After a frustrating time waiting for the DVLA to complete the reg.no. transfer, we finally got our hands on the new Roadster, just in time for the weather to turn decidedly wintry and it has remained indoors ever since! (No apologies for the garage - it's the "lived-in" look!) Comparing this car with the three previous 3.0L Roadsters, it seems to be a much better developed package with the Mustang engine, rather than the adaptation of the engine from an SUV. The improvements I have noticed so far include the drive-by-wire throttle, the race style pedal box with no pedal rubbers to continually come loose, and the indent to the right of the throttle pedal, no doubt as a result of the narrower footwell. The gear change is a huge improvement although it has a very narrow "gate". The side screens come with a drain hole ready drilled in the front corner and there is the rubber channel to keep the side screens from being sucked outward at the top. There is an additional horizontal Tennax faster for when the hood is folded to stop it flapping about. Two bonnet props are standard fitting. I'm still not wild about the instruments and the clock has a different colour of blue lighting to the main dials. According to the latest Morgan Trad. handbook, the fuel consumption readout is still in miles per US gallon so that it shows only 83% of the real mpg! Two tripmeters and range to empty are also useful parts of the display. The power steering is very artificial in feel with almost no self-centring and, while it makes slow speed manoeuvring a doddle, time will tell if I get used to the "feel". So far, it has been driven very gently (less than 200 miles) but already it is clear that there is enormous torque. If only the weather would improve!
This is a lovely car -- many happy miles in her!! --- I see though that they still persist with the silly flap on the outside top of the sidescreens -- flaps out with the wind and lets the rain in at the top of the sidescreen. I've had some "chat" with the factory about this as it is really silly IMHO. I have sewn a piece of velcro onto the front of the flap and this mates with its comrade velcro on the front of the screen surround. Takes a moment to affix when the door is closed and then keeps the flap tethered to the car.
It would be quite easy to lengthen the front of the hood rail and attach the flap to this, but -- despite some noises that they would "lookat it" nothing seems to be forthcoming!!!
300ft/lbs of torque, summer tyres, salt on the roads and it's snowing - that's why it's staying in the garage for the moment! In my defence, I usually cover in excess of 10k miles p.a. in my Morgans. Don.
Really lovely colour combo, I am sure when you really get to drive it you will love it even more. Like the mag alloys, really suits the car. Once you get used to the responsiveness and the torque you can drive it quite sensibly. It took me several hundred miles to get the feel. Have fun.
Adrian
Buggered Off, to a modern none leaky car, heart's still ticking
Your best one yet, a real beauty, love the colour contrast, blue metalic against sand weather gear. What a shame about the registration delays, there was so many Morgan days in October and November. I know you will catch up though when the weather breaks.