Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms New +8 or a 3.7 Roadster.

Frank has instigated what must be at the very least "Thread of the Month". If I might veer slightly back on track.........

Speaking with my official hat on, (which I rarely do ‘out of context’), then the issue of the classes in Pride of Ownership and Concours is not determined by me or any one individual. The Competitions sub-committee will be the first place to open the debate, and from there the recommendations will go to the full NCM for ratification , or a vote.

New models, under current regulations are confined to the single Concours class for two years, so there’s no pressing need to find a quick fix. If a decision is ultimately made to create a new class, then with that comes a requirement for a trophy, and a cost to the Club.
The first new model to be considered will be the M3W, and whether after two years, these should be judged with the traditional 3W’s. Since MMC does not attract that many 3W’s now, it’s a fine balance as to whether to keep a single class, or go for two. I usually resist amalgamation of classes where there are limited numbers of entrants, simply because it wastes a trophy on the day. I would though, really like to see a good number of the new M3W’s entered in Pride of Ownership in two years. With a single 3 wheeler class there is no doubt that it may deter the small number of old 3 wheeler owners from entering, but that might be a price worth paying given the tiny numbers involved.

At present we have a single Aero Class for all models, but very little interest from owners, so subdividing the class into Aero8/Max/SS is very unlikely. As you will recall, I have the Aero trophy in my garage……………….
So when we debate the appropriate class for the new Plus8 it will be very interesting to see what the opinions are. So it’s a case of watch this space.

Yes, well done Frank!

Regarding your last sentence Dave, why go back on track - none of the rest of us have?

Good debate here - hope it stays civilised!!!!
My opinion is that the "Plus8" is an Aero variant.
Its has the underpinnings of an Aero with a Trad body variant.
For me to think of it as a Trad it would need to be a Roadster with a V8 - Trad Roadster underpinnings with a V8 dropped in.
As for the Concours Class........
Aero?
Just judge on the required criteria - irrespective of shape?

The interesting question is: will Morgan continue to make this car when the supply of current BMW engines runs out? I would think this is a question even Morgan could not answer at this moment. It would all depend on market acceptance of the concept. I can see that this may lead to a whole new series of trad bodied cars. Also one must consider that by 2013 Euro VI cuts in and this could give rise to a lot of changes.

I, for one, would find a trad bodied car on a modern chasis with independant suspension and ABS braking very interesting. (sort of having your cake and eating it too). Personally, however, I would want such a car with something like the 2 litre Ecoboost engine, and I am not sure I would want a car as large in dimensions as the new Plus 8

Yes, I've driven one, on track.
(If it hadn't had the electronics it would NOT have gone around the track at the pace it did. But there comes a time when physics takes over - as you mention in your examples. By then there are very few road drivers capable of keeping it on the tarmc...).
And fair bit of other 'exotica'.

No further comment...

I reckon if you asked the general public at say a car show I reckon a fair percentage would vote on the new +8 looking like a trad rather than the Aero series just from the looks.

By the way it seems the 3.7 has been firmly relegated to the back room .The original thread was 2 new Trads Versus each other , is it fair to put the new +8 against the SS ?

Just to confuse things further

Andy

If you mean the Plus4SS at £50k against the Plu8+ at £90k, then it's not really a fair fight.
If it's the AeroSS at £120k then it's closer.... but I still prefer the back room Roadster.

I suspect the engine deal is still in the air.

Not quite

Aero SS £110k + vat = £132k

Plus 8 £70k plus vat = £84k

Plus4SS = £52k (?? from memory)

So £48k plays £32k

However, looks like the new plus 8 can take on allcomers

Sorry Boshers. Guilty as charged of guesstimating... (as usual)

And the new Morgans have to take on the nearly new where prices are quite soft at the moment