

 

1) Making the most repeated posts trotting out the same slurs and aggressive stuff again and again (I don't mean you) does not make "the majority of people".

2) I googled "the Official* MG6 Forum" to see what you meant and well, that's like saying "the people in the Stalin fan club tend to be a bit left wing"(!)

:lol:

 

So the general consensus is that people want SAIC to employ thousands of workers and start full scale production here immediately.

I suppose it certainly would be more like the MGR days then, too many workers making too few cars, money being flushed down the bog.

I wonder how long Longbridge as a going concern would last then before they pulled the plug rather than trying to gradually build up as they are doing?

 

So the general consensus is that people want SAIC to employ thousands of workers and start full scale production here immediately.

Why not? It worked and worked very well for MINI

Regards

John

 

No roverman I think the general thought is. "if saic want our support, give us something to support"

 

The simple fact is that nobody is interested in MG any more, not many people were interested in MG Rover in the MGR days.

 

Nailed it right there. Not many, then or now.

Conditioned over many years to believe they were inferior to alien product, even though in many instances that was not the case, the mindset was cast. It is now permanent for the vast majority of UK car consumers and many enthusiasts as a quick visit to other car web sites confirms time and again.

Ten, twenty years ago, I was frequently castigated for my choice of cars. Almost coming to blows at one neighbourhood get together. Those so doing convinced my choices are inferior to theirs. That doesn't happen now. Why is that you may ask. Simple, their subsequent experiences with 'superior' choices has in some cases, been extremely expensive and yes, far from reliable.

Only .... in the ongoing land of the self-inflicted of course. Sadly no end to that as anyone watching the news reports cannot fail to appreciate.
..

 

I remember, before I ever owned an MG in my life, how nice the MGF looked. There were always many around. I was going to buy one second hand, but they held their prices so well (around 2000/2001 time), it made more sense to buy new. We are in a completely different era now, can hardly give them away - but at the time, they were 'desireable'. This is what is missing now.