Talk Morgan Forums Community Vehicle Talk (non-Morgan) Robin Hood Lotus 7 ?

The simplest way to find out the quality/drivability of a Lotus 7 lookalike is to drive one . The Caterham 7 they are all trying to emulate has been developed gradually since 1957 into a very fast and brilliant handling little car !

An LM Bentley subsitute?
Well the +8 would certainly cost less. Enjoy your "substitute"

Of course, this is the essence of why the modern trad Morgans are such excellent and popular cars. They provide the sensations of driving a vintage car, whilst having decent brakes and being quick enough for modern traffic, the whole thing without the hassles which apply to ownership of the genuine article.

Can't argue with that Giles

Apologies to the OP and others if straying too far of topic...?

Graham, my ending up in a +8 was all a matter of simple economics relative to personal circumstances prevailing at the time, and as I suggest in the text my +8 has "fitted the bill admirably"as a substitute and in so many ways. At the time for the sum involved in the purchase of my +8 I would have been fortunate to find a real vintage machine whose engine was in any way powerful enough to keep up with traffic, let alone able to get anywhere near the performance of a big ol Bentley on our country roads....

I had another hour in the saddle or so before arriving home and in that time I contemplated much in the way of an affordable substitute, and a Morgan seemed to provide the possibility of a true vintage feel behind the wheel without the probable costs in terms of purchase and maintenance of the real deal, after all I was not in search of a garage queen and good handling along with reasonable reliability were top of the list at the time in order to enjoy the country roads hereabouts mid week when they "used " to be much quieter than they are today..

Giles, you are circa 16 years too late for me in your astute assessment...

Quite by chance while at LeMans circa 2003 (?) in my +8, I met up with some guys who had driven their open topped vintage Bentley to the event from Ayrshire they told me the old girl was having tantrums and spitting her oil all over the palace thus requiring a considerable top up at almost every set of m/way services...! They then decided to abandon the motorway route and took to the back roads where it seemed the old girl was so much more content giving them no more bother for the rest of the journey to LM... Which would perhaps be unlike the (non Morgan) vintage aero engined behemoths that get all hot and bothered and dirty their plugs if not run at constant speed.... Yup the old +8 was definitely the wisest choice..

No, they really are pants and shouldn't even be mentioned in the same sentence as Caterham. Cheap nasty heavy things with no engineering qualities what so ever.

No point sitting on the fence ;-)

Cheap yes, not to be compared to Caterham yes, but a lot of fun for £3000.

I've owned mine for over 20 years, not a Morgan either but at about 10% of the price, probably??? more smiles per £

Wonder whether the naysayers have actually owned one?

(just updated my signature to include the Robin Hood: I'm out of the closet!!!)

Malcolm

Thought Robin Hood hid in the forest not in a cupboard...?

Cher would be pleased.

They are a cheap way of having fun. Personally I would build my own rather than buy used as the build would do two things...
Fun to do to your own spec.
You know that it is done correctly.
Not the pedigree of a Caterham but nonetheless a fun cheap “different” car.
You’d get similar comments to a Morgan too.
Is it a kitcar?
A lotus7?
Can I have my photo with it.....
Beware Japanese and Chinese tourists....