THERE was a time when the British ruled and the Japanese were the pretenders in the sports car market. Today the situation is reversed, as cars like the Mazda MX-5 redefine what a good open-top sports car should be. The MG TF may never reach the market penetration of the stunningly successful Mazda but, really, it's a car that embodies the true sports car spirit and maybe shows England is still in the race. It may have a few ergonomic frailties, but the MG is a consistently fun car to drive and is a worthwhile improvement over the now six-year-old original. Importantly, it is also the sort of car that grows on you the more time you spend with it.