Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Transition from +8 to Roadster?

Living in London does have some major issues for Morgan ownership.

My +8 is not going to be ULEZ compliant once the zone extends to the North/South Circular, so I am looking at my options for the future. I have owned this car for 20 years now and it has been modified to suit my requirements, and I must admit it is now pretty well perfect. However I can't ignore the fact that I will have to pay the ULEZ charge (currently £12) every time I use it in the future. I would really love to go to the CX Plus Four , but I fear that is a financial leap too far for me, so I am looking at a more modern trad as a possible solution.

Under normal circumstances I would be doing the round of the dealers looking at , and test driving Roadsters as I feel that would offer me the closest experience to the +8, but obviously this is just not possible under pandemic conditions. Although not a daily driver I do drive the car rather more than the average, and one permitted we will be off in holiday in it again, with lots of long distance touring.

Has anyone here transitioned from a +8 to a 3.7 Roadster? I would be very grateful for their thoughts , both good and bad about the change. Either post here or PM please.

I went from a plus 8 to a mk 1 roadster. Not quite the same as 3.7 I know.
The roadster was quicker and more agile....a brilliant touring car. We went all over France with it and it was terrific fun.
The only thing it lacked was the sound. It was that step to modernity that the factory was beginning to take.
Now, today, the one car of all the mogs I've owned that I wish I still had, is the plus 8....it was just more romantic.
Nick

I have had a S1 roadster a 2006 car. That was quick & a great tourer. The gearbox is slick & the clutch light. 0-60 is faster than the 3.7l
After white van man T boned it & bent the cross head etc I bought the Brooklands a 2014 3.7l,

It is a very different drive. The foot well is smaller & with my size 11 feet only some shoes work well. The throttle pedal sat 80 mm below the brake so my foot could catch the underside of the brake. Wolf has made me a replacement adjustable pedal.

The car doesn't have rev hang as it has the ECU fix from MMC, but the gearing is I guess set for emissions. 1st is a crawler gear.
6th is over drive. Fun is to be had in 3rd or 4th. The clutch is heavier.

Now I am used to it is great fun but the heavier clutch might be a pain in London traffic.

The Plus 8 morphed into the S1 Roadster in 2004, so the difference is little more than the engine and gearbox .

Early ones also have steering damper blades and the short lived Devol bushes and bump steer until the steering geometry was upgraded.

I lived behind a Rover V8 for 22 years. It's tough losing that sound but the V6 when pushed has a very satisfying snarl, and is a much more modern unit than the Rover V8.

For me the later Roadsters don't have what the S1 has...hard to describe, but the S1 is so well resolved (after a bit of tweaking obviously).

Are Historic cars exempt from ULEZ? I "think" they are for the LEZ.

If so how about considering going the other way and getting a pre-81 +8? That way all your expertise - and possibly existing bits and bobs will be transferable.

Dave I thought that but 3rd gear is my friend (don't look at the mpg gauge). My Brooklands snarls well when pushed , but you need to go harder & more positive than in the S1 which just delivers. It is odd a bigger more powerful engine but gearing is all. Once you know that it works.

I just went to the TFL site before this reply to check my 2002 Plus8.
No ULEZ of LEZ charge for the vehicle. It was the same about a year ago when I went to London. No chang3 showing.
Have you checked your Plus8?
Simply put in the reg number, select UK registered and see the result.
I am guessing that the TFL database might not have Morgans included in the section for charges to be applied. Being a low volume car perhaps they have not put it in yet or haven’t realised they should!
An example of a less than thorough public sector management?

I hope you are right. That would be good news

Just to add v the 3.7 Roadster, the torque is there low down from 1000 rpm, just not much of it until 3000 rpm plus when it builds rapidly. This makes for an easy pull away in second which is the norm given ridiculously low first. I don't recall the engine ever complaining of being in too higher gear, a sharp turn taken in third or even fourth accidentally for example, the car just pulling smoothly through.

It also means you need to change down a gear or two from cruising sixth for decisive motorway overtaking though

Something of a Jeckyl and Hyde character therefore making for relaxed touring when needed with comfortably over 30 mpg.

Those were my findings based on my registration plate, Heather's previous VW GTI was not exempt

I have just run it again today and the car is liable to the £12.50 per day and Andy's car is similar.