Wales
by Joske Vermeule, September 1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums39
Topics49,867
Posts837,622
Members9,596
| |
Most Online1,063
Jun 14th, 2026
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 5,210
Charter Member
|
Charter Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 5,210 |
Very good trigger. My 1986 4/4 has been very reliable, it's never broken down and left me stranded, although I have had to do a couple of roadside repairs now and again.
Build quality has also not been too bad. All I've had to replace so far is:
Chassis
Engine
Gearbox
Radiator
Front wings
Rear wings
Bulkhead
Front Brakes
Front suspension
Rear suspension (springs & Dampers)
Fuel Tank
Differential
Bits of body tub woodwork
Windscreen
Steering Wheel
Dash Switches
Road Wheels
Head lights
Fuse box
Wiring
Hood
Floor
Gearstick
But apart from that, it's exactly as it left the factory over 30 years ago...  Tim, have you not though you could describe it as a 1986 continuation model and sell if for £3m? 
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 14,748 Likes: 158
Member of the Inner Circle
|
|
Member of the Inner Circle
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 14,748 Likes: 158 |
2012 Plus 4 Appalling suspension set-up and sagging rear springs before it even left the factory. Too much clearance between top of the centre of the scuttle and the bottom of the windscreen meaning a poor seal (Ses Jays above) Water entering from aircon condenser drain then under the ECU cover and thence through the cable grommet. Left hand mudguard and inner guard too far into the engine bay (about 4cm more than the right) Dash electronics burned out 4 times and ultimately replaced with a hardwired solution. Wrong radio supplied but replacement supplied free of charge. Wrong colour sun visors, but replacements free of charge. Steering cowel leather cover and trinket box not supplied but rectified the next day (while we were still at Malvern). Other than that I had a rather expensive gearbox problem out of warranty but that was not Morgan's fault. Also I completely upgraded the suspension but that was my choice and I am very pleased with the result. With the suspension, throttle bodies, bonnet scoop, and custom dash and instruments, the car is now somewhat changed from the original  Oh I forgot a few (in part reminded by some other posts: Rusty screws (no stainless) Broken screws - under specified for tool tray. Rusty steering column at exit from firewall Bad fit of rear hoop of hood to body (at left and right curve). Flapping hood over middle rail at speeds over 100kph (fixed by adding 2 small velcro straps. Left and right rear mudguards are a different width (Morgan body shop has yet to discover the ruler and the tape measure) After hitting every speed hump between Malvern and Lake Como I measured the unladen ground clearance under the gearbox crossmember when I got home: It was less than 9 cm which means that loaded it would have been less than 8 cm (a tad over 3"). No wonder that I nearly got hung up on some speed humps!!! This was not entirely fixed until I fitted the suspension mods front and back and 195/65 R15 tyres.
Peter ![[Linked Image]](http://bradley.it/public_images/drive.jpg)
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 431
Learner Plates Off!
|
|
Learner Plates Off!
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 431 |
Be interesting to see the Value for money curve against the vintage year - bearing in mind a plus 4 is now a tad over 50k in a decent spec and due to increase next year.
If they were 25 to 30k now i think they would be good value.
At 50k I would want stainless fittings on door handles, proper gauges and switch gear, steering cowls that are bespoke to the car, decent quality radio aerial (not out of a cheap car spares parts bin) leather that does not mark or wear so readily on the bolsters, decent carpeting that does not fall down in footwells, wings the do not crack around the headlight pods etc etc.
The thing is though despite the quality the cars are treamendous fun to drive and mine sticks to the road like glue.
But I cannot help thinking that cost against build quality the 70s/80s cars may have had more craftsmanship than today?
So perhaps an early plus 8 was the golden era?
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 15,794 Likes: 15
Formerly known as Aldermog Member of the Inner Circle
|
|
Formerly known as Aldermog Member of the Inner Circle
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 15,794 Likes: 15 |
.
I am not going to talk about the Coupe. I might cry.
