Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Plus Four, Supersport & Plus Six (CX & CXV Generation Vehicles) Safety Recall - Brakes

Whilst I have only driven a CX demonstrator, my initial impression was the CX has lifted the standard of product for Morgans by producing a much better ride quality than the traditional Morgan, it felt a more complete car, with the potential to undertake long journeys in relative comfort and with ease especially with an automatic option in the line up. It was such a step change imho, I felt it was easily comparable to many modern convertibles from main stream manufacturers such as Mercedes, BMW, Porsche but clothed in a Morgan style skin. The quality of the interior e.g. the availability of air conditioning, a relatively sophisticated sound system (for Morgan) re-enforces the main stream product type expectation. I could have just as easily been driving the wife's Mercedes cabriolet when in the CX it felt such a step change when jumping straight out of a trad into the CX.

As I made that mental comparison of the CX to most modern cabriolets, the realisation that there are no electric windows, no electric hood, the cockpit is not entirely guaranteed to be waterproof, there's limited storage space for luggage, no boot to secure personal effects out of sight, not a great deal of cabin security. limited servicing and repair network usually work has to be booked weeks in advance because of limited capacity and so on with a pretty step purchase price, When one looks at safety, many cabriolets have considerable rollover protection, a proliferation of airbags, and lots of driving aids from traction control, to brake assistance to collision avoidance intervention. I was left wondering what are the advantages of a CX over other cabriolets?

To get the totally open motoring experience, you have to stop the car get out take the roof down manually, remove the side screens and find somewhere to put them so they don't get scratched or damaged and the exact same reverse operation should it start to rain. Whereas in most modern cabriolets you just press a button and it all happens in seconds rather than minutes and all from the comfort of your seat often whilst still on the move and for in some cases for much less money. With places to secure your coats, luggage and personal effects securely from prying eyes and so on. And then for a new Morgan buyer, it seemed less of a compelling product, its traditional look being the only really distinguishing feature with a considerable number of compromises in its use. I understand why many trad Morgan owners have bought a CX ,as it is a more complete, easier to live with product but not quite so sure of its enduring appeal to young buyers with so many other equally or more compelling products to choose from. Can the cache of being hand built, carry or justify the product, to the throw away society. When it comes to saving the planet, there's eg no stop/start of the engine in traffic, even the humble Mercedes cabriolet now comes with an electric motor assistance to allow much smaller less polluting engines to be used and there's a clear range of EV products in the Mercedes brand to attract and create brand loyalty quite early on.