I've been meaning to post this for a while, but have been busy working and finding time (and increasingly questionable excuses) for driving here, there and everywhere.
Having been fortunate enough recently to have the chance to buy a new Morgan I have found TalkMorgan an invaluable source of information (though I admit, I have not really commented and have simply lurked in the background soaking up knowledge - so, in short, thank you!). I know that when the opportunity to buy arose it helped offer reassurance about my choice but it was the test drive that finally sold me on the whole Morgan experience.
I don't know if I am in the minority of Morgan owners, but my mechanical knowledge is next to nothing and I wouldn't consider myself to be a motor enthusiast (I've never owned a classic car and I suspect my car ownership history would lead to giggling and name calling if revealed) - I loved the idea of owning one simply because I have always admired the look of the Morgan and what it represents, in terms of style, history and British motoring tradition. After trawling this site and browsing round the internet I was left with a number of fears about ownership, from a need for personal mechanical intervention, to ride quality, build quality and a whole host of other little niggles - so I thought I would take the opportunity to add my personal views on the experience so far in an effort to reach out to other people like me who love the idea of a Morgan but fear the reality may not live up to their expectations.
I have to echo what is said so frequently on this site and elsewhere - do have a test drive. My experience of Morgan dealers is that they are very friendly, like nothing more than talking about the car (even in simple terms to someone like me) except perhaps showing off the driving experience. For me, it allayed a number of fears. Cruising round slowly felt sedate and controllable - the intial concern that I'd finish the day no longer wanting to own a Morgan evaporated almost instantly (possibly blown away by a drive along the seafront with the top down and sidescreens off).
By the time I took the wheel I was confident that I wasn't going to be disappointed. The ride didn't feel too stiff, it felt right for the car and the handling genuinely did make me think I was one with the road (apologies if that sounds odd or a touch pretentious, but I can't think of a better way of describing it. As I say, have a test drive and see if you can make more sense of it than me).
I'm certainly not an expert driver by any means but felt totally in control of the car and loved every second of the test drive. Several days later I bought the very car I had test driven (a shiny new green plus four). I did feel the need to add a luggage rack, door check straps, a wooden steering wheel (the stock one is beyond ugly) and a radio and to replace the rear view mirror with a far smaller version (my one test drive complaint was that with the huge rear view mirror my view out of the windscreen was obscured).
Since picking the car up I have covered a thousand miles or so in total comfort, driven in the most torrential rain (I was spattered by one or two of the tiniest drops of water - the new hood appears to be pretty much watertight), cruised along motorways (at 70 (or thereabouts...) it can be a tiny bit noisy with the top down or up but I could still hear the radio and hold a conversation and I should say it was very much noisy in a good way) and driven long distances in comfort.
Aside from a loose wing mirror (tightened up by myself and now fine - That's the limit of my mechanical prowess) and a leak under the dashboard (seal at the centre of the windscreen not quite right - fixed at the first service) there have been no problems (touch wood).
I know that it is early in my ownership but so far my Morgan has delivered immense satisfaction, I drive with a huge grin on my face and although I accept there may be problems ahead I know that I've made the right decision. I am getting relatively good mileage, there's plenty of space for two weekend bags on the parcel shelf, I remain dry in the rain and have suffered nothing worse than mild sunburn with the hood down. On top of that I have faced no mechanical gremlins and I know that if I do, the dealer is only a phone call away and TalkMorgan can be accessed with the click of a mouse.
It will always be a matter of preference (hence the need for a test drive) but if you try one and like it, I am beginning to believe 100% that there is nothing to fear and I'm pleased that I won't look back in 10 years time at an opportunity missed.
Sorry for rambling, but hopefully the thoughts are of some use to someone, somewhere.
