Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Ray White]

Having missed out on my mid life crisis I got to thinking I should do something about it before it's too late. Ever since seeing the Plus 8 unveiled at the London Motor Show (1968 I think?) I have quietly lusted after a Morgan sports car. I say "quietly" because if I sat down and seriously thought about it, I would have to be slightly bonkers. O.K. perhaps I am a bit bonkers but they just look the business.

Having implied that I would like a Morgan, I have to admit to never having driven one. In fact I don't know and never have known any one with a Morgan. Any one here had one??

The starting price of a new 4/4 is £30.000 and that is the basic car but it's the plus 4 with Ford 2 litre engine (for at least another £3k) that is the one to have. The more exotic models are way above my budget.

My wife only likes new cars and the Morgan is a classic design so life might be less stressful on that score. Having said that, I have heard that there are quality control problems creeping into MMC. It's bad enough that the suspension only lasts 15-20,000 miles without having problems with paint etc. Some people say buy a used car with the issues sorted but others say go for a new car.

Have your say and don't pull your punches.

[badhuis]

Over the last few years I had the pleasure to drive a couple. I was in the business to install electric power steering to classic cars, and Morgans.

As you I have always loved the Morgan. Not only the car but the air around it: independent maker, refused to grow too large when the economic situation allowed it for fear to have to lay off workers when the ec. sit. gets worse again as it always does, their own "slide pillar" front suspension, the use of wood in a car, the hand made process, etc.

Having owned my TR4 for 20 years I was looking forward to drive an old Morgan with the same engine. This drive, plus the other Morgans (incl Plus Eight) has put me off ever wanting one.
They are great to look at but there seems to be no suspension at all, the ride really is rock hard. For a short drive this may be acceptable but overall I could not live with it.

If it would be a car which could be bought for reasonable money, and used only for sunny Sundays this might work but seeing the big prices asked for a decent, or even new, Morgan I think they are too expensive for what they are with no suspension.
Also they really have quite heavy steering, a bit strange as it is a MGB unit I think and the car does not weigh much. But it is much heavier than for example the TR4. Having a "sporty" small diameter steering wheel does not help of course. Then again the heavy steering can solved relatively easily
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a car stops being fun when it becomes an investment

[Ray White]

Sounds like a thumbs down from you then, Badhuis. Your experience is helpful to me as I didn't realise that the steering was so heavy that owners needed to add the power. From what I have read, the current 4/4 is the original design and the most lightweight at 795 kgs. It has a 1600 ford engine and a Mazda 5 speed box. So far, so good but the suspension as you say is very limited. By the time I had got to the end of my lane, I would probably have lost half my fillings!

I would have imagined the Plus 4 and other more expensive versions like the V6 roadster (which has pas) and the Plus 8 would have had better rear suspension? - but I guess not.

I suppose I am just missing my Triumph GT6 which I had for 38 years. Getting withdrawal symptoms, I suppose

[Dipster]

Funny you talk about Morgans as just the other weekend I was approached by a bloke selling new ones. I was at the Algarve Classic festival at Portimao and the Lisbon based dealer had a rep there. They had a 1998 model on display. It was in excellent condition and a credit to the dealer.

I had to say that I was not interested at all in buying a Morgan. Why? asked Mr Salesman, had I driven one? Well, oddly, after many years in garages and love of cars, I never have.

I have no interest in Morgans as they are really, as Mr Salesman conceded, second or third cars for those who can afford expensive toys. They have no boot. Dealers are few and far between if you actually travel. Thus they do not rack up high mileages, so good second hand ones are easily available. But they are not practical for the likes of me who actually need a car to use and cannot afford toys for the road.

Plus they really are, apparently, devoid of suspension as mentioned on a previous post. My retired neighbour is now on crutches due, he says, to falling in love with a shiny new V8 Morgan some years ago just at the time he had received his annual bonus (did I mention he was a banker?). He told me that the ride was awful. But he persisted with it for a while. This led to him suffering back trouble that has slowly deteriorated to the point he is at now.

Also at Portimao was the Mazda man pushing the new MX5. Now there is a much more attractive proposition at a much lower price. With a small boot and dealers everywhere...... If I was in the market I know what I would buy.

