Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Hello Everyone. I have a question re: Morgan ARP4

The modification didnt change a lot , but the car passed the Belgian MOT as my car was sold to a frenchman. I didnt passed myself with the car but the garage did

I had a ARP4 for a couple of years and had a lot of fun. Its not always an easy drive and you have to know what it is excatly and be sure that is what you want.

Its doesn't have much low down torque but does deliver the torque that it has smoothly and in a linear fashion with no flat spots. It revs and revs and at over 5,500 rpm starts to fly. On a good day and if you like a revvy naturally aspirated engine you will have more fun in an ARP4 than almost anything else you can buy at the price. On a bad day .. Well lets just say its not always a pleasure to change down 3 gears to overtake someone and I didn't like to have to always wear earplugs on a long journey.

Despite claims of poor consumption I averaged around 30 mpg with a low of 25 mpg. That wasn't particualrly hanging around and I only ever drove it when I wanted a spirited drive.

I now have a Plus Four AT which is of course faster (with its massive 400Nm of torque) but if I am honest has nothing like the sporting appeal of the ARP4. I still think of memorable drives in the ARP4 whereas in 12 months I still haven't had such an intense experience in the Plus Four - even though its ferociouly fast for a 2.0l car. The Plus Four is just an easy 'no bother' kind of car whereas the ARP4 makes you engage with it on its terms or simply tells you to sod off!

Ian, a very good synopsis I would say and very accurate. I agree the fuel consumption is between 25 and 35 to the gallon and whilst it will drive very civilly at low revs. with no flat spots or jerkiness, it does need revs to make it fly, and fly it does, I find 4000 rpm to be the place it really starts to shift and then will go all the way round to 7500, when a red light comes on and you will need to find another gear. When in the mood I drive around in a lower gear than would normally be the case, to stay in the power sector, this becomes quite normal after a while. A bit like the M3W which should never go below 1750 and not lugged, which would seem to be more natural for this engine.

Noise can be tiresome, but I have never felt the need for earplugs, but have substituted a side exit pipe which actually reduces the noise somehow and it does pop and bang on the overrun if you keep you foot very slightly on the throttle, so it is something that can be turned on or off, depending on mood.

I have power steering, but also substituted a smaller 11" Momo wheel, which means I can not only see the upper reaches of the rev. counter, but can get in and out easier too. The steering is now perfectly weighted at both parking speed and on the go.

The story I heard was that MMC bought a batch of 50 of the last 225bhp engines from Cosworth at a very good price, then needed a car to put it in. The engine and the car are not really compatible - the car is a tourer and the engine is a racer, however the two together make an interesting and intriguing model, with the addition of some very nice extras like coil sprung rear suspension, larger front 4 pot brakes, rear disc brakes, double lined quiet hood, limited slip rear diff with 3.9 cwp, dry sumped engine on roller throttle bodies, optional power steering, 16" 3 piece alloys with soft rubber, adjustable dampers all round, a very nice interior with things like upgraded leather, an Amp and 5 speaker setup, sun visors, door check devices a rather nice and unique to this model, dashboard, etc etc.

I keep thinking about changing, but feel I would miss its' idiosyncrasies and character and having installed cup holders and a combined oil pressure and temperature gauge as well as a Pioneer radio head unit, and a few other little mods, feel it is now very much 'my' car.

I would say buy it, use it and enjoy it for what it is and if you have to change down a gear to get into the power band, then do so.

Thanks for the very good and correct explanation Ian and Paul. Can't explain it better.

Stefan

+4
+8
ARP4

Hello All.Thank you so much for all your replies. This has helped a beginnner so much!! I wanted to let you know that I am now the proud owner of a Black ARP4 - I paid my deposit yesterday at Williams Automobiles and will hopefully be taking receipt of the car in the next week or so. I am so excited and once I had test driven it, there was no going back - She is incredible!! Like nothing else I have ever driven - In a great way! I'm hoping to meet everyone from the Morgan community at coming events - I am going to need lots of advice and tips on how to look after this rare creature! Thanks again everyone, See you all very soon! BR C.

Congratulations, you've got a wild fun ride there enjoy your new adventures..

Welcome. Please let us know what you think of it. I hope we tried to be unbiased in our comments but it is a special car,
Oh & photos please

Fantastic colour as well👍

Congrats on the new car and welcome to TM

Congratulations and welcome to TM. Posting a picture of your APR4 is your initiation test.