Why I sold my MG4 Trophy

[highsider]

I had high hopes for this car, but after 2 years of ownership it had to go. Our circumstances will be different from most owners, but the purchase of a used Tesla Model 3 performance put the MG4 in to sharp perspective for us.

The good;

• price new was very good
• the car has great range (and is accurate)
• it is a good looking car

The bad;

• app to car communication is cell (mobile) only
• software is flaky (I never got bluetooth working properly, and had a couple of worrying glitches whilst driving)
• MG lie of remote software updates
• MG support for software updates
• Traction control was not very good in colder months

To add context, we live in an area of zero cell/mobile signal. Hard to believe, but we're in a small valley - so we rely 100% on wifi for communication (wifi calling). The Tesla works via wifi as well as cell, the MG does not (despite the salesperson's claim). So pre-heatings / cooling or checking the charge level is not possible.

When the car was in for its second service this year, I heard the MG service manager say they no longer update the software as a matter of course. Customers have to claim an issue with the software, then the dealer will update the software to rectify a fault. This is not the dealer being difficult - this is MG manufacture's instructions. This is what I heard. Hardly felt being looked after. It's their fault for making it a faff to update the software.

I could not get over the remote software updates screen - that never received updates. This was advertised (as I remember), so feels like a vaporware trick to make the car more attractive, so a whiff of dishonesty.

Lastly, the software never worked properly - even after two major updates. This is shocking.

In contrast, the used Tesla model 3 - which is 3 years older than the MG4 - has been flawless. I'm not a fan of Musk, but the Tesla engineers made an amazing car. It is bonkers fast and does all the basics well and is always receiving updates and small improvements. It's not perfect, but incredible value as a used EV. Unbelievable, MG could not copy such a good example.

If the MG4 worked on wifi and the software worked properly, we would keep it. The MG4 is being replaced by a used Polestar 2 so we don't look like the Elon fan club household.

 

[GaryMG4]

The software and supercharger network is what Tesla got right, M3 highland isn't a bad looking car but it's not a hatchback, the rest of the Tesla range are just fugly. Our poverty spec Niro doesn't have any app connection but its not really an issue, the MG4 does its job ok not perfect but it was a good chunk cheaper than anything comparable and it was the first Ev that I liked and was a price I was willing to pay.

 

[Panther]

In contrast, the used Tesla model 3 - which is 3 years older than the MG4 - has been flawless. I'm not a fan of Musk, but the Tesla engineers made an amazing car. It is bonkers fast and does all the basics well and is always receiving updates and small improvements.

That is definitely one thing Tesla are good at, I saw a video a good while back from a guy with a model S after 12 months of ownership, and the OTA updates had increased the cars range by over 20 miles, so 20 extra miles range without lifting a finger whilst MG make you jump through hoops or charge you a fortune to do basic updates.

 

[OriginalBigAl]

Just a point on the software update penny pinching by MG . I was also told at the second service it would not be automatically updated , but pointing out a flaky connection to Android Auto and it was done as a warranty item. Without that fault, I could have paid for the update ( 140euros ish ) to be done as an option . I guess in that case because it would have been a separately billed and paid for extra then it would have its own consumer rights guarantees and protections and would have to have some longevity or be fixed at MGs ( dealers ) expense?

 

[Tuareg]

That is definitely one thing Tesla are good at, I saw a video a good while back from a guy with a model S after 12 months of ownership, and the OTA updates had increased the cars range by over 20 miles, so 20 extra miles range without lifting a finger whilst MG make you jump through hoops or charge you a fortune to do basic updates.

With the price difference, Tesla have already charged you a fortune several times over for basic updates up front whether you want them installed or not.

 

[Chrisdriving]

I went from having a model 3 for 3 years and getting rid of it for various reasons for an X Power, all i will say is good luck.
MG sorted all the software niggles now for me for free( said it was a fault ) and the car is now great, as for OTA be careful what you wish for having endured their shite thrown at the car without any control over it i know the other side of it and would never touch another one example removing functions without warning and being told ‘tough, we know best’ when asked why.
MG cannot / will not touch my software , best news ever, my car will not change overnight.
Polestar 2, awesome choice btw

 

[Tuareg]

Yep, I would never want OTA on any of my cars.

 

[Chrisdriving]

Yep, I would never want OTA on any of my cars.

