Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Photo Gallery Your thoughts? - Tonneau for a four seater

We have been attempting to fit the Tonneau with varying success, yesterday it went on using the method described in the video found here:
https://youtu.be/HCS-VoYdMIE
The method is the same for a four seater
As you see ours is not quite on properly, the hood material needs tidying and one or two of the poppers still have to be stretched into place. By the time we had finished both of us were exhausted, it took us a good 20 minutes and so I think this is not something we will be doing very often. I must say that driving with it fitted over half the cockpit is rather special and I imagine it could be very cosy in winter. I would be interested to hear of your thoughts on the use of this item.

For what its worth, I had a 2013 4 seater for 6 years and never had much difficulty with the full tonneau, however I never tried fitting it in the manner shown on the video. The critical part for me was folding the hood properly (compactly) before fitting the tonneau. Secondly, I always started at the back with the two holes over the hood locking prongs, and locked the hood down before fitting the side poppers, and then pulling over the front fittings on the dash last of all. Yes its a bit of a stretch to fit over the dash fittings last (central ones first), but actually the length of the 4 seater body means the tonneau will stretch quite easily. Anyhow, thats how I did it, having had no instructions ! And yes, it is cosy one-up with the passenger side fitted in winter !

It's an uphill struggle Graham but for the sake of TWAT I shall never give in.

Tonneau what you mean by that?

Why pick on the use of 'tonneau' as a metanym (or more accurately, a synecdoche) for 'tonneau cover'?

It's in widespread usage (probably more so than the full name) and it's not as if it is the only automotive synecdoche:

Clutch/brake = clutch or brake pedal
Horn = horn button
Etc

Or is Ian going to start pulling people up for "putting their foot on the clutch" (impossible - it's inside a bell-housing) or "covering the brakes" or "leaning on the horn"...

As a complete aside (mega thread drift) I find the debate about correct usage of English (or any language for that matter) fascinating because Lexicographers split into two irreconcilable tribes: the prescriptivists who compile dictionaries of which words and grammars are objectively correct (irrespective of whether these are in common usage) and the descriptivists who compile ever-expanding Lexicographies because they believe that language is context-specific and evolving and that the job of the lexicographer is less that of an authority and more one of a commentator. Normally, I side with the prescriptivists, but on 'tonneau' I am with the descriptivists.

This is a masterpiece Ian - it still makes me chuckle when I read it

You are such an asset with keeping us all honest on here in your disarming unpretentious manner, you make it fun being chastised .

Yes Graham, this works

OK I'm running hard here to keep up. Please help an idiot conform to TWAT, which is correct. Have I a Tonneau with a Tonneau cover or have I a cockpit with a Tonneau?

So take your choice Kevin - use either and people will know what you mean.
The word was coined (from French) over 100 years ago, so like much in the English language, it has evolved.

I can see why it winds the pedants up because if you treat 'tonneau' as a synonym for 'tonneau cover' then it's odd that it's also an antonym (an opening cannot also be a covering) - but English is full of such examples where words derive from a contraction which is also a contradiction (e.g. saying manhole when you actually mean manhole cover)

I'm sure a contrary view won't be long in arriving...

Oxford English Dictionary (Luxury Edition) 11th Edition 2009.

Noun

1. The part of an open car occupied by the back seats.

2. (also tonneau cover) a protective cover for the seats in an open car or cabin cruiser when they are not in use.

Origin C18 (denoting a unit of capacity for French wine) : Fr., lit.'cask, tun'.


Pay your money and take your choice.