Talk Morgan Forums Community Welcome Forum New member and potential owner

Hello,
Joined the forum with a view to understanding the cars ahead of a potential purchase.
Have a bit of history with classics. Mainly Lotus (Seven, Elan Sprint, Elise) but also classic Mini, etc..
Have sold all my cars over last few years but have a recurring itch to fill the space in my garage.
Always like the idea of a Morgan, and nearly bought one back in the Eighties, but ...
Would I cope with the chassis on our potholed roads after a history of Lotus suspension?
What are they currently like for build quality? What goes wrong?
Been reading extensively. Happy to work on cars but my back and knees tell me no more major projects.
Thinking of a lowish mileage Sigma 4/4 a few years old.
Any comments gratefully received.
Harry

Hi and welcome to TM. I came to Morgan after Porsches and a Lotus Elise was also high on my list, in particular for steering and suspension (but not gearbox). My wife hired me a Morgan Plus 4 as a birthday present and after about an hour of driving I realised I was smitten. I just loved it. But not for the steering or suspension (although the gearbox was nice). It's difficult to know what it was that hooked me but it wasn't what I had probably been looking for. I think what I'm saying is that if you compare it performance-wise to a Lotus you may feel short-changed although they can be hustled along really quickly and have their own unique characteristics in that respect. Take your time and do try to drive one as soon as you can. Have fun.

Hi Harry and welcome to TM. Firstly suspension - you may well find it not as crude as you'd imagine - not Lotus precise but very enjoyable - with a few additions canbe made to handle very well indeed with a compliance over bumps that would surprise. The 4/4 with a Sigma engine is a real joy - you get a lovely revvy engine, superb mazda gearbox, nimble handling and road tax that won't cause headaches. Don't assume they are slow - being light they feel nippy as long as you use the revs - hint, this is a proper sports car with a proper sporting engine.

Build quality - I have had mine since late 2015 and haven't had any issues around build - nothing has fallen off or broken.

They are great to drive, great to tinker with and even great to gaze at in the garage.

Where abouts are you by the way?

Drive as many as you can to get a feel for them. Allon white have a nice driving black 4/4 that might be worth a peek - last owner is a TM member too and he enjoyed it a great deal!

Welcome to TM.

Good luck in your quest for a 4/4. An excellent choice. Advice above re driving more than one is good.

A well driven 4/4 goes very well indeed.

The only things you might have to worry about, depending on year, are springs. There was a phase where front springs are a bit soft and can bottom out. Around 2012-2014, rear springs might not last very long. None of this is expensive to resolve, just needs a bit of thought and input from knowledgable people.

If you want a pocket rocket then a 4.4 sport (1600 Sigma) at 795 kilos is the way to go.
If touring is your thing, a V8 will probably be your weapon of choice.
If you are a millionaire, an Aero may float your boat.
All except the Aero lend themselves to aftermarket mods to improve handling and power.
If you end up with a trad, put a set of Avon vintage racing tyres on and the handling will radically improve straight away.

Harry tell us where you are. You can then meet owners. I have had all the trade 4/4, +4, a 3l Roadster and now a 3.7l. All have there good and bad points. In an ideal world you could go to a dealer breakfast event and meet owners or a local event.
Would suggest if you are in the UK then join the MSCC and then a local group. If you are in East Anglia for example I can help.
Whilst covid goes on I am sure on here we can also help remotely

Harry, welcome to TM. Like andymot I also enjoy my 4/4 Sigma, in my case since 2014, so what I say from now on is biased a bit of course. I agree with all, what the others have said here. The 4/4 is not my first Morgan and not the most powerful but for some reason I like her most. But that is only me. Of course she does not wear this sevenleague boots like a Roadster e.g.. If possible you could test drive different models before you make your decision.

The good thing for me is that with the exception of very few things, like changing the too soft springs in front and rear, which should be done in my view, or change the OEM Conti tyres for safety reasons when driving in the colder wet, you can enjoy her from the very beginning.
There is no need to tune the performance urgently, my 4/4 was also enjoyable in standard form. But for some people like me it is part of the fun to let make another manifold, a metal cat or a chip tuning. But all of this is not urgent. We were three times in Italy with her before I started to make tuning changes, and it was so nice. BTW you can use the nimble 4/4 nicely in the role of a cruiser for two as well but then you notice the difference between 112 and lets say 140 hp when packed with the suitcase and all stuff when driving the Autobahn on a hill up e.g..

Around 2011 or 2012 the 4/4 Sigma got the MX5 NC gearbox which suits the driving pleasure very much. But here are many happy drivers of older Sigma models who also are so happy with their car. So in this respect it is by far not a no-go if you see a nice 4/4 which „finds you“ if she has the Ford gearbox. The impression of the car in total counts more in my view than the addition of certain elements.

I also drive an Elise since 2007. You will make your own comparison but in a short sentence, my personal experience is the despite the high performance standard, the handling etc. of the Elise (which has other strong points to enjoy), the 4/4 always gives me even more the feeling of being underway and enjoying the moment of being alive if that makes sense.

Welcome to TM Harry.
Some good advise there already. Whatever you go for - Enjoy!

Welcome to TM Harry, I also have a 4/4 with the Sigma engine and I love it to bits

I have had a 2012 4/4 sport (Ford gearbox) since 2017. Where I live, there are lots of twisty country roads where the 4/4 feels really sharp, nimble and precise, and with plenty of acceleration. I have also used it on scenic rallies around the Cotswolds and the Forest of Dean. I have also toured in it to Scotland, France, and Austria,
On the long hauls down motorways, I would probably have preferred a bigger engine, in fact I would rather have been in my tin-top, but the 1.6 sigma has enough power to travel as fast as your ear-drums can cope with. But for local touring and for fun driving, I’m delighted to have the agility of the 4/4. In fact in convoy with a group of Morgan’s, I’d rather the V8’s would get a move on. I think they’re better suited to planting it in gear and watching the scenery. And they had to fill up more often. I rather like using the gearbox, and I have no complaints about the Ford box, it’s what I’m used to. With a re-map, the car makes a nice noise, but obviously not a V8 burble. More of a ‘thirties’ snarl.
As for the ride, on smooth roads, nothing better. On rough roads, yes it can be bumpy. On terrible roads, slower is better, but I wouldn’t want a big lump in the front to make it worse.
I’m tall so I wouldn’t want an early car with short doors. I’m pleased that the car has a galvanised chassis. But what I like most of all are all the admiring comments.
When queuing at the toll booth for the Hochalpenstrasse, there was a Gallardo queuing ahead and making a lot of noise. A large crowd of bikers dismounted, walked straight past the Lamborghini, and admired the Morgan waiting behind it. Priceless