Apologies if when using the Fiats to Ferraris as a comparison I might have appeared snobbish, for that was not my intention..
There have been indeed some very fine and expensive Fiats of the sporting variety, however I expect much of the emotional decision to buy a Ferrari might be related to it`s racing heritage, much like the idea of Morgan`s heritage and history of hand built craftsmanship that drew me into Morgan ownership.. Each to their own.
I too have driven foreign parts in hire cars, and grabbed the occasional pic to preserve the memory. I suspect many car enthusiasts given the choice would prefer to do the journies in their own classic, perhaps left at home for the sake of expediency..? I know I much preferred the sense of adventure that I felt when exploring similar foreign parts in my Morgan that I had previously driven in hire cars.
As for the possibility of breakdown... My Morgan being a carburettor fed Trad, was devoid of the degree of complexity to the extent that I carried my own kit of tools in the hope that my rudimentary mechanical knowledge could avoid dependence on others, at least up to a point. From a dull memory I only had to change one fan belt and replace a rubber fuel elbow, and not on the same trip, the latter should have been replaced by me due to it`s age..but then as my Mog was set up for touring I was able to repair it on the spot... Unlike my good lady`s 4x4 which had to be recovered over a fortnight ago 10 miles from home as the result of a wheel speed sensor kicking up all sorts of alarms and disturbing it`s digital programming to the extent it expressed it`s desire to be parked up and recovered... Fortunately I had reached an age where we had taken out breakdown insurance.
Having typed that almost three weeks later the 4x4 still sits at our house waiting to be picked up by flatbed and taken to the dealership now some three weeks after it broke down..... and for what... perhaps for just one sensor failing to provide the appropriate input to the ECU...? Changed days indeed.
