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Aug 24th, 2023
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 8,646
Needs to Get Out More!
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Needs to Get Out More!
Joined: Apr 2011
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I only wonder how many miles long a journey would have to be before the fun quirks of its design turned into irritating issues. At a guess somewhere between 100 and 200 miles. And before anyone rises in high dudgeon, it was about that distance for the Lotus and not much more for the Ferrari.
You are quite right, of course, Howard, that a Morgan trad suits a different type of usage than a modern tiptop. One of the things I really liked about my 4/4 was that it encouraged me to avoid the autoroute and to take the scenic route, discovering some wonderful places in 'La France profonde' which I would previously have missed as I whistled past on the motorway. "The road less travelled", if you will. So when we went, say, to the South of France, rather than blasting down in one hit in 7 hours, stressing in the traffic jams around Lyon, we'd stop off for two nights en route, the trip really being an integral part of the holiday. In any case, other than when touring, how many of us regularly use our 'toys' for journeys longer than a couple of hundred miles ?
Giles. Mogless in Paris.
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 11,861 Likes: 137
Scruffy Oik Member of the Inner Circle
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Scruffy Oik Member of the Inner Circle
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 11,861 Likes: 137 |
You have to admit that when it comes to longer journeys there is no substitute for the air con, cruise control, auto box and quietness of the modern large saloon car Been there, done it, couldn't stand the boredom. But I'll happily take the Morgan (or Defender) on long journeys. I'm definitely with you and Steve here. Long journeys in the Morgan are adventures to be savoured and enjoyed. There's nothing like putting in a week's worth of 300-mile days to really get in tune with what Morgans are all about. The only time I take a modern car on a long journey is for business, whe I have to be somewhere at a certain time and all I have to look forward to is a tedious grind down a motorway.
Tim H.
1986 4/4 VVTi Sport, 2002 LR Defender, 2022 Mini Cooper SE
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 766
Talk Morgan Regular
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Talk Morgan Regular
Joined: Aug 2011
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I do savour long journeys in my +4, I enjoy planning them and especially like overnights away from home. That walk to the pub or B&B car park the following morning, seeing her sitting their all ready to go maybe with a sprinkling of dew drops or the result of a little overnight light rain.....
Paul
Tuftie66
2008 Claret Red +4 Sports
2016 Mazda CX-3, Sport AWD.
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,879 Likes: 20
Charter Member
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OP
Charter Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,879 Likes: 20 |
You have to admit that when it comes to longer journeys there is no substitute for the air con, cruise control, auto box and quietness of the modern large saloon car Been there, done it, couldn't stand the boredom. But I'll happily take the Morgan (or Defender) on long journeys. I'm definitely with you and Steve here. Long journeys in the Morgan are adventures to be savoured and enjoyed. There's nothing like putting in a week's worth of 300-mile days to really get in tune with what Morgans are all about. The only time I take a modern car on a long journey is for business, whe I have to be somewhere at a certain time and all I have to look forward to is a tedious grind down a motorway. You must have a backside made of concrete! I did a 220 mile run yesterday, A1, M1, M42,M6, M50, A449. Took 3hrs 15 mins of sheer unadulterated boredom and arrived with an aching ar5e and left foot despite being in the panzerwagen. Its the speed limits that are the problem. They are far too slow for modern cars but the enforcement is impossible to avoid. Worse still there are large areas now where limits are being reduced from already silly low numbers to joke levels. Much of Bath, for example, is now 20mph. I wonder which council will be the first to re-introduce 5 mph and the man with the red flag. Not joking - somewhere some be-sandelled kaftan wearing vegan old woman will push for just that.
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,943
Talk Morgan Enthusiast
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Talk Morgan Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,943 |
AS I live in Western US, I must travel a minimum of 1,000 miles to enjoy many Morgan Runs. And then another 1,000 miles to return Home. 6 hour days are minimum for Me and My passenger. Interstate Highways are fast but boring. I try to plan My trips so these are avoided. Further the 18 wheel trucks have taken their toll on these roads. I notice that many of My old Morgan friends are buying Porsche Boxters. They are cheaper than a Morgan, fun to drive, and just push a button and the top goes up and it is dry and cool. The Miata I used in New Zealand was a delight and even without a power top it could be erected in seconds rather than minutes. What is it about Morgans anyway? It is the folks that own them.
