Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms Car Market in 2017

I think in this day in age, theres a forth dimension; branding.

I don't think car company preoccupation with branding is limited to this day and age.

Nor is the resultant customer preoccupation with the 'status' projected by their choice of car. For a huge number of people, you can replace 'interesting' in Tim's triumvurate with 'status'. Against this sad reality, no wonder most manufacturers have given up trying to make interesting cars when they can just add another daub of status to what they already offer

Not quite fair! They're no worse than many I can think of and probably a darn sight better than many more

Unfortunately the brand obsession has produced a Russian doll range for each brand, which has stifled innovative styling. Especially when they start to use styling cues from rival brands.

Don't we all on here have a little bit of seeking status due to the car's rarity?

I'm not sure that rarity delivers status, unless it's very top end stuff.
The rarity we enjoy is due to the incredibly small niche. A car which is expensive but at the same time has no frills. I don't think many people buy Morgans just for status.

Although obviously a bit of status does also fall out of the bag.

It's not about status it's about reliving the past and enjoying the way things use to be warts and all - those that do buy for status have been and gone on this forum within months .

That is the beauty of these cars they only attract good will and friendliness towards them as they are status less and everyone smiles when they see one.

I am talking about the traditional here as they are the only one's I have experience of and reaction too in my relatively short 13 years of ownership.

As an aside most Morgan owners grin whilst driving but you check out a few of the status car drivers and for some reason it appears that they have a 6" nail stick up their rear end mostly they wear a grimace and never smile !

The strange thing about the perceived status of any car is that as far as I can see it's almost entirely in the eye of the owner rather than the observer.

We buy Morgans because we value the tradition, the character, the ethos, whatever - but to most people we're just mad old buffers driving wonky old bangers. That's why we get such a positive response, most of it's amused sympathy

It's the same with practically every other 'status' brand you can think of - the popular view of them is usually a great deal more negative than the owner might like to imagine.

The only cars that sustain malicious damage to them down here are the perceived status brands, the worst case I have heard of in Dartmouth was a Ferrari got walked over front to back one night during Regatta weekend.

Beamers the Star cars and the 5 rings get regular treatment I'm sorry to say.

Blimey. The provisional wing of the Wurzels.