Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) What is your, must have, in a Morgan +4 or + 8?

Why should 4/4 Mogs have different outfits than a +4 or +8?

Or Roadsters?

Not the same cars
I try every model on the little road.
The most fun on little road is 4/4 or + 4 narrow body
Roadster And plus 8 are wonderfull for cruising without using gearbox .
Aero fantastic on freeway

I agree. I just spent about 3500 miles driving a 2000 +8 and 1500 driving My +8 Bitsa on the long straight roads of Nevada, Eastern Oregon and Idaho as well as Eastern Washington. The +8 was the Morgan for these desert roads. In Western California, Oregon and Washington I would much rather have a +4. Now that 4/4's have almost as much power and agility as a +4 there is not much difference. NOTE: I have little experience driving a modern +4 or 4/4, but I do have a lot of experience driving the "60's +4 and a 2000 +8 as well as My +8 Bitsa which is very similar to the 2000 +8. I rarely shifted gears in the +8's. Mostly from 4th to 5th and back to 4th. I must be in the mountains to get use out of 3rd and than only briefly to pull a steep short hill. Driving multiple Morgans is like a golf bag with a 2 iron, 5 iron and a 7 iron. They all do the same thing differently.

I partially agree with Button. I have driven Sonora, Tiago and Emmets in the last couple of years on a 3200 mile drive through California and parts of Nevada. Unfortunately not in my +8 but a big engined Camaro roof down. I would have rather had the +8, the only 4/4 and +4 I have driven would have been far too slow.

I have driven all 3 of these passes in the last 3 years in My +8 and this year(Sonora Pass) in My friends 2000 +8. Hit a deer (Big Buck) on Emmets Pass in the hind leg. Some damage but did not stop Me, but I don't think the deer made it for very long (Cougars). These passes in California are exciting rides No matter what Car is used. A Convertible is Key so You can see the sights. They are awesome.

Go to You Tube. I made a movie on Sonora Pass a couple of Years ago called "Flog Mog". But the better movies are done by the Motorcycle folks. Great "Arm Chair Driving".

Far too slow for California speed limits?
Sir, you may have to use 2nd or 3rd gear too.

California speed limits are not more than normal U.S. A 4/4 will do fine anywhere in the U.S. On the straights the speed limit will control. In the Mountains the 4/4's nimbleness is the equalizer. If there is a downside to a 4/4 it is the lack of acceleration to pass in short distances. Than there is the skill of the driver. This is where it is at. A couple of weeks ago I was given a ride to the top of a mountain. Many, many switchbacks. The Driver was one of the top Morgan Racers on the West Coast. We were followed by a motorcycle. At the restaurant at the top the Motorcycle Guy asked: "Who is driving that Morgan, I could hardly keep up". It was an interesting experience and I was not thrown about the cockpit which would have been the experience if I had been driving. BTW: He was driving a 2000 +8.

I am normally fairly sensible but I saw 139MPH (honest and a little stupid) on the head up display somewhere North of Lassen National Forest (stunning) en route Mt Shasta. And by the way had to drive Ebbetts for the second time as both Sonora and Tioga were closed with snow the first Sunday in October 2015.

This road is straight for many miles and a good smooth road at that. But watch out for the Northern California Pickup Trucks. They have a lot of power and on the straight go to beat hell. Most are used to pull horse trailers and as many as 4 horses. That takes a 454 cu/in engine at least.