Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Daily use

Does anyone use a Morgan as a daily driver? I have had conflicting advice about this from different dealers.One said that a shabby 1970s 4/4 would be fine as a daily car (brakes worried me mostly to be honest). Another dealer said a new 4/4 would not be able to cope with daily use (eg 25 miles a day every day plus half a dozen big trips a year; total annual mileage about 8,000) and would wear out very quickly as they're pretty fragile really, especially in relation to chassis, wood, body etc.

who's right and what do I buy? Thanks

Monty

Which dealer said that about a new car, Stratstone????
There are a number here who do use their cars as daily transport - start with Jeremy, WR14 2LL...
And on older cars, so long as the brakes are maintained (and you get used to no servo) there's no problem with using one on a daily basis.

Cheers,

Thanks Graham. That's really helpful and kind of you to respond. Appreciated. Monty.

A chap at work bought a 6 month old 2001 4/4 lowline and ran it every day for almost 10 years. This was in all seasons and he covered 8k each year. His only repair was when something became dislodged in the petrol tank. The indigo paint stood up well.

He stopped using it every day because it wasn't terribly good on his back.

He paid £24k and I understand sold it for £17k.

I forgot to say that he is an accountant and not a massive Morgan fan but liked the car because of the very low running costs.

Until my Land Rover was recommissioned, my 1972 4/4 was a daily driver for three years. It was last rebuilt in 1996 and was used as a high days and holidays car until June 2008 when the Land Rover came off the road. For the next few years, to July 2011, when the Land Rover was finished, the Morgan was used for everything, Tescos, commuting, trips to clients, parts barge for the Land Rover, the lot! Before you think the Morgan was babied, it did between 15-20k miles a year for the three years.

My Morgan is now in a sorry state, but it has done over 100,000 miles since the last rebuild, (and Kent engines get a bit breathy). and will be put back on the road sometime.

The brakes were the least of my worries - the lousy quality of reproduction points was the biggest problem. Electronic ignition might be a good idea, but I can fault find points with a circuit tester, file and feeler gauges.

A modern Morgan will be fine, but the mileage may monster the value, if you want to sell it after 2-3 years.

Brilliant. Thanks guys. I wouldn't plan on wanting to sell it after a couple of years. I'd like to keep it and let it decay gently along with me over the next thirty years.

love the accountant story. Residual value is the only way i can sell the project to 'er indoors, who is entirely unsympathetic but good naturedly resigned to the enterprise.

Posted Previously. Do it and don't look back!

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.

Great stuff. Thanks for your input and your interesting stories

When I was working I would love to have had the opportunity to have a Morgan as my Daily Driver.

Latterly, I was doing around 40K a year which would have been absolute Bliss .

If I had the need I would use my 76 4/4 as a daily driver, the brakes are fine (and simple/easy to maintain) and the engine is very capable/solid (as used in some Escorts/Capris). In fact all Morgan engines come from cars designed for daily use and high mileage.

I am shocked about the dealer comment - name and shame!

Many on here use their's daily and love it. I would love the need to use mine daily.