|
8 members (Paulxj, DavidPoole, meabh, mph, sewin, Sloany, DJ66, Image),
486
guests, and
42
robots. |
|
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Glitch
by BobtheTrain - 18/07/25 05:47 PM
|
|
|
Forums34
Topics48,331
Posts812,877
Members9,203
| |
Most Online1,046
Aug 24th, 2023
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 99
L - Learner Plates On
|
OP
L - Learner Plates On
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 99 |
hi chaps today I had a test drive in two morgans, the first a 2 seater with an 1800 ford unit, and the second with a ford 1600 engine.
OK what did it feel like. well first off, the size of the cockpit was a big put off, its so small, the position of the radio and heater control was just a joke and i needed help getting out of the car, for gods sake how much would a door stop cost.
anyway on to the test drive, first off the 1800, with top down i found the steering ok even without power steering. but the clutch was very light and the axle kicked around for a bit on take off. the engine was very good, and the ride was not bad at all, however at anything over 60 miles an hour that was if i could read the speedo the car was just to over the top, wind noice and jumping around to much, so no way was it planted on the road like a newer car. but i did feel that smile coming as the miles came and went.
the second car had just over 4000 miles on the clock, and this time was driven with hood up ( a very cheap pvc thing) anyway the noice level was way up axle and gearbox whine a greater part of it. this car had a wider body and that extra inch or so was nice, howver still the joke of the radio position and heater controls.
ok what did i think at the end of my short test drives.
well i have driven a lot better cars for a lot less money, did i like it, well yes and know. i can see why people buy them and i may do, but just can,t see the money, its like some sort of kit car realy.
but i do have some questions.
1. are better soft tops available then the very poor cheap looking and feeling PVC things.
2. what would be the smallest steering wheel i can get away with to give me more round to get in and out.
3. my partner loves taking pictures and as a high end camera, is there anyway to make a safe place for value items in a morgan.
4. can you get the ford 1800 engine in the wider body with four seats, and can the two rear seats be taken out and a lockable truck box be fitted in its place to suit the rest of the car.
5. can the radio be fitted in a better position so i can see the thing.
6. can the speedo and the techo be changed over in position, ie have the speedo forward of you and not the techo.
michael
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 208
L - Learner Plates On
|
|
L - Learner Plates On
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 208 |
hello to you all, I am thinking of getting my first morgan. but a few things keep putting me off making that move.
I am looking at the classic, aero 8,s just leave me cold and for me i am looking for a self maintain car, I have had all the german rockits, old e types and stags and always liked the look, that timeless look of the classic morgan.
So whats putting me off. Well I plan to use it for touring, and understand that the ride is hard and bad due to the cart spring suspension, engines underpowered and weather gear useless.
I don,t wish to waste anyones time test driving cars that i will never buy. so to press i have never even been in a morgan. so please tale me are these cars able to tour two up without feeling at the end of the day that ones been on a rack. Can anything be done to improve the cars.
hope to hear from you, michael Salute I made a 4 days trip from Marseille to Paris - Caen - Portsmouth - Malvern - the Cotswolds - and back to Marseille ... About 3000 kms, no pain, no suffering, just a chapka for the hair and ears ... BTW I don't use the hood (even if it is the 22 one) and always drive without  
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 208
L - Learner Plates On
|
|
L - Learner Plates On
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 208 |
hi chaps today I had a test drive in two morgans, the first a 2 seater with an 1800 ford unit, and the second with a ford 1600 engine.
OK what did it feel like. well first off, the size of the cockpit was a big put off, its so small, the position of the radio and heater control was just a joke and i needed help getting out of the car, for gods sake how much would a door stop cost.
anyway on to the test drive, first off the 1800, with top down i found the steering ok even without power steering. but the clutch was very light and the axle kicked around for a bit on take off. the engine was very good, and the ride was not bad at all, however at anything over 60 miles an hour that was if i could read the speedo the car was just to over the top, wind noice and jumping around to much, so no way was it planted on the road like a newer car. but i did feel that smile coming as the miles came and went.
the second car had just over 4000 miles on the clock, and this time was driven with hood up ( a very cheap pvc thing) anyway the noice level was way up axle and gearbox whine a greater part of it. this car had a wider body and that extra inch or so was nice, howver still the joke of the radio position and heater controls.
ok what did i think at the end of my short test drives.
well i have driven a lot better cars for a lot less money, did i like it, well yes and know. i can see why people buy them and i may do, but just can,t see the money, its like some sort of kit car realy.
but i do have some questions.
1. are better soft tops available then the very poor cheap looking and feeling PVC things.
2. what would be the smallest steering wheel i can get away with to give me more round to get in and out.