The Aero Experience is "Character Building"...as I'm beginning to learn  But owning a mainstream car can be equally frustrating, without the camaraderie and friendly, if sometimes ineffectual, support from both maker and dealers. Overall, I think I'd rather spend £60K on a Morgan than a Mercedes...
Peter,
66, 2016 Porsche Boxster S
No longer driving Tarka, the 2014 Plus 8...
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 11,616 Likes: 43
Wave & smile... It's a Morgan Member of the Inner Circle
|
|
Wave & smile... It's a Morgan Member of the Inner Circle
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 11,616 Likes: 43 |
Funny post Tim
Love it
I have to say I’m impressed with the trim on this new 2008 4 seater Roadster, the quality of the upholstery and fitout of the interior is first class
So far (I have only driven 190 Miles in it) the only bit I’m not liking on the car is finding 1st and 2nd gear - is the Roadster gearbox a struggle?
2008 XXVII Platform, Bugatti Blue Roadster 4 Seater
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 987
Talk Morgan Regular
|
|
Talk Morgan Regular
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 987 |
My 1986 4/4 has been very reliable, it's never broken down and left me stranded, although I have had to do a couple of roadside repairs now and again.
Build quality has also not been too bad. All I've had to replace so far is:
Chassis
Engine
Gearbox
Radiator
Front wings
Rear wings
Bulkhead
Front Brakes
Front suspension
Rear suspension (springs & Dampers)
Fuel Tank
Differential
Bits of body tub woodwork
Windscreen
Steering Wheel
Dash Switches
Road Wheels
Head lights
Fuse box
Wiring
Hood
Floor
Gearstick
But apart from that, it's exactly as it left the factory over 30 years ago... Aka triggers broom
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 14,009
Member of the Inner Circle
|
|
Member of the Inner Circle
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 14,009 |
Funny post Tim
Love it
I have to say I’m impressed with the trim on this new 2008 4 seater Roadster, the quality of the upholstery and fitout of the interior is first class
So far (I have only driven 190 Miles in it) the only bit I’m not liking on the car is finding 1st and 2nd gear - is the Roadster gearbox a struggle? My gearchange has quite a heavy action.....manly I like to think 🤓. My only gripe is the very low first gear.
Jays
Former Morgan owner. Gone but hopefully not forgotten!
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 11,616 Likes: 43
Wave & smile... It's a Morgan Member of the Inner Circle
|
|
Wave & smile... It's a Morgan Member of the Inner Circle
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 11,616 Likes: 43 |
Funny post Tim
Love it
I have to say I’m impressed with the trim on this new 2008 4 seater Roadster, the quality of the upholstery and fitout of the interior is first class
So far (I have only driven 190 Miles in it) the only bit I’m not liking on the car is finding 1st and 2nd gear - is the Roadster gearbox a struggle? My gearchange has quite a heavy action.....manly I like to think 🤓. My only gripe is the very low first gear. Maybe I need to ‘man up’ on the low gears
2008 XXVII Platform, Bugatti Blue Roadster 4 Seater
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 22,366 Likes: 354
Roadster Guru Member of the Inner Circle
|
|
Roadster Guru Member of the Inner Circle
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 22,366 Likes: 354 |
It's a shame they didn't stick with the Getrag box on the later Roadsters. The gearchange is light(ish).
DaveW
'05 Red Roadster S1
'16 Yellow (Not the only) Narrow AR GDI Plus 4
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 7,435 Likes: 122
Talk Morgan Guru
|
|
Talk Morgan Guru
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 7,435 Likes: 122 |
I liked the robust feel of the 3.0 Roadster gearbox shifts after running in a bit talking the Transit box. It seems also to be rev dependent how smooth a gear goes in. First and second gear is anyway not so much a source of joy because both gears are too short in relation to the light weight of the car. You can help the smoothness of shifting if playing with the revs a bit and make use of the clutch pedal twice before shifting down.
I noticed also that this gear box needs more than 15.000 km before getting softer. Otherwise this Transit box feels strong and controlled in a positive way. Perhaps a gearbox oil change may help also.
'14 4/4 graphite grey
|
|
|
|
|
