Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) +4 options. Advice required re new purchase.

We have recently enjoyed a factory visit after many years of occasionally glimpsing these classic cars..what a feast. My wife has also been suitably enthused. We are trying to decide on which options we should choose when purchasing a new +4.(most probably with Ivory paintwork and Tan leather Bespoke.)
As we reside in New Zealand we want to get it right with perhaps after market bits added to car prior to shipping. We note that items such as steering wheels, rear carriers, undersealing are not offered as options.
We trust the combined wisdom of members will aid us in our deliberations to make good choices. All sugestions will be very much appreciated. Thanks

Dealer fitted options should include a Motolita steering wheel, stainless door checks, luggage carrier. Also go for a small rear view mirror and round door mirrors. I'm not a fan of traditional underseal, preferring a wax based product such as Tectyl or Dinitrol, but to be honest I'm not sure what factory underseal looks like at present - it may well be wax based.
Enjoy speccing your Morgan and the pleasure that will come.
Welcome to TalkMorgan.

I have a 2009 Plus4 and would agree with Dave. The door checks from Librands are essential as they stop the door hitting your shin as you get in. Not the thing for SWMBO to get dirt on her white clothes as she gets in either!! I also recommend the walnut dash with a clock and I think the lower grill kit sets off the car, unless you are getting full width bumpers. If I were doing it again, I would get the car without hood and have Steve Simmonds fit one of his as they are much better quality and DO NOT leak.

Whatever you do, you will enjoy, so I wish you many happy miles

Cheers!

We purchased a +4, 4 seater in late 2009 and used it for a year in the UK before shipping it home to NZ (Wellington). We put the back seats down flat and use that for storing luggage, so we don't need a luggage rack.

There are factory fitted options and dealer ones. We chose a Motolita steering wheel (for looks) on delivery (dealer) and then round door mirrors (dealer) and small rear view mirror (dealer) after finding the factory ones were not adequate. I am presently contemplating getting stainless door checks. You can avoid paying UK VAT if you are going to ship the car.

Talk to the people at the Morgan Sports Car Club and you might be able to find a Morgan near you that you can look at first to see the options.

Good luck

By the way, it is a real hassle to get the car through NZ Customs and the inspection.

Maybe it is worth looking at import duty. Here in NL it pays to keep the price of the car ex-factory as low as possible and then add options later to avoid the extremely high tax on new cars. Ordering a new car is a lot of fun but also daunting. You will probably not stop changing your mind until long after you have received the car, but it wont spoil the enjoyment of the car.
Underseal came as standard on my 2010 Roadster, it didn't in 2008. Most of the options are very a personal choice and opinions vary a lot. My 2p worth;
The most costly "mistake" I made was to buy the plus4 when I should have gone for a roadster. The upside was that I had another go at specking a car when I upgraded.
Bumpers or overriders? After the color, probably the biggest visual impact decision. I think the front of the car looks a lot better with the full bumper to straighten the lines. The back of the car looks a lot better without the full bumper because it sits too high and looks out of place. The combination of bumper at the front and nothing (or overriders) at the rear is often found on older (sixties) cars. Look at many cars and pictures before you decide.
I think the standard for the plus4 is one protective strip on the wing at the door. Two looks better, but I prefer no strips now. (as on the sport models) Cleaner looks, the strips trap water and grit, the wings are much easier to clean/wax without them. They weather easily, they are not very functional because shoe marks appear on the round edge of the wing where there is no strip. If you want to protect the paintwork better use a protective foil.
Mohair or everflex hood? Mohair is much better looking but expensive. I hardly ever use it and went for everflex again.
Sport seats with adjustable backs are a must. I just cannot get comfortable if I cant adjust the seat. I love the piping on the seats and carpets in contrasting colors. E.g use the color of the carpets as piping on the leather and the color of the leather as piping on the carpets. Dont bother with the radio preparation. All wires and plugs are there anyway. If you want a radio later it is easy to install. Wood rimmed moto-lita and wooden dashboard are ultimate eye catchers. I went for the walnut, but if I had to do it again I would choose the plain ash dashboard. All IMHO of course, enjoy the process!
Cheers J

The factory use Dinitrol.

Here is the thread where we discuss the current factory underseal on a Morgan , on this thread I have also attached the Dinitrol specification.

Thanks guys.
I can see that I have a lot of deliberations to make.
Thanks Davew for your quick reply.
I have enjoyed your very good Info on all things Morgan.

Can you get them to have Simmonds fit a hood in Malvern?
We may pick the car up x the factory and using it in europe for some time and that would allow us to source the dealer bits and pieces. Will the Factory source and fit after market bits if we decide to send direct to NZ.The Dealer here has no access to reasonably priced extras. I will certainly catch up with you DEK re import problems.
I look forward to have more of my questions answered after I no what to ask.
Cheers J

Now that the factory has declared itself a 'Dealer' as well as a manufacturer, I would have thought that its just a case of finding the right man to speak to there and reminding them.

If they are going to become a 'Good Dealer' they should 'bend over backwards' to get you everything you need fitted for you if you are buying the car from them?????.

Simmonds is located close to the factory in Malvern, However,I have a Factory Fitted Mohair 'Easy Up' Hood and I recon its just a good as the Simmonds ones I have seen. and it does'nt leak.

Failing success getting items fitted at the factory, The Uk Dealers who sell these desired 'add ons' all have reasonably good websites for after sales.

Frank,
I would agree having seen your factory version & my Simmonds one I can't see much between them frankly.
John

My 02 +8 has a Simmonds hood from new. First of all you will not get any price reduction on not having an MMC hood - the MMC will not give you the unfitted hood either. It is also possible that you will need them "not to fit" the traditional hood rather than the Easy Up and that used to be an extra £400 or so.
Secondly, whilst the Simmonds hood is excellent and mine certainly does not leak, the unlocking mechanism of the Easy-up hood is probably better than the Simmonds.