3. my partner loves taking pictures and as a high end camera, is there anyway to make a safe place for value items in a morgan.
4. can you get the ford 1800 engine in the wider body with four seats, and can the two rear seats be taken out and a lockable truck box be fitted in its place to suit the rest of the car.
5. can the radio be fitted in a better position so i can see the thing.
6. can the speedo and the techo be changed over in position, ie have the speedo forward of you and not the techo.
michael Depending on your size a Plus 4 with larger body is a cool thing (I don't suffer from poor room space) ... I have fitted a Morgan S-5 Autosafe for valuable items in the car on the passenger footwell, you can also try Librands one (surely better than mine). About the radio, I have one with a remote control so I don't care about it's position !!! I have fitted a 14" in leather, more like a 14.5 in wood and I do have space I have the speedo in front of me, everything can be change very easily.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 208
L - Learner Plates On
|
|
L - Learner Plates On
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 208 |
PS: about tops Mohair one has a better looking, more "bourgeois"
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 79 Likes: 7
Just Getting Started
|
|
Just Getting Started
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 79 Likes: 7 |
Hello Michael, I'm in the same boat as you, about to take the Morgan plunge (in my case it rests on selling another car, so perhaps marginally easier than your situation!). For me it is the things you talk about that are the attraction; my other cars are Rolls Royce and Bentleys, very nice and I do love them, but just occasionally I'd love to have something that goes where I steer it, tells me its running, and puts a grin on my face. I get the impression that there are no problems with Morgans, just tons of solutions, as I've never yet come across a car maker with so many aftermarket 'bits' you can bolt on, and in the case of anything from Simmonds, it all seems to be pretty high quality as well.
It would be good learning experience for me to know what you decide to do, so keep us posted!
Mark
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 99
L - Learner Plates On
|
|
OP
L - Learner Plates On
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 99 |
Hi, yes the cars did bring a smile, But i have a very bad knee from my days in the army and it locks up at times, and i did find getting in and out a real pain, the second car with less upright seats was better, but a door stop would help out so much, I was fighting with the car to get out, god knows what it would be like on a hill with the door falling back all the time.
my plan is to try to find a 4 seater wide body and see how i get on. At the moment i may just not be getting the morgan deal.
michael
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 453
Learner Plates Off!
|
|
Learner Plates Off!
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 453 |
...the position of the radio .... was just a joke Yes. It is. But who realy needs a radio in a mog'?
3. my partner loves taking pictures and as a high end camera, is there anyway to make a safe place for value items in a morgan.
Not realy. Maybe there's a possibility to fit a locked glove box or "secret locked box" elsewhere but I think the best is to take these valuable items with you. its like some sort of kit car realy.
No. It isn't. It's an handmade car by a century old company. but just can,t see the money,
The "money" is there: handmade, exclusive, smile & tradition. All things you can't get when buying a more expensive german coupé. I think that all these little drawbacks in a mog' are the price to pay the smile you get when you drive it. It's deffinitvely not a family carrier with cup holders, ABS, air bags or emergency breaking system.
H3
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 21,865 Likes: 167
Roadster Guru Member of the Inner Circle
|
Roadster Guru Member of the Inner Circle
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 21,865 Likes: 167 |
Some seats have a reclining backrest. You can fit a secure box in the footwell or on the bulkhead under the bonnet or over the rear axle. The radio is a waste of space - I've never used mine in three years. You need to try a Plus 8 or Roadster. Both are significantly wider than your test cars and much better planted on the road. In the end it may not be the car for you. They don't suit everybody. 
DaveW
'05 Red Roadster S1
'16 Yellow (Not the only) Narrow AR GDI Plus 4
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 79 Likes: 7
Just Getting Started
|
|
Just Getting Started
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 79 Likes: 7 |
We have more in common than I thought - I have 2 wrecked knees, 2 bad ankles and a chronically bad back, gained in the same way as you! I had the same problem getting in and out, but a really kind chap from MSCC who was at a classic car event I attended recently showed me how to do it. Once you have the knack it is OK - at first I could not get my right foot in, or get anything out!
Mark
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 99
L - Learner Plates On
|
|
OP
L - Learner Plates On
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 99 |
Marches Mark that was how it is for me, once in I found it b---y hard work to get back out.The reason I am asking questions is to try to find out if this car will suit. after all its around 30,000 pounds and for that I don,t think it asking much to have a radio position that does not need arms as long as an ape to turn on or off. and a lockable location for passports, cameras etc.
I asked for feedback if these things can be sorted thats all. also do morgan do a 4 seater v8 model ??
michael
|
|
|
|
|
