Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Every day use

How many of you guys use you old Mog daily come rain or shine through the winter?

It happens to me every year in the winter when I seem to go stir crazy not being able to use any of my special cars through fear of wrecking them. They seem to throw salt down at any opportunity here.

So this year I bought me a Plus 8. Had many over the years and I wanted one to use.

Problem is I went out to buy an old tatty usable car but the price spread between 70k miles and the lowest mileage cars was negligible. So I bought a 10k miles car which it totally mint. Doesn’t even look like it’s ever been wet and now I’m struggling to take it out it this damp weather.

I trying, very trying. Will it cope? It’s a 2000 registered 4.6

Aero goes out in all weathers, just hose it down before it goes back in Garage.

Its a toy, so only when dry. Its no fun for me driving when its tipping it down. :-)

If you’ve got that many special cars maybe you should just polish them?

I think one should use them: they won't come to any more harm than any other daily drive. I'll admit that there are times when the ease of a regular type of car is comforting but we used our first 4/4 in all weathers over 250,000 miles and I see that it lives in Norfolk now and is still being used.

My 4/4 is an every day run about in all weathers (Hard Top) it is not garaged now and so far, for the past year, is a lot happier than it was when garaged and not used. I am beginning to think that unless your garage is warm and de-humidified the car is better left out in the breeze. As for salt no problems. The only corrosion is from beneath paint. which must have been applied by the factory

The answer - is of course it will cope!

If you imagine the Morgan is as per the many variants that used the venerable V8 engine i.e. Police Cars, Farmers Land Rovers, but with a different body - then the engine and box is pretty bullet proof - 30K miles a year for 6 years should not worry it at all?

The body on your +8 is most ALU - so again no issues with that - however, if you do take the plunge - I would get the underside wax-oiled or/and under sealed (and do it every year).

As said- if you wash the worst of the salt off - ASAP the bright work should survive OK. However, if it does pit and degrade - there is not that much bright work and you could replace it as starts to look tatty, it is not expensive?

As a personal preference I would also change the wire wheels for +8 alloys, so much easier to keep? By the way salt is only applied on average to UK roads on 18 days per year...so the rest of the time it is only water...

I think we have all seen/heard of Morgan's that DO rack up high mileages, they can do it!

Seve' is now sweating up in the garage (under a cover) in case I take him out..it is January after all

Our Mog is the second car. I use it regularly though not every day.
uses the first car so if I need to drive then the Mog is used. Golf club, town, shopping, whatever crops up that doesn’t need significant load carrying.
Really bad icy, heavily salted roads, plus gales would put me off but rain is not an issue.
I didn’t buy the car to keep it garaged, polished, sunshine only and suitable clothing means roof down as often as possible.

Thanks guys

Yes not concerned about the major mechanical components more body and bits.

Salt though not applied many days it sits around for ever.

This car is likely to sit outside too. It is already under sealed and I’ll coat it all in ACF50 probably.

Ok wish me luck.

Viper
I used my MOG everyday from 2002 to 2012 going between Salisbury and Plymouth/Portsmouth when I was in the Royal Navy. The roof was also kept in the Dads roof space!
It was left for periods at the dockside as the ship was deployed over sea. Its now being rebuilt (it is 44 year old - so I forgive it) , so as with any car as long as you keep on top of the jobs it can be used throughout the year. I can remember my MOG driving up Pepperbox hill with the snow on the ground as I passed tin tops stuck on the hill. I have been told this was due to my car being rear wheel drive.
So I would use the MOG as often as you can, just keep on top of the cleaning. Today I must admit I wouldn't use after salt had been spread!