Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) ARP4 anyone ?

It would be interesting to know just how many of the British ARP4s have changed hands within the first year? I know of at least 3 personally, plus several like this black one and the Proseco one at Williams,. Whilst they are not exactly cheap now, they are much better value than when new. I should have waited before buying mine, and saved nearly £10k!

My feeling is once people put a few thousand miles onto the car and the engine loosens up, people will realise what cracking cars they are and prices will start to rise as demand increases. Hmm, maybe I should buy one of these 'bargain' cars and tuck it away warm and safe until the day. Trouble is I don't fancy black.....

Paul, I suspect that a number were bought by people who were taken up with the Cosworth name and were not previous Morgan owners.

A shame.....I’ve driven the factory demo car a number of times when it first came out.....and loved it. The only thing I dont like about the car’s design are the led lights!

A view expressed by a few others, but they don't half give good light, especially when the extra driving lights are used as well, they turn night into day.

One should never drive at night in a Morgan, as you lose the view of yourself in shop windows..

Shop windows add a certain dimension - but one must never be seen to be looking!

Personally I like the look of the LEDs. Juxtaposition of old and new. Same goes for the bits of underbonnet carbon fibre but can quite imagine its not to everyone's taste.

As Paul says the lights are great but switching off the driving lamps in a hurry at night can be a bit of a lottery. Its identical and close to the ignition switch!

Shop windows add a certain dimension - but one must never be seen to be looking!

Personally I like the look of the LEDs. Juxtaposition of old and new. Same goes for the bits of underbonnet carbon fibre but can quite imagine its not to everyone's taste.

As Paul says the lights are great but switching off the driving lamps in a hurry at night can be a bit of a lottery. Its identical and close to the ignition switch!

I owned a ARP4 for a year and was certainly glad to get rid of it.
Morgan advertised it as a grand touring car which it never was.
That was the main reason I bought one.
The ARP4 was an out and out racing car quite unsuitable for British roads.
I owned a +4 bought new in 2007 and was certainly a pleasant car to drive.
If you drove the ARP4 below 4000 rpm and lifted your foot off you got a very loud fart ( backfire) and below 4000 rpm there was a complete lack of torque so you were up and down the gearbox.
Perhaps some owners liked this, I certainly didn't.
I remember driving through Chard in slow traffic with a Police car behind me, the ARP4 continually backfiring. he overtook finally but gave me a scowl as he passed I think he must have been late for his tea break.
Morgan sold the car with a completely useless handbrake and even after the mod it still didn't work.
I could go on but the ARP4 had so many faults it's a disgrace that Morgan ever put it on the market.
One owner put his car through an MOT and it failed miserably with the defective handbreak.
I own a new Roadster 3.7 now and finely I have a car which is enjoyable to drive.

Hi Eddie,

Glad you love the Roadster. From what I've read I think you've hit the nail on the head in that the ARP4 seems to have been mis-represented by Morgan when it was introduced. I have posted previously about this (SS04MOG thread as I had a P4 SuperSport before the ARP4) and won't go over it all again. Suffice it to say drove both Roadster and ARP4 after the P4SS and couldn't get the ARP4 out of my mind. No question the Roadster is an easier drive (and felt faster) and more civilised. But if the ARP4 hits the spot little else will do.

Maybe this sounds a bit defensive and maybe it is. But after 3,000 miles with the ARP4 this year (since May) I haven't had a second thought about the decision to buy it.

Eddie is quite right, the Cosworth engine is a race engine, and needs a few thousand miles to loosen up and start giving its best, after 6000 miles mine is finally getting better and better, with stronger mid range torque, but coupled to one of the best gearboxes available, from the MX5, it's a pleasure to swop cogs - the ratios are just about perfect.

Admittedly, as Eddie knows, I have changed the silencer for a larger Caterham unit, so cruising is quieter, and I have removed the rear rivnut from the handbrake escutcheon plate, which fouled the handbrake cable when tensioned, it is noticeably better, but still won't lock the rear wheels when moving, but at least holds the car on a decent hill now. Thanks to Stefan for pointing out the offending Rivnut.

I'm treating the car as work in progress, like most new Morgans.

Bye the way, I have it on the highest authority that the black car is virtually sold, with the deal being completed on Saturday. Lucky chap or chapesse.