[Ray White]

From what you say, Dipster, we have something in common, or not , as the case may be, in that we have neither of us even driven a Morgan! I am sorry to hear that your neighbour has suffered as a result of driving one. It would be interesting to learn if back trouble is a condition of ownership?

Apparently, in Morgan circles, the firm has a standard answer for all customer complaints..."they are all like that, sir".


Incidentally, there are after market suspension upgrades which apparently improve the comfort levels of Morgans; not something you want to be doing having spent your pension on a new car!!!

A bit ironic when you consider that this upgrade has been developed by Suplex; the company who supply Morgan with their standard springs

[Dipster]

Ray, talking of spending your pension on a car reminds me of a former colleague who did spend his retirement cash sum on a car he had dreamt of owning for years. We actually had the same dream as I too had considered using my retirement cash for the same purchase.

The object of our dreams? A Porsche! "Luckily" for me I was in the UK just a year before my retirement and managed to get a speeding ticket whilst there, and this in a diesel Passat! So I thought that if I can manage to get a ticket with that what would become of my licence if I had a Porsche? So I reconsidered and had a really nice garage built instead. Both a pleasure to work (play morelike) in and an investment.

My colleague did buy a Porsche. It was gone within a year as he was fed up with the vandalism and jeers it attracted. He replaced it with a Golf GTI (which he says is more fun) and lots of rounds of golf.

[Ellis]

Every year here in the village, one of the Morgan owners or enthusiast clubs have their members staying at one of the local hotels and the sight of dozens of Morgans parked outside is a sight to behold.

I have not owned, driven or been a passenger in a Morgan but I can reveal that Morgan owners are very friendly, enthusiastic and proud of their cars.
The last owner I spoke to had owned his 1600cc example for over 30 years and it looked better than brand new. What surprised me was how small they are when you stand next to one.
Perhaps anecdotal but it was said at one time that if you drove over a cigarette butt in a Morgan you could tell if it had been plain or tipped...........

If you want a Morgan then buy one!
You will be certain of making many new friends with fellow Morgan owners.
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1964 Jaguar Mark 2 3.4 litre
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[Ray White]

Porsches are great. No question in my mind that a well sorted 911 would tick all the boxes but it's not for me. I was once shown how to properly drive a 911 by a former racing driver and the experience taught me one thing - I should stick to what I know best; i.e.. cars that give the impression of speed rather than be really fast. That's why I thought the original 4/4 Morgan would be a good choice. My Triumph GT6 Mk111 was not a fast car but gave the impression of one. It had 'tricky' suspension which could catch you out - especially in the wet - so I tended to treat it with respect.

I have another option that might be an investment as well as a fun car to own and that is an MG. I like the TC and most of the other original midgets and my wife also gives them the thumbs up especially if painted red! The Morgan still looks the part though but I am having "sensible" thoughts.

[Ray White]

Ellis Now you have turned the tables again! I think the answer is for me to go for a test drive in a new Morgan. I just love the way they look and even if I buy one and can't get on with it, there is no depreciation to speak of so I can always sell it on. There are usually a few new cars at the dealers but I like the idea of having a car custom built! The problem then - and it is a nice problem to have - is that by the time you have added all the "goodies" the price has gone up a few grand!

[Rick]

I remember seeing modern (Metro?) column switchgear in a Morgan years ago. Modern-day fittings in something that tries to pass itself off as olde worlde, doesn't appeal to me really. I get the heritage etc of Morgans and so on, but being new-build just puts me off.

The TC sounds like a better option to me, albeit perhaps less usable on a regular basis maybe? Ideally I'd plump for something pre-war though, like a J2 or a smart M-Type

RJ
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[badhuis]

Whatever you do Ray, please arrange for a test drive in a Morgan so at least you can make up your own mind. I was happy to have my experiences but you may have entirely different reasons to like / buy one.

That said, I am with Rick about newer models - I could not live with the "modern" plastic switches etc.
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a car stops being fun when it becomes an investment

[Ray White]

[Ray White]

[goneps]

[Rick]