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Aug 24th, 2023
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 7,342 Likes: 91
Talk Morgan Guru
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Talk Morgan Guru
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 7,342 Likes: 91 |
Dale, you touch on a very important point.. Namely, that we older ones have to be careful not to confuse our ideas and projections about young buyers with the real young buyers. I tried to show this in my post above and you have confirmed it perfectly with evidence.
What you refer to as "positives" is exactly what distinguishes the Plus Four or Six from the Trad. Dale, I bet you didn't want to crawl under your car every 1000 miles or drive to the garage to grease the front axle?
What you mention, what JohnHarris describes as "negatives", are not negatives in your eyes. It's the character that distinguishes the Morgan from the lulling robot car, even today. I think it's fantastic how you quote your partner that the Morgan is especially a car for young (wealthy) drivers, as adventurous as the tent on the campsite, while the Porsche or BMW is (can be) such a boring and interchangeable all-inclusive resort with fixed times for SPA, sauna and dinner.
This is the perfect transformation of the eternal Morgan values to a new generation. Thank you for speaking out about this as a young driver who wants to distinguish himself from other young drivers with his individuality and character.
'14 4/4 graphite grey
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Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 2,793 Likes: 161
Talk Morgan Expert
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Talk Morgan Expert
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 2,793 Likes: 161 |
Heinz, interesting observations, which made me reflect on what I would compare a CX to as far as involving drives with the lack of driver aids and I start to harp back to the convertibles of the 60's, 70's and 80's. An expression of character and individuality, is equally achieved driving an humble air cooled Beetle or a Morris Minor..........
Last edited by JohnHarris; 01/09/22 08:12 AM.
Prev '12 Plus 4 Sport OZZY
'08 Roadster FELIX
'06 4/4 70th LOKI
'77 4/4 SEAMUS
'85 4/4 MOLLY
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Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 4,612 Likes: 194
Part of the Furniture
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Part of the Furniture
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 4,612 Likes: 194 |
Amongst the variety of those who choose to buy a Morgan will be those who have owned Morgans for many a year or even a series of Morgans over the years, and I suspect the CX perhaps fits better with the latter, whereas the former may be hanging on to their youth to some extent, myself included..(-: The latter perhaps well used to the routine of hood, side-screens and other foibles and accept it as part of the price of still being able to own a Morgan which has evolved to become more comfortable and plush, but not so much that it might have lost the essence of adventure that a Morgan ever seemed to hold. I suspect Trike, Trad or CX, there is a rather high percentage of emotion involved all be it perhaps a variety of emotions form the rather adventurous types through to those who prefer to be just that bit different from the average sports car driver, after all Porsches are ten a penny these days...  Emotion..? Even today as I type I still feel very fortunate to have enjoyed the sense of adventure involved in touring Southern Europe for holidays over a few years and having numerous images of our Morgan in various interesting locations brings back highly valued memories of trials tribulations seeing places, meeting people, smiling strangers, and testing one`s self to some degree, all of which and more that I imagine would be very difficult to put a price on, and in terms of my perception of quality of life, my old Morgan has played a significant part in creating some very high quality memories. John, I think you must be feeling a tad grumpy this morning. Having owned Midgets ( of the MG variety I hasten to add), the basics are there for sure, even some advantages over a trad, but there would seem to be quite a bit missing... Might as well equate some Fiats to Ferrari..?  BTW, I too have driven around in freezing temps without the hood up, in fact the vast majority of my Morgan driving over the years was minus hood and sidescreens, I don`t see that changing anytime soon... Though do admit to that preference limiting it`s useage in more recent times..
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,064 Likes: 57
Talk Morgan Expert
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Talk Morgan Expert
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,064 Likes: 57 |
“It’s like camping on wheels, except your tent isn’t very waterproof.”
. The question is how many "younger people" are interested on such expensive camping and how many younger people are able and interested to afford such an expensive car with "such unusual features" as a second car. I know that some people here use their Morgan as a daily driver, but I have never seen one in Germany, for example... The price differences in the various countries should also be taken into account.
