Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) 4/4?

Well thanks guys, interesting to hear the feedback to my gut felt and honest findings after 14 months of Morgan ownership.

I no longer actually have a Caterham after having them in my life for 25 years so have no axe to grind now.
However there are some points made above that need an answer and reply as I feel they are off the mark.

First off I don't get this Caterfield slur, A Caterham and a Westfield are 2 completely different cars probably sharing as much DNA as a Morgan and a Moss Malvern.

I had 2 Westfields when I was younger, competing in the latter car and they are fabulous value for money and stacks of fun however they are not a Caterham.

As for the difference in owners re Morgan and Caterham? I'd say they are closer bonded and alike than you may think.
My new Morgan friends I made at the Cornerhouse gatherings are honestly so like the Caterham lads it's uncanny.

Good blokes with a love of retro Brit styling, the urge to be different, the happiness they get touring in the cars, maybe going to events and sipping a glass of wine when the sun goes down in the evening and having a natter when the show has ended for the day etc etc.

Caterham have owners as young and as old as any Morgan owners too, and from all walks of life, ranging from very well healed to buying a wreck and improving on it over time. However the love and spirit for the marque is equal.

As for the Caterham being cheaper? Well some are some aren't. However if you want an R400/R420/R500/R620 you'll be over 50k new and Morgan money certainly for used. Like Morgan they have good residuals but offer lead in cars at 25k to get more owners in.

I personally think they are over priced if I'm honest, my 1998 Caterham JPE virtually paid for my brand new 4/4 when traded in.

My point does remain stable though, even if it is the easy thing for Morgan owners to tell me "you don't get it", the car needs a bit of redesign to make it better.

My Mrs sadly hates cars lol, a bit of a bummer for her then being married to me as I've been through so many classics and sports cars now she's given up.

Yep, she agrees with you guys. She thinks Caterhams are for toolheads, she despises the Lotus with a vengeance, snears at TVR's and just can't say the words Zcars mini any more.

She liked the big old SL I bought once and thought I was a sod for selling it after two months.

So when I mentioned Morgan she was over the moon, a sensible car she may go out in.

Sadly though on the first run out in it at sensible speed I hit a subsidence hump in a road near us. I'd never really realised how evil it was in an ordinary car, or even the 7 and Lotus.

Well her arse lifted off the seat by about a foot and when it landed I got the look.
I did persevere with the car but found it truly awful to enjoy, even on slow 30 mph country blats, the Lotus with its roof off was far nicer.

They are all cars which the none motoring person would class as "look at me cars", and for me to carry that stigma I have to enjoy what it does.

That said, and I reiterate, small and sensible mods (which guys on here are already doing) would transform the 4/4. 5 link rear, bin the cart springs, tighten up the front end, new quick rack and that lovely blue 4/4 would have been a keeper.

I fairness, safety came in to it too.
Older and wiser I became aware of my mortality in the Caterhams, I really did feel safer on a circuit. I'd read of one too many guys in the club losing their lives in these cars and knew full well with my long stint in them my turn may be soon. OK any little sports car is vunerable but that 18 gauge piece of aluminium next to my hip was scaring me more and more. A side impact in that and it's game over.
I believed with half of sherwood forest in my Morgans doors I'd have a better chance, and also contrary to what people have said further up the thread I think the concept of the cars is similar to a point, hence me trying one.

Guys, my final point may ruffle a few feathers but I have to say it.

There is obviously not a love lost here for Caterhams and some other marques judging by some comments above, no problem either on my part.
It's expected in the "toy car" world lol
No love lost for Morgans on the Caterham site too, or Westfields for that matter (even though I know of at least 4 lads who own both a Caterham and a Morgan), same on the Lotus sites, no love lost for rival sports cars.

However on here I noticed there was no love lost for some of your own. My 80th (not mine personally) but the 80th range got some really harsh slating on here, as have a few more models when introduced I noticed. I've seen a fair bit of stick given to a few Morgan cars.

I don't seem to witness that as much in the Caterham and Lotus fraternity I'll be honest.

At the end of the day we all share a love for the unusual and that's probably why we all get along so well when we meet in person at shows no matter what we arrive in.

Cheers.

Just saw the fb announcement from Morgan dealer Flaving, that he "received the last 10 bespoke 4/4 1,6 for Germany". With it goes a nice picture of the ten cars in front of Flaving Unna.

I am curious, what comes next from the factory!

I’m guessing there are some frantic developments going on behind the scenes as all MMC will have to forward sell imminently is the Roadster and the 3Wer

And as others have pointed out, the Cyclone 3.7 engine looks like it’s coming to an end as well

Just reading the article in this months MOG mag about the Chinese Morgan dealer and they said the 4 seater was the biggest seller and they can’t get a road permit for the 3Wer.

The market and having products to sell is getting a bit tough all of a sudden

Nice picture Heinz...will soon become a rare sight?!!!

The big producers seem to be going hybrid route. Volvo in particular have declared intentions.
Surely it is inevitable that similar could be the direction for all?
Unless a highly efficient ice is released or hydrogen becomes an option.
How to fit a hybrid into a trad is a difficult one?

Deary me, have they ran out of paint too, what’s with the monochrome colours?

Poverty model 4/4 !

My thought also, ewn. I just copied the pic from the Flaving facebook account but I have no FB access. Perhaps one gets a higher resolution pic when logged in.
At least with a little fantasy I can see black, BRG and shades of grey, the last one in the left row could be sports grey or dove grey. But I also miss some light or fresh colours, even if my 4/4 is dark grey as well.

If MMC really wanted it, and if the donor accepts it, please try to get the Mazda engine. Anything else would change the character too much.
I can't imagine the 4/4 just dying. And I also can't imagine that MMC can afford to sacrifice this sales driver.

Are we saying that with all the contacts members of this group have and with all the visits and inside information that must have been gleaned over recent months that we really have no idea what the plans are.

Someone must know so get the thumb screws or alcohol out.

By the way, I think I was a bit unfair to the Lotus 7 style car owners earlier in this thread.

We're all the same really wanting something different and it's just a matter of where you want to be on the speed versus style spectrum and of course one can have some very fast Morgans on one hand and some very rattly and bad handling Caterhams on the other.

If I was younger, I might have been tempted by a Dutton B type.