Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Too precious towards the car?

Both me and Archie have gone into hibernation this year.
We are generally low mileage, tragically more so this year.
I got by far the greatest pleasure from taking people out (from the local hospice), and that was a deciding factor in buying my first Morgan.
Alas, this year has been a real pi$$er.
I am down to running the engine once a month up to temperature, and moving it up and down the garage.
Shameful.

Its a state of mind issue. For example; those expensive watches advertised for you to become a mere custodian - so that your decendants might enjoy once your gone !
For myself its a case of knowing the 4/4 will probably outlast me. My ex MG F2 Magna in the hands of recently Dcd. owner, has outlasted him and will doubtless outlast me. That very collectable classic is today 88 years old and was driven in all weathers by me and by Ewan, (rest his dear soul).
I do try to avoid salted roads, but even in winter there are those times when rain washes off the salt and its good to go for an airing of the machine I bought to enjoy.
Even though my mileage is higher than normal the valuation done very recently, puts the 4/4 well above the price I paid for her. Thats pretty amazing, considering the intervening mileage covered in my hands is 72,000.

I categorise cars two types.
A VERY small number of cars with special status based on make, model, history, fragility.
Even most of these I would like to see used under controlled conditions and not just sitting round and gazed at.
The vast majority of cars should be driven. Now, how many miles? I can leave that to individual choice.
Unless I had oodles of money The first is a big no for me. Investment? No. What good is a car that you are unwilling to drive. You lose the enjoyment of driving it.
Even this year I have kept the car on the road albeit with a huge reduction in miles. I drive in most weather unless conditions make driving any car a no-go. Salt? Car is protected and gets washed. I play golf and think similarly about playing in varying weather. Sometimes it would be daft togo and play. Others, go with the flow with umbrella/waterproofs.
Apologies to people who molly coddle their Morgan but that is not for me. High mileage?? I just think of the enjoyment that brings.

I‘ m new in Morgans and got it only since two years. An collected 20.000KM in this time.

In a german classic Magazin there was a Word like: don‘t drive on salted roads and beware of British cars, they drive on salted roads.

That are not my words, that‘s what say the chief mechanic of a German Morgan dealer in the magazine. After one year of ownership I visit the factory and there I hear also „don’t drive on salted roads“.

But also: rain and wet doesn‘t matter if the car can dry in a usual way. And there are no worn seals where the water can soak in the wood.

So I go this way.

But I‘ m also in classic MINIs, these poor little things must out allways. But I prepare them with flushes of oil and wax and a massive wash in spring. As I understand the people „no salted roads“ so the problem with the Mog is the combination wood and the used different metals.

René

About 3,000 miles a year for me. I try to avoid salted roads in winter, but really enjoy winter drives.
I’ve never thought of my 4/4 as an investment, but it is nice that depreciation is negligible.

As a friend once said: “having a beautiful car and not using it, for fear of depreciation; is a bit like having a beautiful girlfriend and not making love, for fear of spoiling her for her next boyfriend!”


Bud
4/4 - Stanley

Bloody hell, Bud. How rough is your sex haha . When you buy a car you dont generally buy one thats been wragged senseless by lots of previous 'owners'

I am thinking; if you have a beautifull girlfriend its best to hang on to her come rain or shine - salted roads or summer sun.. Like the cherished Morgan its best not to think of what the next owner might or might not do with her ! Lets not drift the subject matter beyond this point !

I have been driving soft-top cars and motorcycles for most of my life. I currently have a Mercedes that has a mohair hood and the Morgan has the PVC hood. I try to drive everywhere with the roof down no matter what the weather, but mohair hoods take longer to dry out otherwise they permanently crease when folded down if not bone dry before being folded down, so rarely with these much wetter winters we get now do I get a chance to drive the Merc with the roof down during these wetter winters.

It's my first winter with this Morgan and already as it has a PVC hood I have taken the roof down far more wet or dry and enjoy open air motoring far more in the winter so far than with my Merc. This very cold damp morning I was out roof down before dawn and as with my previous Morgans, I drove them all year round. Although, I am slightly wary of driving in snow and icy conditions as they have no abs or traction control which can make them a handful in treacherous conditions.

I just accept that winter driving demands a more rigorous maintenance and cleaning regime, add to that you are more prone to get stone chips from salt grit.................

I actually was lucky enough to be able drive mine more this year than previously, I was furloughed nearly all the summmer so went out in at least 3 times a week in it.
As to the winter drives, I have a Carcoon so can put it away wet if necessary and leave the Carcoon vent open which dries it off while inside the garage.
Then I can clean it in my own time without worrying.
Like others though, if there has been a recent surface salt treament I try to avoid using it until its rained again and washed most of it off the surface.

The deterents to stop me using the Morgan are deep snow, too much ice, heavy salting with no rain to clear it. Necessary journeys by car influence the choice of car as well depending on why the trip is being done (luggage needs, passengers etc). Add to that the post use cleaning/drying that might be needed after rain/snow/salt. Common sense sometimes overtakes the desire drive.