Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Who's was this ARP4 ?

I've never driven one but I know I'd like it, I love keeping the revs high, the only thing I miss in my Morgan is having the throttle pedal within reach of the brake pedal. i've yet to find a way to blip the throttle while braking for a downshift, esential when driving with the revs high, I suppose all traditional Morgans have the same pedal layout.

Or my S1 Roadster at £500!

It's to do with the year it was registered and the change in the way VED is calculated.
I think cars before 2001 are calculated on engine size and after on emissions.

The previous owner is on the forum and made his views clear as to why he swapped for a Roadster at the time.

I shall leave it to him to elucidate should he chose to.

Should have bought an S2

Should have bought an S2

zero on mine

I was the original owner of this ARP4 for the record. I traded it back in after three weeks and ordered a new Roadster instead - which I love to bits. Here is what I said on the forum at the time -

Lead in quote -
I believe I'm right in saying that there is at least one owner, on here, who has already swapped his car in for a Roadster, partly due to the lack of torque and a little because of the noisy silencer, but if this is not the case, I would be most interested to hear why it didn't suit.
My response -
"That was me! Your summary of my reasons for swapping are pretty accurate. The noise was too much, to the extent that I only tolerated driving the car when wearing my biking ear plugs! My first long drive left me with aggravated tinnitus which still endures after two weeks. The lack of torque worried me more, however, as I expect that whilst a different silencer may well address the excessive noise, will there be any improvement to the lack of low down torque which I loved so much from my Plus 8 and which I am now enjoying so much in the 3.7 Roadster?
Whilst the gearbox in the ARP4 is a delight, I was having to use it more than I anticipated just to get even modest levels of acceleration. Of course some may say that I have been hasty and should have waited longer for everything to bed down and for the engine to loosen up more. Maybe they are right, who knows.
What I can say, however, is that my needs are absolutely being met by the Roadster. It can be relatively quiet when I want it to be quiet, yet still keep me smiling with it's low +8 style burble, and when I want to turn on the gas it responds immediately, with or without a down change. And, most importantly, I do not have to wear ear plugs and my wife and I can have a reasonable conversation without shouting or slowing down. Some might say that may be a disadvantage!
I sincerely hope that either the dealerships or MMC can address the issues which have led me to change. I still love the look of the ARP4 and all that, on paper, it purports to be.
Anyway, the ARP4 launch last year was the catalyst for me getting back into Morgans again after a 9 year lapse and, for that alone, I am enormously grateful!
Happy days."

Anyway, to keep those who might be interested in the provenance of this particular car, Berrybrook eventually sold it to a petrohead in Glasgow who, importantly, and notwithstanding that this was to be his first Morgan, did his research before buying and knew all about it's issues ( lack of low down torque, handbrake etc), drove it all the way home and initially declared his liking for the car.
However, after about a month he offered the car back to Berrybrook. The reasons are not entirely clear as he stressed that he still liked the car. As he also drove a fast Porsche maybe he had his eye on another sports car, who knows. Shame really, as the car needs someone to love it for what it is and keep it! It is still a beautiful car.
A friend of mine bought a 2008 F430 Ferrari two years ago which had had 8 previous owners! He has since sold it, notwithstanding that he loves Ferraris! Some cars are for trading and not keeping, unfortunately.