Button
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,943
Talk Morgan Enthusiast
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Talk Morgan Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,943 |
AS I live in Western US, I must travel a minimum of 1,000 miles to enjoy many Morgan Runs. And then another 1,000 miles to return Home. 6 hour days are minimum for Me and My passenger. Interstate Highways are fast but boring. I try to plan My trips so these are avoided. Further the 18 wheel trucks have taken their toll on these roads. I notice that many of My old Morgan friends are buying Porsche Boxters. They are cheaper than a Morgan, fun to drive, and just push a button and the top goes up and it is dry and cool. The Miata I used in New Zealand was a delight and even without a power top it could be erected in seconds rather than minutes. What is it about Morgans anyway? It is the folks that own them. Naaah! This is not the real reason I own Morgans. I am a "wanna be road racer". It brings out the "Walter Middy" in Me!
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 21,868 Likes: 167
Roadster Guru Member of the Inner Circle
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Roadster Guru Member of the Inner Circle
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 21,868 Likes: 167 |
I am sure it is the new +8 that Peter J is referring to. He has one and a splendid car it is. I've ridden in it at some speed  and nearly bought the factory demo car until they sold it under me to a dealer. " Better" depends on your point of view. To me it's silly to think that sliding pillars and solid back axles of the Trad are in any sense a match for the technology of modern vehicles. But that isnt the point Of the Trad is it ? Its not meant to be a moidern car but to hark back to a previous era. It might have been a sports car then, but it isnt now. Its a liveable with classic IMO. Anyway, I thought that the +4 was a nice compromise that really hit the mark. I only wonder how many miles long a journey would have to be before the fun quirks of its design turned into irritating issues. At a guess somewhere between 100 and 200 miles. And before anyone rises in high dudgeon, it was about that distance for the Lotus and not much more for the Ferrari. You have to admit that when it comes to longer journeys there is no substitute for the air con, cruise control, auto box and quietness of the modern large saloon car  Preferably with someone else driving. Getting back on track, the longest journey we've done in the Plus 4 was from Fort William to South Yorkshire. This was seven and a half hours and we encountered every season en route. That was tiring, but enjoyable. What you should consider Howard, is a Duratec Plus 4 with a Mazda gearbox. That way if you want to throw money at more power you can have as much as you want. And not too much in the way of fancy electronics either.
DaveW
'05 Red Roadster S1
'16 Yellow (Not the only) Narrow AR GDI Plus 4
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Joined: May 2014
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Black Rat Charter Member
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Black Rat Charter Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 5,108 Likes: 56 |
What you should consider Howard, is a Duratec Plus 4 with a Mazda gearbox. That way if you want to throw money at more power you can have as much as you want. And not too much in the way of fancy electronics either. [/quote]
The Narrow body + 4 (if you can find one) the creme del a creme.
Keith
2013 narrow bodied + 4 Ruby.
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,879 Likes: 20
Charter Member
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OP
Charter Member
Joined: Jan 2009
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What you should consider Howard, is a Duratec Plus 4 with a Mazda gearbox. That way if you want to throw money at more power you can have as much as you want. And not too much in the way of fancy electronics either.
That had occurred to me. And if |I remember correctly there is someone on here that I met at Much Marcle and who has changed the throttle bodies and installed an ECU that he can play with using his own lappy. If I only had a memory I would know his name.
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,948
Talk Morgan Enthusiast
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Talk Morgan Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,948 |
What you should consider Howard, is a Duratec Plus 4 with a Mazda gearbox. That way if you want to throw money at more power you can have as much as you want. And not too much in the way of fancy electronics either.
The Narrow body + 4 (if you can find one) the creme del a creme.
/\ This! Spot on.  The apogee of the traditional Morgan in my view. And I consider myself unbiased because I don't have one (yet). Will hopefully trade one of my 4/4s for one when my Father has finished borrowing the '10 Sport...
Stuart
"There's no skill substitute like cubic inches."
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