Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms why trad rather than caterham?

With both - the older I get the more the plus 8 appeals and the passenger can enjoy it rather than just being scared rigid.

Would the Caterham require less home maintenance, no grease points or checking for loose bolts etc, like the Morgan. ? And only really require the dealers service once a year maybe ..?

A Caterham is simply too small in the road traffic. She is a track toy, I rented one 12 years ago for a weekend and then I decided to buy an Elise. That was after I had some disappointments with my first Mog, a 2005 Roadster. But I missed the high emotional drive with the Mog and a year later, after purchasing the Elise, in late 2008, I bought my second Morgan. Since that time I never was Mogless. For some reason I don‘t know I still have the Elise but I will sell her coming spring. Not because she is not thrilling but because I really must sell some cars.

The Elise can be boring when just cruising where the Morgan is in her element. A caterham was out of decision because I felt she has no reserve at all if a crash should happen especially a side impact and I very often had one of my then younger kids with me.

The rented Caterham, on the other hand, gave the feel of a very good workmanship and I can understand everyone who wants her.

Craig, as far as I know a Caterham needs not more maintenance than any other more modern car regarding the suspension.

For me the Caterham is built for speed whereas the Morgan has style, is more comfortable to drive and be a passenger in and you can carry a reasonable amount of luggage. My Plus 8 is plenty fast enough for anything other than on track (which I don’t do). My nephew had a Cobra recreation which he sold when he married my niece, he replaced it with a Caterham, niece is a car enthusiast but she hated it and eventually he switched back to a Cobra recreation. If any passengers complain about getting wet in the Mog they should try a Caterham in the rain, at least water doesn’t come up through the floor of a Mog!

In the dream garage of course there’d be both..

I have had the pleasure of driving a few Caterhams on different corporate track days and have been amazed by their ability and agility on the track. However for my style of road driving I think they’re too fierce and would likely become a bit of a pain on the road unless conditions were just right.

Although I’m still waiting delivery of the Mog, I think it will be much more appropriate for my style of road driving, which is laid back 90% of the time but sometimes if the road and conditions and mood is right, would be to “get it on”.

For me, if my intentions were more track based I’d have got the Caterham but my plans are essentially 99% road based so the Morgan was the choice that satisfies both heart and head.

When I win the lottery tomorrow though, I’ll get the Caterham too

It’s the swan and the ugly duckling- that never grows up.

I think you hit it on the head - track days to exploit the 7 or very frustrating on the public roads. You could draw a little line and place cars on it. Crazy track day stuff at one end and Driving Miss Daisy at the other.

KTM X-Bow and Ariel Atom at one end, the 7 a half notch in from that and then through sports cars etc. I see the Trad as much more fun on the road at normal speeds. They can be compared as they are both so iconic and represent the brands values so well.

We are at risk of re-inventing the Top Gear cool wall, that would be a bit of fun.

If I had unlimited funds and unlimited space and unlimited time I'd have a Seven and an Atom in my fleet.

But I need my cars to fulfill a purpose beyond a Sunday morning blat, and I'm not bothered about track days, so......

Very accurate description.