How I came to MorganNearly 4 years ago, I thought seriously about ordering a +4SS. I didn’t go for it for a few reasons; the roof was too fiddly, the engine mapping was suspect and the suspension was a bit wild for me. And there was no colour choice for the interior. I wasn’t ready.
Today, I ‘manned up’ and took delivery of my first ever Morgan from Henry at Berrybrook. Jays has been super helpful, keeping an eye on my car as it went through production.
Yes, the mystery primer grey or dove grey ARP4 is mine
I drove around 200 miles back to East London via the A30 and A303 and lunch with some friends at a country hotel in Honiton. I had the roof down for 2/3rds of the way, until it got too cold for my soft London sensibilities. Am very delighted with my new toy.
First impressions.It’s loud, and very loud at higher revs. It surely cannot be legal. There is no way it would pass a noise test on a track day, even a 105 dB day. Between 3k and 4k rpm in 2nd or 3rd gear, it’s boomy. I have not taken it past 4.5k rpm, but it really wants to go past there; may be more so than I do. The music that is makes varies throughout the rev range, changing in tone, tune and volume. It’s endlessly amusing. Once I get to the higher rev ranges, it will be like really getting the orchestra going rather than just listening to them tune up ..
It farts and bangs sometimes, depending on how your foot is interacting with the accelerator. I wonder if it is contrived like modern cars, but it feels ‘natural’.
spot the AR shiny bits highlighting the black tips ☺
As has been said, it needs revs. Low down, it can feel gutless and lethargic unless you are in a gear lower than I would expect. Having said that, the car is still new, the engine is barely run in, but you can feel its athleticism and breeding. It just needs to be let off the leash bit by bit. I may be imagining it, but you can feel the pedigree of the Cosworth engine, especially with its slightly impatient and sometimes a touch erratic idling.
I have unassisted steering. Moving off is a touch heavy, not unmanageable; not surprising as I am used, like many of us, to power steering. Once on the move, it is talkative, but not like someone you wish would just shut up. Weighting improves at speed, but I have been surprised by how much effort is needed in tight corners and medium speeds. Overall, it seems a great rack, it’s alive and it has bags of personality. I am so looking forward to getting to know it.
The suspension is firm, less compliant and more crashy than my GT3; but not uncomfortably so for me. By the time I got to London, I had tuned my head to ignore the sounds and not to worry about the flex, creaks and groans, and get on with it; this is not a modern car, but it’s not ancient either. With such an attitude, it feels perfect.
All of your senses partake in the experience and motion of driving, but it is not a chore, nor is it annoying. On the contrary, it’s demands your attention, you must interact with it, coax it and work with it – a bit like getting a teenager to do your bidding. A real sense of achievement when it starts to work.
I don’t know what firmness my dampers are set to, but I think they need to be 1 or 2 clicks softer. It may also be that tyres and everything else is new and needs settling in, like I need to settle into it too. I will leave everything as is for now, and see how it feels in a few weeks and with more miles in it.
I love the snug interior. It’s beautifully made with quality materials. The let down is the plastic handbrake handle. The seats are perfect for me. I got out after 160 miles and felt absolutely fine. No aches, no numbness, no sores, nothing.
The aluminium trim covering the gearbox tunnel gets warm ☺ The tips of the corners which look dangerous are in fact rounded and not sharp. It won’t harm you.
Roof up, refinement is very impressive – there is some wind noise, but refinement is far far better than I expected. There is material (felt?) of some sort underneath the mohair. The roof is beautifully constructed; it works very well, and it feels of very high quality. The 2 catches on the rear of the roof to allow access to the ‘boot’ feels hewn from solid. I am so very impressed. Truly superb.
Paint quality is outstanding too. It is just excellent. As good as any paint from any manufacturer. I met the painter of my car at the talkmorgan factory day. Very well done MMC.
I have to say that the quality of the car overall, the materials, the workmanship and the sturdiness has exceeded my expectations. I sense that it is all put together carefully by folks who care about what they are building. There are few niggles, but nothing major ..
A 3cm section of the chrome ring of the clock seems slightly pitted .. not sure whether it just needs a good rub.
More seriously, the engine light came on when I was driving through Twickenham and dealing with the traffic from the rugby. I ‘rebooted’, but the light remained on. The car felt normal (albeit slightly grumpy from the constant stop/start), and having interrupted Sean at Berrybrook (he advised me to continue), I continued the 20 miles home with no problems. Light remained on just before I switched off the engine tonight.
That’s it, no other issues.
The LED lights are great, they throw out lots of light, and they work well. On high beam, it’s BRIGHT!
Does anyone know how many litres the fuel tank takes?
Some pics for your enjoyment. I love the fuel cap, and the ‘key’.
