Owner: Liz & Keith Cooper (hence registration!)
Make/model: MG TF LE500
Month/year of manufacture: November 2008
Colour: White
Engine size/type: 1796cc / Petrol
BHP: 99
Top speed: 70mph - in the UK!
Gearbox type: 5 speed manual
Area: Hawley, Hampshire
Date purchased: 11th November 2008

History: This is the third car in the MG F/TF range owned by Liz and Keith Cooper. They first purchased a racing green MG F in September 1997, which was followed by a silver MG TF Sunstorm in January 2004. All of the cars have carried the registration L12 KTH so our friends know when it is us coming in the opposite direction!

They have just taken delivery of this new MG TF LE500, one of the first to emerge from Longbridge for over four years. All of the limited edition models are individually numbered and this is number 85.

Liz and Keith thought long and hard about which colour to choose. On an autumn visit to Gaydon, the silver and orange models were on display. They didn't want another silver TF, so were tempted with the vibrant orange. They were also tempted by the idea of a white TF, but as none had been built at that time, it was impossible to find out exactly what it would look like. On balance, the idea of orange was exciting but perhaps a little impracticable for daily use. They also felt that it looked a lot better when clean in the sunlight than it would look when a bit grubby in the English winter!  So they took the plunge for white, with dealer Thomas Day Motors offering them the opportunity to swap to a different colour if they didn't like it when it arrived at the showroom.

They needn't have worried! It was love at first sight with the white LE500 and they are really pleased they made this choice.   Only 25 cars are being made in white and they are supplied with silver wheels. Liz and Keith thought the all black wheels would look better on the white car, so the dealer kindly obliged by acquiring a set of all black wheels! So we think that makes this car unique in the LE500 range.

First impressions have been excellent with the build quality noticeably better than both the previous F and TF. There's generally a more substantial feel about the bodywork. All the panels line up and the doors shut with a positive feel rather than the rattly sound associated with the earlier models. The ride is also better, coping much better with bumps in the road. Useful additions are the reverse parking sensors, although there were a couple of days early on when these did not work properly - an early gremlin which fortunately has not returned.

It's difficult to judge performance at this stage. With only 350 miles on the clock, we're still dilligently running it in and haven't exceeeded 4000 revs yet.   What is clear is that the noise level at 70mph is much less than the previous TF, which should make for a more comfortable journey when there's not enough time for the fun roads.

During 2009, Liz and Keith will be out and about in their LE500 and look forward to meeting other members on runs and at events.

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