There has been an interesting range of comments such as "wafting along in a +8" or "no doubt the CX is the better car in terms of driving."
As I have oft times typed I came to Morgan +8 ownership from a different direction when in search of a pseudo vintage driving experience without the cost implications of buying or maintaining a wonderful vintage car with 100mph plus performance. Thus I was not in search of a machine that could match the handling of my former 911, or the bling and real GT comforts of my also former Jensen Interceptor..and various others I have been fortunate enough to sample.
Yes I have wafted along in my +8 and more than happy to have done so while touring Southern Europe, however that was not the intended usage of my Morgan at the time of purchase circa 20 years ago. I had bought my +8 to roar around the local countryside to blow the cobwebs away whenever I felt the need.
In an attempt to warn wildlife of my impending arrival I removed the rear mounted "resonators" and my habit of using the gearbox far more than the brakes to make even more noise, involving a necessary degree of heal and toe, knowing well the many wonderful bends I would be heading into, use of the brakes was looked upon as a failure to read the road well enough, unless a rabbit or squirrel demanded extra retardation. Thus wafting along played no part in my initial Morgan ideals.
Touring came about as the result of my good lady suggesting we drive the Mog down to LeMans for the 24hrs...!!! "But,but, but...that is nor what a Morgan is designed for my dear, and we usually go sailing in June"...Yeah well Le Mans it was.
Much to my surprise with a large case on the rack storage space behind the seats and passenger footwell all loaded with my good lady`s essentials, I even found room for a grease gun, a few tools and spares. In truth I would have confidence tht the old +8 could repeat the process tomorrow if asked, though I suspect the limitations would be all mine and not the Mogs..
Sad to read that more modern Trad derivatives may lack storage to some degree for the sake of a hood that is easier to make use of or whatever other luxuries might be required to match the expectations of modern-day Morganeers..
As I have typed previously I suspect the few older Morgan types who may have been happy to apply their spannering skills in a bid to reduce the effect of foibles built into Morgans, may have..err.. matured and suffered a change in their Morgan priorities which once were to modify it to be faster, stiffer and stop better, and may perhaps have for the last ten years or more, been looking for softer springing, comfy seating, even air conditioning and wider doors to make access and egress a tad easier for their their more portly/stiffer selves, all of which seems like a natural progression..?
For those new to the Morgan scene who were perhaps a tad more youthful being in their late forties or so, my guess is their expectations of a Morgan would match that which their elders have now created, and be somewhat different to my own Ideals when I wondered "Which Morgan" all those years ago.
Given my total lack of knowledge of the CX other than that which I have read here, I make no judgements in terms of comparisons between it and the Trad, and freely admit that I can not enjoy my old +8 as once I did as the result of advancing years, but still would not wish to have all those extra comforts in my old Mog given the degree of my Luddite tendencies and vintage preferences for it.
I suspect if the Morgan ideals of my younger self could have been allowed to evolve much as others seem to have, and were the MMC`s built quality matching that of Porsche, I might just have been tempted to buy an Aero 8 tin top for my modern sports car enjoyment in the colder wetter weather often "enjoyed" hereabouts... However that was not to be for somewhat obvious reasons..?
As ever each to their own ideals..
