Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Plus Four, Supersport & Plus Six (CX & CXV Generation Vehicles) 2021 Model Year Seats

@Julian BB
A Happy New Yeare veryone. In a quandry/dilemma having sold my Aero8 last Year. Julians posts sum up my views somewhat, having owned only 2 Morgans (not8) a 96 Plus 4and a 06 Aero8 i feel a need to fill a void and the CX platform cars are very appealing. Although I can probaly afford a new Four or Six can I jusify it Hmmm ! not sure. Having driven both a Four & Six i definetly prefer the 6 (more in keeping with the Aero performance) so should that be NEW or USED !!. and what spec?

My thoughts are two fold

- Used Plus Six (find basic and add extras as and if required). The view I get is to avoid early basic seats in a Six and get the Comfort plus (the Factory test drive had those fitted and felt right). 2nd Sports exhaust or not ?. Not really a day one requirement is it ? so probably fit later

- Used Late3.7 Roadster. My concerns here are would I be taking a Big Step backwards ?- (having Really enjoyed the Aero). Suspension wise cant see it competing with a taught CX chasis (even if both front & rear were upgraded ?). Power wise it will be down (however so what - not going hard racing anymore).

So its down to:-

- Handling- /traditional chasis v Cx.
- 6speed Manual v 6 speed Paddle Auto.
- Trad cabin v Wider easier access platform
- Cash £45k v £77k a differential of circa £32-£35k (dependingon final spec).

Realistically the Morgan will be driven 6 months of the year. It will clock up around 2500 per annum and whilst it will be Car No 5 in household it will be a Number one choice.

Views /commentts on how to proceed would be welcomed

I couldn't get past the extra £30-40k and the at the time hard awkward seats. I bought a 3.7l Roadster & am very happy. It also has space for tools & all my junk.

Thanks it’s hard for me to justify the extra £32k + for occasional use. Glad you are enjoying your Roadster is the 3.7 really an improvement over the 3.0ltr.. some comments I’ve seen refer to a narrow (awkward)pedal area due to a bulkier tunnel.

I cannot see what might induce me to change my Roadster other than some unforeseen accident. The daily driving here is a gentle affair . There is nothing about the car that is disappointing; it doesn't leak,( or to be accurate I have only had the hood up in the rain a few times ); the seats are comfortable; the heating system works very well and nothing has fallen off so far. I am always pleased to be in it and should the circumstance arrive when that BMW gets dangerously close and the road is clear...........
It is the best trad that we have owned. Am I old fashioned to want to pay cash and not borrow money which is what it would take to finance a cx car? I suppose that something will change: my wife doesn't rule out another. Perhaps we'll change the colour.

Speaking as a highly delighted 22MY Plus Four owner, I would say the decision to spend that amount on a Morgan and not for instance a Porsche is driven totally by desire and a sense of why not be different. It’s not really about any calculation of value for money etc comparing one model with another. Having made that decision, definitely go for the 22MY and just have which ever you fancy. Don’t over think it. For me the CX Plus Four gives much better access and comfort with tremendous all round performance. I looked at the extra financial outlay partially as an investment, given I will get some of the extra bunce back when I eventually sell it. I also regarded the cost as being 40% less than list price, as it avoids later IHT!

In the end, the only financial aspect worth noting is Morgans will depreciate less than most alternatives.

But at the same time that doesn't mean they retain a value close to new. Which means that any upgrade, even a later version of the same model will cost money.

I fully intended to upgrade my Roadster to a 3.7. I even chatted to Steve Morris (Name Drop) about the new 3.7 at the time he was negotiating the engine deal with Ford. The problem with that turned out to be an extra £30k necessary to do the upgrade. Even using man maths this makes no sense. It made more sense to use that £30k to get a Plus 4. Which is what I did.

In terms of which model to chose today.

1) Test Drive all models on your shortlist. Are you comfortable? Is it "good enough"........At the launch, the S5 Aero failed that test because I'm the wrong height with short legs and the driving position for me was intolerable.

2} If you want "Modern" go CX. If you want "Character" go Trad. The CX is only better than the Trads if that's your preference. If you're a fettler, a CX has much less appeal.

3) Buying new is an amazing experience. You can see your Morgan assembled day by day if you have the time. What is not so easy to manage is things on the margins, such as paint "defects" and leather "defects". I speak from experience.

4) Buying used means that you get to see the whole Morgan before you part with any money. You can test seat comfort, you can examine the leather, you can check the hood fit, and bonnet fit.

There's no answer to any of this. Make a decision, see it through, and live with it!!!

2014 on MMC added a bit more room in the form of a box to side of the car. I also added an adjustable throttle pedal courtesy of Wolf Performance. Now it is fine.

Like John, I can't see the full worth to upgrade to CX yet
A play with the configurator gets to £79,800 for a PlusFour and £95,700 on a PlusSix close to my Roadster spec, add on all the shiny bits, on the road costs, and then realise all the touring space lost, I'll be sticking with the 3.7 a bit longer

There's an element of willy waving about the whole purchasing of sports cars.

No one 'needs' a sports car, and certainly no one 'needs' a Morgan.
A 4/4 is realistically just as good as a 3.7 roadster, it just is. One is just faster than the other. Thats all.

If we're talking about 'handling', they're all rubbish (by modern standards), by modern I'd say anything post 1940. If you really need 'handling' on a day to day basis, it's certainly not a Morgan you need. They don't really 'handle' and they're not designed for modern roads, or the 21's century....!

Some folk have done really well in life and made loads of money, and some folk have done...............less well.
I guess people buy what they can afford/realistically justify, or maybe they just want to buy 'the best' that a manufacturer produces, cos they can...... and why not.

If you're the sort of person who likes to have the very latest thing, then a cx car is the thing for you. Enjoy.
If you're trading in a late model trad or an aero for a cx, you'll notice a difference but probably not a massive difference, (not £35k), but then, if you can afford it, and really want one, why the hell not. Life really is too short, and the factory need the orders........!

If you go in to a car purchase worrying about residuals and depreciation then..................... crack on....! Keep worrying.
A cx might depreciate like a stone, who knows, the factory need to get them out in to circulation asap so there will be quite a few out there, and the development is .......... ongoing....!

My view, for what it's worth, (not a lot really), is that all Morgans are pretty rubbish (controversial, I know), but If we wanted a modern car we'd buy one.
Modern would be a far more sensible, better bet, in reality, but no, we chose a ladder frame chassis and Edwardian suspension with a modern (ish) engine and a vintage body style. They are different and unique and odd, but so are the folk that buy them..........

They're all good and bad in equal measure, frustrating and brilliant, pointless and essential.

Just because it's more expensive doesn't make it better in Morgan terms. The feeling of raw and basic 'conected-ness' (!!!), is available from an entry level price. The 'right car' does find you, it gets said a lot, but I think it's probably right in the Morgan world.

If you want to waft around without ever having to change gear with +8 torque then thats ok. If you want to rev the nuts off a sigma 4/4 and really connect to the car by changing gear, that's ok as well.
There's something for every one and (almost) every pocket.
Just enjoy the drive.

Well said Julian and hit a personal note for me as well. I'm about 6 years in with my 4/4 and having the itch for a change but deep down I think it's a change for the sake of it. The CX was/is an option but having read your post which sums up what's been floating in my head has brought some clarity.