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

Well, good point, but bonkers cars??? Maybe the owners...
As someone else posted, try as many different cars as you can.
The right one will pick you

Not a Morgan dealer, surely...? It's a car and designed for only one thing. As has been said elsewhere on here - use it. If it breaks, repair it; when you are tired of it, sell it. Above all, do not keep it in top notch condition simply for the benefit of the next owner. [/quote]

That's a good point... My previous 'classics' I avoided going out if there was any chance of rain.. But now I've changed my view on it, realising that I could be dead and gone leaving a spotless car in the garage. I'm still fussy as anything but I reckon the cars got more years in it than me and so I drive it whenever I can. The next owner will have to sort it out for themselves!

Good philospohy Steve. My dad died suddenly a year ago aged 66 (it would have been his 67th birthday today). He never had any money but was insistent that I should buy a Morgan because I can. He would not have understood the rationale of sticking the car in the garage if the weather was wet. If you're spending on it, use it.

That's how I treated my previous car (Caterham). Ridiculous or what? When I bought the Morgan son No.1 said "For God's sake, dad - drive it more!" And that's what I have done. Just returned from an MSCC local centre (Cranmog) trip to Colditz (via Mohne Dam, out; and Arnhem, return). 15 cars, all of which performed perfectly throughout the c.1400 miles . Brilliant trip! For those of you who read "Miscellany", there may be a report in the next edition. Out again tomorrow in this glorious warm weather...

Sorry about your father. I am 67 now and I share his opinion. We have racked up 26,000 km since March 2012 and intend to do another 5,000 km in September. We will probably be close to 35,000 km by the car's 3rd birthday.

Monty - I don't want to get too maudlin about this, but same happened to me. The old man went suddenly at 69 (and his father at 58!) so here I am at just turning 67 thinking "bloody hell, let's get on with life...!" But to go back to the start of this thread - have no unreasonable fears; these are robust cars and are meant to be driven. They have their quirks, but don't be intimidated by problems you may read on this forum. These are admittedly real issues reported by colleagues who need help, advice or reassurance but, of course, those who have little trouble with their cars don't report it. So far, I am one of those.

Bonkers or not, buying Rosie was one of the best things I ever did in car ownership, and I have owned many over 35 years. I have had great fun driving her and enjoyed tinkering, upgrading and improving, yes it's quirky, but that's a Morgan and part of its appeal. I must be truly bonkers because I am buying another for more money.

Be bonkers and buy one

Hi Monty

Sorry, I've been slow to pick up this post...

YES, daily use is possible. Drove my 2009 4/4 Sport approx. 330 days in first year. Will be about 300 this year (had a little "off" recently, no mog for 6 weeks = hell).

15-18,000 miles a year. Me+Mrs+6 bags of Waitrose shopping or 2 overnight bags perfectly possible. Drive in ALL weathers bar snow.

I would NOT go for a 70's Mog - but I am a mechanical idiot, so don't let that put you off. I think it's worth an extra £10k ish to go for a 4/4 Sport 2008-10 vintage. Little 1.6 Sigma is good (and mappable ) but you should consider Suplex suspension aftermarket upgrade as it transforms the handling.

Chassis = galvanised (not with 70's versions usually), wood is cuprinol'd and a Ford engine should be good for 150-200k miles if serviced every 10k or so.

Others will (probably have already) sing the praises of 1.8 Duratecs and Roadster 3.0 or 3.7s - but you'll be paying much more.

Anyway, as others have said, "go for it". We're only here once and I love my mog - my only car.



Jeremy

Hello there,
vMog is my only car and I'm proud to say I use it on a daily basis

Of course it has its drawbacks, especially under the rain, but it is quite little compared to the happy face I instinctively put on every time my hands are placed on the wheel.

I had the same philosophy on my previous car, which was a 1967 MGB.

vMog is a youngster compared to my former car, but it has already covered almost 5000 miles since I first drove it last December, without any significant issue.



Sincerely,
Vladimir

Well put Jeremy.

I had a 4/4 Sport and had a little altercation with John B R a celebrity chef who lives v close to me when he is not running his chip shop in London Village. Short story long 5' grass verges in a Devon Bank single track lane has only one result. He was in a 5 ring alrad and the Vorsprung certainly beat the crap out of the Ali Sport and it twisted the chassis and destroyed the front suspension. I felt absolutely nothing of the impact then or subsequently so the thing I learn is that the Ali is a deformable structure as such impact absorbing. The reason I say this is to encourage you to get one - mine like Jeremy's was a 2009 and supplied from the same dealer, we had our altercations within the day or two, very close mine is called Henry and you know his by now.
Mine was declared a Cat D write off and the agreed value paid by Headley/Hiscox within 10 days most impressive. So I'm on the hunt I previously had a +8 and found the Sport far more lithe and as quick over a given route - try one it hasn't got all the extraneous INMHO shiny stuff hanging off it, great if you enjoy polishing I don't each car was polished twice in the 5 years of tenure, it was launched in the Centenary year 2009 as they realised they needed a model that would take them back to where their roots were - light efficient and nippy Mileage 25,000miles in each of the cars with year round driving over a 10 year period, just enjoy it, good luck with your choosing.

Cheers.