Last edited by bmgermany; 01/09/22 09:57 AM.
2005 4/4 1800ccm Duratec and a lot of HONDA CX500.......
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,666 Likes: 43
Talk Morgan Addict
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Talk Morgan Addict
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,666 Likes: 43 |
" It’s like camping on wheels, except your tent isn’t very waterproof. "
That's absolutely brilliant. I'd like to have that as a sticker on the side of my mog.
It should be an advertising catchphrase.
Genius.
Nick
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Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 2,793 Likes: 161
Talk Morgan Expert
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Talk Morgan Expert
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 2,793 Likes: 161 |
Amongst the variety of those who choose to buy a Morgan will be those who have owned Morgans for many a year or even a series of Morgans over the years, and I suspect the CX perhaps fits better with the latter, whereas the former may be hanging on to their youth to some extent, myself included..(-: The latter perhaps well used to the routine of hood, side-screens and other foibles and accept it as part of the price of still being able to own a Morgan which has evolved to become more comfortable and plush, but not so much that it might have lost the essence of adventure that a Morgan ever seemed to hold. I suspect Trike, Trad or CX, there is a rather high percentage of emotion involved all be it perhaps a variety of emotions form the rather adventurous types through to those who prefer to be just that bit different from the average sports car driver, after all Porsches are ten a penny these days... Emotion..? Even today as I type I still feel very fortunate to have enjoyed the sense of adventure involved in touring Southern Europe for holidays over a few years and having numerous images of our Morgan in various interesting locations brings back highly valued memories of trials tribulations seeing places, meeting people, smiling strangers, and testing one`s self to some degree, all of which and more that I imagine would be very difficult to put a price on, and in terms of my perception of quality of life, my old Morgan has played a significant part in creating some very high quality memories. John, I think you must be feeling a tad grumpy this morning. Having owned Midgets ( of the MG variety I hasten to add), the basics are there for sure, even some advantages over a trad, but there would seem to be quite a bit missing... Might as well equate some Fiats to Ferrari..? BTW, I too have driven around in freezing temps without the hood up, in fact the vast majority of my Morgan driving over the years was minus hood and sidescreens, I don`t see that changing anytime soon... Though do admit to that preference limiting it`s useage in more recent times.. Interesting, no I'm not grumpy maybe in pragmatic head mode......I did mean of the MG variety. Now interestingly and I hasten to add one should not put worlds into other people's mouth but I did reflect on your 'might as well equate some Fiats to Ferrari' might just touch on the snob value, maybe an intrinsic display of wealth......I can afford a Ferrari whether its a better product or not in performing its primary function in life ie a mode of transport when compared to the Fiat could become debateable.........cat amongst pigeons time.  Quality of life, fond memories may be accentuated by possessions, , but I've experienced as much fun and memorable journeys and fondest memories in the only available rental car being a basic 1.3 Hyundai going up the east coast of Australia, as I did a few days later in 5 litre v8 Ford Falcon barrelling across New Zealand. Rose tinted glasses and all that.  Driving a Morgan can be an adventure in ways you least expect, which can make a journey more memorable not necessarily for the right reasons. In over 50 years of motoring mainly in convertibles the only time I've had to have a breakdown recovery membership and had to use is whilst I was driving a Morgan. My most reliable Morgan was Seamus a '77 4/4 4 seater, my daily driver for 3 years, slightly shabby at the edges but reliable, did a 3k mile holiday trip in 2 weeks, up and down mountains without a moments hesitation. The reliability may have been a product of its simpler mechanics and regular daily use.
Last edited by JohnHarris; 01/09/22 09:29 AM.
Prev '12 Plus 4 Sport OZZY
'08 Roadster FELIX
'06 4/4 70th LOKI
'77 4/4 SEAMUS
'85 4/4 MOLLY
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Joined: May 2022
Posts: 84 Likes: 2
Just Getting Started
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Just Getting Started
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 84 Likes: 2 |
Enzo Ferrari drove a Fiat. Just saying ...
