MG4 X-Power Orders & Delivery

[Brettus]

Heh age is just a number, welcome to the XPower club. Well, waiting list. You’ll soon be a fully paid up member I’m sure.

It’s worth the wait. I still can’t believe I get this road going jet as my daily driver. Seems like it should be unobtainable. I realise there are other EVs just a bit more and some are even quicker but it’s an affordable little monster. I love the form factor and practicality.

 

[Brettus]

You should have met my Peugeot 306 GTi6. Now that was a car.

When’s your XPower coming Rolfe. You know you want to ?
What harm can come from one little test drive? It’s not like multiple members have been sold on the spot…. Hmm OK well not MANY members ?

 

[Rolfe]

When’s your XPower coming Rolfe. You know you want to ?
What harm can come from one little test drive? It’s not like multiple members have been sold on the spot…. Hmm OK well not MANY members ?

The day they bring out an SE X-Power with an LFP battery, maybe!

When I was looking at the MG4 back in April I did mention to the dealer that I liked the sound of the X-Power, and he said, go on, treat yourself. But I really needed a car in April, as I was reluctant to go on running the Golf for the remainder of its MOT just in the hope that the X-Power would be out by November. I also didn't fancy being MG's beta-tester on a brand new model, and I thought the price was likely to be eye-watering.

As it happens it would have been out in time I'm not hearing people squealing about teething problems, and it's really quite affordable for what it is. But in the mean time I have realised I definitely don't like the Trophy spec, and I'm a big fan of the LFP battery. So I'll stick with the SE SR, which is sensible everything I need anyway.

 

[olliewebb]

Heh age is just a number, welcome to the XPower club. Well, waiting list. You’ll soon be a fully paid up member I’m sure.

It’s worth the wait. I still can’t believe I get this road going jet as my daily driver. Seems like it should be unobtainable. I realise there are other EVs just a bit more and some are even quicker but it’s an affordable little monster. I love the form factor and practicality.

Well the top speed is very low, so I’d say it’s fairly low risk. If it were a 430hp ICE car it would likely be capped at 155mph, well, if it was German.

 

[Brettus]

Well the top speed is very low, so I’d say it’s fairly low risk. If it were a 430hp ICE car it would likely be capped at 155mph, well, if it was German.

Heh you ARE young if you think the risk relates to top speed ? (meant nicely for absence of doubt ) plenty of idiots will ruin your day at less than NSL.

 

[olliewebb]

Heh you ARE young if you think the risk relates to top speed ? (meant nicely for absence of doubt ) plenty of idiots will ruin your day at less than NSL.

Relative to ICE cars at this power level I'd say it's much lower risk, and not just on top speed grounds. Especially how the speed dies off after 70mph, I've had plenty of cars that are just getting started at that speed. A tuning box'ed M140i is still spinning it's wheels at 70+mph unless the weather is perfect (thanks Pilot Sport Cup 2's )

It's quick, but it's very safely done. Power is predictable and linear etc. So there isn't as much skill involved and thus less chance of getting it wrong. It's not an edgy car to drive, which also tallies with it not being a 'hot hatch'.

 

[Rolfe]

I've done 120-130 mph in my XR2, my Peugeot 306 GTi6 and my Golf GTi Mk6. I'm not sure this is a good idea, quite frankly, even in Germany.

 

[Tig170]

I've done 120-130 mph in my XR2, my Peugeot 306 GTi6 and my Golf GTi Mk6. I'm not sure this is a good idea, quite frankly, even in Germany.

We had a B reg XR2 (on a family open insurance policy) back in 1987 when i passed my test, the MG4 still does take me back to those days! - Im just worried as my kids are approaching driving age, that they will be exposed to abnormal power in the early years- although we are allowed 4 open drivers (any age) on the insurance (for no more money) via my employer if i took a salary sacrifice EV lease car (which given our insurance increase this year privately on the MG4 may well be worthwhile)

 

[Tig170]

Relative to ICE cars at this power level I'd say it's much lower risk, and not just on top speed grounds. Especially how the speed dies off after 70mph, I've had plenty of cars that are just getting started at that speed. A tuning box'ed M140i is still spinning it's wheels at 70+mph unless the weather is perfect (thanks Pilot Sport Cup 2's )

It's quick, but it's very safely done. Power is predictable and linear etc. So there isn't as much skill involved and thus less chance of getting it wrong. It's not an edgy car to drive, which also tallies with it not being a 'hot hatch'.

.. are you able to give an opinion for every day driving? - in terms of the 4WD stability? - I have a BMW Z4 which is terrible in wet / (never in snow), but equally my 16 yr old Tiguan 170 4WD is excellent in all conditions. My SE MG4 has been perfect for the past 12 months (its a little tail happy in damp), but to-date no snow. I'd love to have an x-power, but I'm too old (& would rather invest in heat-pumps/energy-storage/solar et al.). BW.

 

[olliewebb]

.. are you able to give an opinion for every day driving? - in terms of the 4WD stability? - I have a BMW Z4 which is terrible in wet / (never in snow), but equally my 16 yr old Tiguan 170 4WD is excellent in all conditions. My SE MG4 has been perfect for the past 12 months (its a little tail happy in damp), but to-date no snow. I'd love to have an x-power, but I'm too old (& would rather invest in heat-pumps/energy-storage/solar et al.). BW.

