Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Advice on purchase

I am currently looking at purchasing a 2011 +4 that has spent its life in Perth and has 10,000km on the clock.

What advice do current or past owners have on this model that I should look for and also tips on what performance I should expect. In fact anything on this model at all, except its lower numbers of louvres than others, and its inability to catch fish (Or for Eric any fish references at all)

My +4 was older and had the T16 engine so can't comment on the power. I expect if you now own a 4/4 you will find it has more go & especially torque.

It will be the same wider body as the +8.

Should be a nice car if in good nick.

The engine is barely run in. If it was a late 2011 build it probably has the Mazda gearbox, which is good. I'm not sure when the Mazda box went into the Plus 4.

Engine can be fairly easily tuned and if you are not worried about noise a sports manifold and exhaust would be the first thing to fit.

There are a couple of possible places where water can come in but since it never rains in Perth this should not be a problem. They can be fixed anyway.

Seats can be a bugger to slide but that can be fixed too.

2011 was the period when Morgan had poor quality rear springs so check ground clearance under the gearbox crossmember. 195/65 R15 tyres will give you 10mm more. A change of tyres should be considered just for the age anyway.

Decent dampers, as a minimum, should be on the "to do" list.

Its early m/ing spotted Perth just about to go up to the top end of Scotland and thought I would have a look for you . Bad nights sleep you mean Perth down under. Going for my m/ing coffee now.

John.....there's some Moggers up there at the moment doing the NW500 route. My sisters up there and bumped into them......she got one name Graham Cox, but of course she didn't ask if he was a TMer. I need to train here a bit more!

As Peter points out, make quite sure you have the Mazda gearbox. The Ford MT75 box of old nails fitted before that is quite the worst gearbox I have ever had the misfortune to experience.

Graeme, I am very pleased with my Sept 2011Plus 4. It has very very reliable and I am happy with how it performs.
I have added brake reactions bars on the front suspension to firm it up, and gone for the higher profile tyres to gain ground clearance. Just last year changed to hard chrome kingpins and apart from that just enjoy driving it.

Good luck with your search.

The radiator in that era of +4's is a known and regular fail point. Top hose outlet and overflow outlets snapping off (they are plastic and none repairable) are the main failures. An aluminium radiator is a one time fit and forget fix.

Front springs are very weak also (MMC moved to 110lb mains) and can soften to below that, again a pair of Mulfab 140lb front mains with his steering bearing kit is the best solution, the MMC steering bearing is rather small, can fail and the rubber shroud also grips the stub axle tube and gives a 'notchy' feel if it does.

All simple stuff and easily fixed, I love my 08 +4, best Morgan I have ever had!

M/ing had my a word of warning dont try I have SNR & JNR . When I am wrong I am wrong , when I am right I am wrong and when I say nothing I am wrong , then get doubly wrong for being quiet . More the other way round she has got you trained woof woof .









John.....there's some Moggers up there at the moment doing the NW500 route. My sisters up there and bumped into them......she got one name Graham Cox, but of course she didn't ask if he was a TMer. I need to train here a bit more! [/quote]

I'm just wondering if you would drive the mog top down in the heat of a Perth summer. In Spain I drove my ragtop with the roof up during the summer months but I did have aircon! BTW I'll be there early next year. Look out for a bloke with a Morgan cap!