Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Looking to purchase my first Morgan

Hello all

As the header says I am looking to purchase my first Morgan. I am looking to use it to supplement my current car and also for work which can involve long motor-way trips . Having looked around the dealers websites I think i would prefer to purchase a car privately . I am torn between the 4/4 and the roadster . I feel the roadster would be better on longer trips but am worried regarding the MPG and the road tax . Anyone advise typical MPG and what the tax difference is?

Im looking for a well kept example that will be reliable and have upto £27k to spend but dont tell the wife

Any suggestions and tips appreciated. Live in North Wales but travel nationally on business.

Regards

Traditional morgans aren't much fun on motorways. But don't despair I regularly drive my +4 from Amersham to N wales, I just avoid M ways & have found somer great roads.

My 1994 4/4 used to over 35 mpg with the 1.6 Zetec engine.

I would suggest you get the bigger engine where possible, especially if you are planning long M way trips.

Hi Perro

Must be nice to have that sort of money to spend, so you should be able to take your pick. I could only afford a 1986 4/4 with the 1.6 xr3 engine and 5 speed box. I regularly drive mine to work (140 mile round trip)using the M50 and M5, and keep at about 80mph whenever possible. It likes this as a cruising speed. I do go to 90mph, but it becomes a little strained at this speed. Still, there isn't that much that comes past me ! However, if I had the choice, I would go for the bigger engine for more fun on the twisty bits !

Let us know how your testing gets on.

Matthew

Many thanks for the replies . I have sold my vans and bikes to get enough to buy a good one . I have looked at several but havnt found the one yet . Will keep looking but they are in short supply unless you want to pay dealer prices, I would prefer to buy off the owner you get a feel for the cars life that way. If your ever up in North wales john Give me a shout kettles on

I've covered 1000's on miles in many diffrent Morgans over the years and motorways have never been a problem.

I would recomend that if you havn't driven a Morgan before you go to a dealer and have a test drive in one or both models, your looking at, just to get a feel of what you want, as driving a Mog is quite a diffrent experance to most cars, you either love them or hate them.

If you do buy from a dealer, you might pay a bit extra, but you will have a car that has been looked over by experts in the marque, with a warranty, that may be an advantage if your planning to put a lot of miles on the car.

Good choice, Perro ...and welcome to this community

Driving a Morgan on a motorway is OK, but not more than that. There is definitely much more fun on back roads.

Having had my Roadster since about one year, and 12000km, my average consumption settled at around 9 l/100km. This is with - driving, (the word "enthusiastic" has been used in this forum ) but very little mileage in town. In my opinion that is more than you can expect from a car with such a performance.

For longer trips, with "reasonable" constant speed, the consumption is even better. Not much pleasure to drive a trad at high speeds anyway....
Good luck, and please, keep us informed

Salut from Luxembourg,
Ivo

Perro,
Why limit your choise to 4/4 and roadster? I went for the Plus-4. I dont regret it. With 145 bhp it is a fun car to drive. I normally do 85 to 90 on the motorway but it cruises equally happy at 100+ mph. Dont know how fast it will go yet but motorway use is not a problem. Driving on the smaller roads is a blast. If you keep it on the boil a bit it is very fast. Maybe not as relaxed as the roadster, more gearchanges required probably, but big smiles and last but not least, I have averaged 38 mpg so far. Go test drive is the best advice.
Good luck, JT

Thanks JT thats good advise . Never thought it would be so hard to find a good one only 26 nationally on autotrader not much in my local dealer . Will keep looking heading to Bristol then London to look at some

Regards

Perro

Perro, have you considered a 4/4 Sport?

Morgan 4/4 Sport Info

Some pictures of the 4/4 Sport

And a thread with discussion about it and also more pictures

Look at the used section on the MMC website - updated regularly, covers all the dealers from all over the UK. Also consider ringing dealers and letting them know your requirements.

A year ago I bought my first Morgan - a 2005 4/4 for a very good price, in pristine order, low miles, from a dealer (Berrybrook - 300 miles away from me!) and am very pleased that I did so. It came serviced, MOTd, and warrantied - not that I have needed to use the warranty. However there was only one key and they happily paid for new keys/transponders and the ECU reprogramming necessary. A private sale would not have been less expensive, looking at the prices asked!

Nigel