Andy
2022 Plus Four / San Marino Blue
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 7,342 Likes: 91
Talk Morgan Guru
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Talk Morgan Guru
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 7,342 Likes: 91 |
Peter Morgan drove a Ferrari🤓
'14 4/4 graphite grey
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Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 4,612 Likes: 194
Part of the Furniture
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Part of the Furniture
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 4,612 Likes: 194 |
Andy/Heinz...  Apologies if when using the Fiats to Ferraris as a comparison I might have appeared snobbish, for that was not my intention.. There have been indeed some very fine and expensive Fiats of the sporting variety, however I expect much of the emotional decision to buy a Ferrari might be related to it`s racing heritage, much like the idea of Morgan`s heritage and history of hand built craftsmanship that drew me into Morgan ownership.. Each to their own. I too have driven foreign parts in hire cars, and grabbed the occasional pic to preserve the memory. I suspect many car enthusiasts given the choice would prefer to do the journies in their own classic, perhaps left at home for the sake of expediency..? I know I much preferred the sense of adventure that I felt when exploring similar foreign parts in my Morgan that I had previously driven in hire cars. As for the possibility of breakdown... My Morgan being a carburettor fed Trad, was devoid of the degree of complexity to the extent that I carried my own kit of tools in the hope that my rudimentary mechanical knowledge could avoid dependence on others, at least up to a point. From a dull memory I only had to change one fan belt and replace a rubber fuel elbow, and not on the same trip, the latter should have been replaced by me due to it`s age..but then as my Mog was set up for touring I was able to repair it on the spot... Unlike my good lady`s 4x4 which had to be recovered over a fortnight ago 10 miles from home as the result of a wheel speed sensor kicking up all sorts of alarms and disturbing it`s digital programming to the extent it expressed it`s desire to be parked up and recovered... Fortunately I had reached an age where we had taken out breakdown insurance. Having typed that almost three weeks later the 4x4 still sits at our house waiting to be picked up by flatbed and taken to the dealership now some three weeks after it broke down..... and for what... perhaps for just one sensor failing to provide the appropriate input to the ECU...? Changed days indeed.
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 15,794 Likes: 14
Formerly known as Aldermog Member of the Inner Circle
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Formerly known as Aldermog Member of the Inner Circle
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 15,794 Likes: 14 |
It’s funny, as one of these new “young” buyers (I’m 34) you guys often mention when despairing for the future of Morgan, I read your post with interest. All the things you list as positives are the reasons I decided I was finally able to join the family (comfort, automatic, speakers, air conditioning, and ride quality). All the “negatives” (slower manual hood, time to remove side screens, having the elements inside the car, limitations in terms of what you can bring with you due to space, limited safety features that allow for those traditional design elements inside and out, and the absence of driver aids) are the reasons I went with a Morgan and not a 718 or alternative (though I really can’t think of anything else that could go in the immediately comparable category). My view is I was buying into the Morgan experience. I wanted those slower, traditional, more hands-on experiential aspects. My partner commented a few weeks ago after a 4 day tour of the Lakes in a new Plus Four, that she was surprised people thought it was a car for older people. In her view it is a young persons car. It lacks the sealed creature comforts of a Porsche or BMW or equivalent. It’s hard to get into and out of. You get wet in the rain. It’s noisy at speeds above 45mph. In her view, and mine as well, it’s a fantastic car to have and experience adventures from. “It’s like camping on wheels, except your tent isn’t very waterproof.”
All that’s to say, I think I might be proof that Morgan got it right with the younger crowd and new buyers. What you listed as draw backs were in my view the selling features. Morgan can never be a Porsche competitor on paper. But out on the road, exploring a new place or driving a favourite country lane, there’s no comparison in my books. Morgan is the only and best choice for an adventure. I'm still undecided if I'll sell the Plus 8 when it is fixed, or not. The Plus 8 has "Something" the Boxster S, despite all its engineering perfection, can never have. It does well, but it lacks the spark. I've had the Plus 8 since November 2014 and it has been largely fault free. I suppose I'd become complacent and I'm paying the price.
Peter,
66, 2016 Porsche Boxster S
No longer driving Tarka, the 2014 Plus 8...
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