Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms Interesting Telegraph Article..

The fast turnover putting CX cars back in the market seems odd BUT....
Reasons to pull out of ownership can be many.
Having a chunk of money sitting unused in the garage would trigger questions about why? There are so many Morgans with ridiculously low mileage because they don’t get used. Hence why keep the car? With current high inflation freeing up the cash and drain on it can prompt a sale of little used assets.
The early brake/cooling problems seem to have been dealt with but there could be a lingering doubt and “ falling out of love” occurring. Mind you that has been a regular with newly developed Morgans. Other car manufacturers get similar problems so why should MMC be different?
The increase in cost ties up larger chunks of money so perhaps the penny drops after owning one, especially if little used.
As for modernising a Morgan away from the trad ethos that is what new to Morgan people want. Yes, there are many who like trads but that is an ageing, diminishing market.
I am moving to a Plus Four, picking the dar up on Thursday. The Plus8 is going. 70k miles of enjoyment and hands-on has given great memories. An MY23 car that ( fingers crossed) will mean less hands-on and continued enjoyment. Performance is as good as the old car ( no burble though) the auto still gives a kick in the rear that the 8 did.
OK, just test drives so far but they were enough to go by. Looking forward to many miles more. September Mogs at Windermere and Scotland from there again this year will be the first long one. The car won’t be a garage queen. Post Covid restrictions are over so catch-back planned. Only here once.....

I dont see a conflict between the old and the new. The old Trad stopped really being a sports car many years ago - the crude chassis saw to that. But if I go to my classic car club meet, , there are lots of them alongside other old cars such as TR3s, big Healeys etc plus members enjoying having them. Its simple . They are an old classic car.

Its less clear where the new CX ones fit. Bit of neither fish nor foul. They arent a sports car in the way that say an Alpine is, being dynamically challenged by comparison . Nor are they a classic since their only claim to this is a pastiche of 1940s styling. But they do hopefully offer a level of useability that the old Morgans dont. No get out and get under. No suspension greasing etc. Modern drivers have not grown up with hands on maintenance in the way that many of us have done.

Morgan had to change. They had drifted into a similar position to VW when they were still making the old Beetle. It was either change or die and even after change there is no guarantee since the age of interesting sporting transport is rapidly vanishing into an age of the cara as a domestic appliace. Where is the fun to be had when its nose to tail 20mph or 50 mph ( as in Wales) over potholes in something that sounds like a washing machine.

IMO the car years are rapidly coming to an end. Long term Morgan might remain as a brand name but not as a maker of "sports cars".

Many happy (S)miles in the new car, Sospan — pictures are ,as always, a requirement!!

Cheers from the sunny south-east of Ireland!

Some new engines should be available post 2030. How about a new trad narrow body +4 with one of these fitted?

They look and probably sound great. Around £30K it seems, so the hypothetical car would probably be priced in CX territory ? And "Millington engineering Ltd do not offer warranty on new engines but may contribute to the restoration of the product depending on the nature of the circumstances", oh dear brakes and radiators spring to mind.

Coming to Morgan from a British Classic like an MG, TR, or Healey, the more recent Trads are much more accomplished, and the quirks are expected and part of the deal.
But the cohort coming in from "prestige" brands, who are seduced by the look of a Morgan are usually ill prepared for the soft top quirks, and the overall lifestyle, which is not prestige, however much MMC would like it to be so.

Factor in the lack of driver aids, then add on unreliability, and these are not people who will stick around. Trads may not get much use but they don't change hands often either. And Trad owners are loyal customers, whereas the new ownership in most cases will have no loyalty. At this price point, buyers are picky, and switch brands often. I know quite a few in this zone who are never happy with ANY prestige brand.

How this will evolve is anybody's guess, but unhappy CX owners along with social media addiction won't help MMCs reputation, and is bound to affect sales.

I wonder what Charles thinks of it all

I should think that one enjoyed Trads

I think that Charles will enjoy the windfall.

Peter, however my not reckon much to what happened, if he's looking down.

Perhaps on a global scale there is a market for 1000+ cars a year, but given the unreliability, recent reputational damage, inconsistent build quality, parts bin components and high price tag of the product I'd be amazed.
I've read through this thread and some extremely well informed and well argued points have been made.
I wonder if the Management or investors have read it....?

The pre owned Morgan world will always exist, some of the newer players will certainly fall by the wayside but the 'legacy dealers' will plod on, they've got history, reputation and experience behind them. They don't need to sell new Morgans anymore, they don't need MMC.

It seems pretty clear to me that MMC, in its current form or in any form we would recognise, is doomed.
The trad is dead the CX is dying.

It's just a matter of time.................