As for modernising a Morgan away from the trad ethos that is what new to Morgan people want. Yes, there are many who like trads but that is an ageing, diminishing market.
I am moving to a Plus Four, picking the dar up on Thursday. The Plus8 is going. 70k miles of enjoyment and hands-on has given great memories. An MY23 car that ( fingers crossed) will mean less hands-on and continued enjoyment. Performance is as good as the old car ( no burble though) the auto still gives a kick in the rear that the 8 did.
OK, just test drives so far but they were enough to go by. Looking forward to many miles more. September Mogs at Windermere and Scotland from there again this year will be the first long one. The car won’t be a garage queen. Post Covid restrictions are over so catch-back planned. Only here once.....
I dont see a conflict between the old and the new. The old Trad stopped really being a sports car many years ago - the crude chassis saw to that. But if I go to my classic car club meet, , there are lots of them alongside other old cars such as TR3s, big Healeys etc plus members enjoying having them. Its simple . They are an old classic car.
Its less clear where the new CX ones fit. Bit of neither fish nor foul. They arent a sports car in the way that say an Alpine is, being dynamically challenged by comparison . Nor are they a classic since their only claim to this is a pastiche of 1940s styling. But they do hopefully offer a level of useability that the old Morgans dont. No get out and get under. No suspension greasing etc. Modern drivers have not grown up with hands on maintenance in the way that many of us have done.
Morgan had to change. They had drifted into a similar position to VW when they were still making the old Beetle. It was either change or die and even after change there is no guarantee since the age of interesting sporting transport is rapidly vanishing into an age of the cara as a domestic appliace. Where is the fun to be had when its nose to tail 20mph or 50 mph ( as in Wales) over potholes in something that sounds like a washing machine.
IMO the car years are rapidly coming to an end. Long term Morgan might remain as a brand name but not as a maker of "sports cars".