Well I've not got the car yet, should be a month or so, but in the hour test drive and even in the wet I really could not get the wheels to break loose. It just felt planted and safe. Handling was fine, but not hot hatch-like. It's another reason why I think it's low risk, as it's just so easy to drive. I'm used to how powerful ICE cars where you have to work to control them. An EV does feel quite numb at times, even a quick one. Traction control on an electric motor is much easier to do than with an engine, it just gives so much more control.

As I've said elsewhere on this forum, it an experiment for me and I only plan to have the car for two years, likely I'll be bored within 18 months (I change cars often). I want to see how I get on with an EV before the carrot turns to a stick either in 2030 or 2035. It was fun enough, but time will tell, I do live near some very lovely driving roads and own two classic MGs (a 2002 TF and a 1969 Midget) so if it is super boring they'll get used more.

Any way - all the same it was enough for me to put an order in. And 18 year old me would 100% have written it off during the test drive. ? Thankfully nearly 20 years later I've experienced some quick cars and had some track time and know to leave silly driving to the track/go-karting.

 

[Rolfe]

We had a B reg XR2 (on a family open insurance policy) back in 1987 when i passed my test, the MG4 still does take me back to those days! - Im just worried as my kids are approaching driving age, that they will be exposed to abnormal power in the early years- although we are allowed 4 open drivers (any age) on the insurance (for no more money) via my employer if i took a salary sacrifice EV lease car (which given our insurance increase this year privately on the MG4 may well be worthwhile)

Here's a thought. My best friend is married to a surgeon, and once when their kids were quite little dad and sons were watching me do a post-mortem on a snake. Dad allowed sons to use (extremely sharp) scalpels to investigate some tissues, and remarked to me that he believed it was important to give children the right, sharp tools so they weren't struggling with blunt edges that could be even more dangerous, and they learned to be properly respectful towards really sharp things.

I think it's arguably the same for cars. Not having enough power to get out of a sticky situaion can be even more dangerous than having too much power. There really isn't such a thing as too much power, if you can control it properly. I would propose that young people learning on a pocket rocket are more likely to learn how to use the power properly and control it properly from the start, rather than suddenly going mad when they have their licence and get hold of a 15 year old hot hatch and they've never learned how to manage it.

Better a few lessons in how to manage a 950 cc petrol engine that can only get up a hill in second gear as well, though, just in case!

 

[olliewebb]

Better a few lessons in how to manage a 950 cc petrol engine that can only get up a hill in second gear as well, though, just in case!

There's a big argument to be had about slow cars being harder to drive because you're always thinking about giving the car time to respond.

Reminds me of being 16 and having to manage around Aprilia RS50 and the weak power band. "Can I make that roundabout gap? NOPE! I'll wait!"

 

[Rolfe]

I remember a few sticky situations in Miranda, my first car who was a 1.1L Fiesta. After eight years of that I went for Ferdinand, the XR2, and never looked back.

Last month I had to drive two different 950 cc manual gearshift runabouts on holiday. They were only hired for a day or two each. My God, what an experience. The things are downright dangerous.

 

[Seaton91]

My Tusker page has changed today to 'Released from factory'. I know it was today as I may be checking daily. January seems a long way away...

 

[lsb777]

My Tusker page has changed today to 'Released from factory'. I know it was today as I may be checking daily. January seems a long way away...

We might be on the same ship then. I've no idea how many the ship to the UK at a time, but if my Tusker status changed a week ago, I doubt it is on the high seas yet.

 

[shinyrobot]

We might be on the same ship then. I've no idea how many the ship to the UK at a time, but if my Tusker status changed a week ago, I doubt it is on the high seas yet.

How romantic

 

[lsb777]

How romantic

Yeah lovely.

Have you got yours now? How's it going so far?

 

[shinyrobot]

Yeah lovely.

Have you got yours now? How's it going so far?

Had it for a week and a day. Average speed for about 8mph (school run). Hopefully get a proper drive in half term. Working with the dealer to find a solution for the under tray sag. They've been bloody good so far, and if they fix it, I'll be raving about it in here.
Only real annoyance is that you have to turn on OPD every day (School run, remember), and that "Custom" doesn't remember it's settings.
Also, i'm not convinced sport mode will work in the snow. I got four wheel spin on wet grass trying to reverse on a slope.
I've always wondered how EVs would handle snow (as the torque is there from 0rpm). I'll try snow mode next time.
... but hey, thanks for asking
All in all, I love it, but want to get out into some country lanes.

 

[Rolfe]

Probably have a read at the winter tyres thread for solutions to performance in the snow. I ordered mine today and they're being fitted the end of next week.

Best All Season Tyres for MG4

The question of tyres comes up in various threads here, at least according to some searching I've done. And quite a few folk have views on types of tyres used on non-MG4s, which probably translate to their use on MG4s as well. But I thought it worth while to ask opinions specifically. As we head...

www.mgevs.com

 

[shinyrobot]

Probably have a read at the winter tyres thread for solutions to performance in the snow. I ordered mine today and they're being fitted the end of next week.

I read everything ?
I mostly interested in the physics. The old "put it in second" trick ain't an option, so I'm super interested about how you deal with high torque and low grip.