Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) How much do you use your Morgan ?

So can you really commute and live with one, all day every day?

Oh yes, certainly can with a Sigma engined version. As long as you don't put it into a ditch of course.

15-18,000 miles annually (my 09 4/4 has gone from 28k in Aug 12 to 54k in May). Still at 54k but she should be back soon...

Jeremy

Yes, you definitely can do the commute and the shopping. I'd not recommend it for a family of course, but the parcel shelf is ideal for 3 or 4 well packed bags.

The major problems with weather is the roof leaking of course. They all do that, don't they? The footwell carpet has had a good few soakings, but has dried well and is still the original so no damage done. There are a few water blemishes on the leather sill but I've found a good solution is neutral rather dubbin, the sort I used to use on hockey boots. A coating once or twice a year does the job.

I've no idea why my kingpins have lasted so well. I don't look after them so I guess it's just blissful innocence. What you don'y know doesn't hurt you, right? (Yes, I know it's not that easy!)

Now I do tend to commute in wet wether in the Fiat though.

Jeremy - hope you get yours back soon!

I had a series of MGFs/TFs and always had a hardtop - they made a big difference to the car. Worthwhile for a daily Morgan?

I used my 1981 4/4 with 1600 crossflow in the rain / snow / ice of Washington State (USA) as my only car for three years. The car was new then, and I was single. I had the top up, and the side curtains on, quite a lot during the rain, which in Washington State is nearly all the time. I traveled across the US and back twice with the car, and did everything I had to do (commuting, shopping, dating, vacations, etc.) with the MOG during that time. Never let me down. It was easier, in those days however, to get in and out of the thing. Now it takes me a little longer . . . FYI my first set of kingpins lasted some 50K miles.

We have 2 Mogs used every day in all weathers and both have kingpins that lasted way longer than many expect.

I don't know if the parts of the USA where these cars live use salt on the road or not.

But I do wonder if the kingpin wear issue is due to lack of use?
The non hard chrome ones start to rust, then the rust wears away so wear rate is rapid.

So if used every day they don't get the surface corrosion that then wears of...

Just a thought

Must agree 58000 miles on a 2009 4/4 Sport, Add some remote grease points for the front suspension and grease after driving in the rain as well as a 1000 miles dry and she'll be good.
I'm working on a hard top for the winter, but with some work to the standard 4/4 Sport door tops and soft top they can be water proof.
Door top
1/ fit strap to top front of door top to stop it heading south at speed
2/ Neoprene foam sheet cut to shape, to inside of door to stop drafts and water ingress (poor mans leather)!
3/ Heavy duty M3 mushroom velcro to top of window and soft top where top of window meets.

Sounds like a lot but it stops water and the window top going south in the winter wind and at speed.

Soft top
only 1 tip
Duck tape, you will need a hole punch and a Stanley knife,
1/ Tape to top of screen, half on half off.
2/ Punching holes to lay duck tape flat at studs.
3/ Trim Duck tape from glass
Now the tricky bit
4/ With the remainder of the tape that sticks up, Stick to soft top Between the bolster and the front of the soft top, in a 90* effect, Not over the bolster because you don't want it visible from the inside.

Dry cockpit!!

But a hard top will be better!!

Jeremy hope you get here back soon.

Regards
Cain

Thanks Cain. Will need a set of bonnet stays when she's back . . .

Jeremy

Good luck with the hardtop Cain. Something I've thought about making so will be interested to see your progress!