Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) A question of choice

Hello there
As a new member im soon to be looking for a morgan as hopefully my current car goes this week, so the hunt will be on. Although im a little unsure of which way to proceed.
Just as a little background the car will be a daily driver all year round, although in reality will probably be 3 days a week 8 mile commute and then fun on top of that at weekends living outside, although will be covered.
In terms of Morgan prices im certainly looking at the lower end and have narrowed the choice to either a 2000 onwards 4/4 with the ford 1.8 engine or an older plus 4 1993 age with the rover T16 engine.
Im not a speed freak and will be driving normal country roads with A roads mix.
Although I like the wider look of the plus 4 the 4/4 has a nice classic look to it in my opinion.
Of members on here that have had both or knowledge of, I just wondered if there was an opinion- Ill mainly be buying on condition though but am currently leaning towards the 4/4.
Any opinions or info on either are more than welcome and much appreciated.
Thanks in advance
Tom

Hi Tom

For what it's worth I would advise trying as many as you can get behind the wheel of, identical specification cars drive differently, some colour and trim combinations will appeal more than others to you but the case for most of us who have bought a used Morgan is the inescapable truth that the car will pick you and you will be a quivering jelly in its powers until the keys are in your pocket.

Welcome to the commencement of a wonderful period in your motoring life, prepare for mega smiles per mile.

Good hunting.

By the sound of it then it will just be the car that feels right.
Im hopefully off to see one later this week which has been honestly described with a couple of little blemishes that they have sent pictures of and looks like it might be ideal. I'll just have to wait and see I suppose
Cheers

Tom as Colin said try as many as you can I starte d with a 4/4 then onto a +4 but a narrow bodied car as I liked the 4/4 shape with the extra power.

I agree with Colin the car has to choose you (a bit like choosing a wand!).

The only and probably wrong advice I have is related to it being a daily driver on country roads, a bright colour helps you be seen (also drive with headlamps on). I suspect that a 4/4 is a smaller target than the +4 so helps when two cars pass on a narrow road.

I would go for a modern ford engine which may be more reliable.

And lastly I find the Morgan somewhat challenging on icy roads and when it rains all the windows steam up unless I get the ventilation just right. (check your windscreen heater elements are fully working)

Welcome Tom to TM and as others have said the car chooses you. Personally, I would say think about how you want to drive the car and on what type of roads. If near to you there are lots of winding country lanes then a 4/4 might be more involving and fun and make you feel like you've given it a good thrashing when in actual fact it will be quite legal speeds compared to a normal tin top! If however, that's not your bag then maybe a Plus 4 is more for you. Try different ones and you will know.

Thanks for that
First thing i'll be doing whichever I get is fit some LED headlights I have which give better road presence like you I have my side lights on in any car/ lorry I drive. I used to drive a soft top series land rover all year round so am well practiced for steamy windows! haha
The point about the ford engine Is what I was thinking aswell personally, in that seem good little units.
I'll take this advice on board and try a couple first most likely then to see what seems the right choice for me.
Thanks
Roger agree again, lots of windy roads round here and want something fun to drive that is exactly what you say more involved without being a license looser.

TM, think of a Morgan like a pair of shoes. Some people on here have a Morgan for each occasion but most of us have to settle for one! If you're going to do some running you need running shoes, pottering around and loafers are probably better. I've driven a number of much more powerful Morgans and as much as I love them and would have them if money permitted for the roads that I mostly drive on and enjoy most the high revving 4/4 Sigma 1.6 does it for me.

Agree - the 4/4 sigma gets a wonderful gearbox to add in the mix of peppy-revving engine and nimble light-weight handling. Take some beating if your budget can reach that far.

One big thing I noticed on my first drives in Morgans was the mulfab bearing upgrade cars were heaven , the others were a nightmare as the steering was soooo heavy especially round rounderbouts !