It sounds like a good idea, it was one of the reasons i went for a Tesla and they did offer some shall we say sensible upgrades and stuff i found useful so full marks for that, but what also happened is other things would change or options would be removed/ simplified that i did not like at all and that was the downside.
One thing i hated with a passion was a third of the screen taken up displaying the driving visuals( think ps1 graphics but worse) , you could not minimise them and after one update they added more details to them like wheelie bins, traffic lights etc which made it even more annoying and cluttered, also cars would appear and disappear on there and flicker and jump about, drove me crazy in the end.
If you called up heating controls for example they would stay for around 5 seconds then minimise again so really a PITA tbh, i adore the MG4 software, yes it is not perfect but it feels like it was written by a car company not a computer company.
On the heating controls, call them up and they stay there so you can keep attention on road and refer to them as and when as opposed to having to keep calling them up again .
Also with the MG you can adjust all regen / OPD on the go as and when you wish to adjust or alter anything, on the Tesla you had to be in park to alter them and they removed the low regen mode altogether on one update.
Horrid and so happy with what i have now, i know my car will always be exactly how i like it and not have been buggered around with by MG .
Also found the model 3 very clinical to drive where as the MG4 , well you can feel it if that makes sense, chassis talks to you and gives feedback.
Tesla is what it is, it did not work for me but the car is a great car if you are happy with the way it interacts and the software suits you. I am glad i had one but it was not what i expected it to be.
Full marks to them for the lightshows though!! They are right up my street.
This was mine doing the first xmas one they offered. So if MG want to copy then yeh i may get that update.

 

[highsider]

Agree about Tesla model 3 and Y looking boring, but the one I purchased had a body kit, so made it look better.

Still think the MG4 looks better. The Tesla does feel heavier to drive as well, but the straight-line acceleration is unreal. Also agree about the driving visuals on the Tesla - they're okay, but could be better. The auto-wipers don't always work reliably. Elon keeps defending of not introducing lidar as part of the auto-pilot, but visual only is deeply flawed and caused multiple deaths - of which Telsa don't always want to release visuals and data to help investigations. We have the £7k full automated driving upgrade (purchased by the previous owner), but this is very limited in the UK. The estimated range is also very generous compared to real world. But, but the car is still pretty good, and I like the built-in cameras working as dash-cams and as a security feature. Plus there is a dog mode, so our pooch is in a maintainable climate, and we can monitor him remotely if he needs to be in the car for a while. The used prices today means it's possible to get a car that does 0-60mph in 3.2 seconds for less than £15k now. That is unbelievable.

 

[MG Clive]

That looks really nice @highsider

 

[GaryMG4]

The red is about the best colour, and the supercharger network makes it great for off the cuff trips (or work related travel eg rep) and if I needed that it would be the tool of choice. I guess I would get used to not having a drivers binnacle/head s up, no indicator stalk (highland) and iffy wipers. I saw something I've not seen for very many years on a MY, a bumper sticker saying 'I bought this car before Elon went off the rails'.

 

[DBedford]

The Tesla is always going to be better than an MG4, chalk and Cheese!

 

[Chrisdriving]

Looks great in the Red, also agree a huge plus for Tesla is the dashcam and sentry feature, especially being able to view live feed on your phone from any camera and be able to talk which is heard thru car external speaker to warn off.

 

[GaryMG4]

The Tesla is always going to be better than an MG4, chalk and Cheese!

Better is a very broad term, it was the MG4 that persuaded me to try an EV not a Tesla.

 

[LenEV2016]

Better is a very broad term, it was the MG4 that persuaded me to try an EV not a Tesla.

Completely different segment of car to be fair

 

[GaryMG4]

Completely different segment of car to be fair

True but the Tesla was within budget, it just didn't appeal. I wanted a hatchback and the MY looked like a Logitech mouse from the 1990s.

 

[LenEV2016]

True but the Tesla was within budget, it just didn't appeal. I wanted a hatchback and the MY looked like a Logitech mouse from the 1990s.

Yeah that's what I mean as you say model 3 is a saloon and a fair bit bigger

 

[T1 Terry]

Could you debadge a Tesla and make it look like a BMW? That way you could escape the anti Musk people looking down on you and just be considered a ****** ...... and that added benefit of always driving in the fast lane and never needing to use mirrors or indicators ever again ..... that could be a "value added" feature that could go towards acceptance of the higher price .......

T1 Terry

 

[Rolfe]

Audi.

 

[LenEV2016]

Audi.

Yeah Audis have definitely taken that title