Talk Morgan Forums Community Vehicle Talk (non-Morgan) Cars that are the Antidote to losing interest...

It is
Top Image from Image
Love it

I'm quite surprised that there is only one mention of a Caterham. With just one turn of the wheel, it isimmediately obvious that the are unlike almost any car to drive. I URGE ANY motoring enthusiast to try and have a go in one, or hire one for the day. The controllability when the back end comes out makes it much easier to get a bit sideways coming out of corners and they are phenomenal on track days.

Mine is an R500 with a 245bhp 1.9 K series engine and a Quaife sequential gearbox. It can be very angry above 500rpm, but also relaxing if you want it to be.

My dad swapped his GDI Plus for for a 360s and he drives it much more than he did the Morgan. My 5 Yr old daughter loves going out with him in it too!

Never driven or even sat in a Lotus 7 derivative...unfortunately, though some years back when I was in my "originality" mode, and folk were trying to improve upon standard Morgans to get more sporting performance, I did ask why did they not just buy a Caterham as it seemed to provide all the performance and more that they were in search of ... I have since matured to some degree..(-:

Luddite ... you should! .... you will forever consider your trad as a sophisticated and luxury vehicle 🙂

K

[quote
My dad swapped his GDI Plus for for a 360s and he drives it much more than he did the Morgan. My 5 Yr old daughter loves going out with him in it too![/quote]

Having driven a few Caterhams incl a 420 at Snetterton, have to say they are an exceptional tool on the race track.

However as a public highway machine one of these would never pass muster with SWMBO.

The GDI, all be it with inferior performance, is a more rounded vehicle for both track and road use IMHO.

7s are a breathtaking drive, the turbulence in the cabin sucks the air from your lungs😂

Mine is the least sophisticated chassis and yet it glides along like a magic carpet, the interior looks and feels like a biscuit tin though.

I guess my lack of 7 experience leaves a bit of a hole in my automotive journey through life.

The products Mr Chapman`s, design greatly impressed during my teens. Now on the wrong side of 70 and in consideration of that which Image and Ewan have typed, I suspect I have left it a tad too late to really enjoy that which a 7 derivative might have to offer, though as an all weather m/cyclist in my yoof and again as a born-again biker in my 50`s, I guess I might console myself that I have at least experienced some of the air blast that can accompany the somewhat exposed enjoyment provided by controlling a performant machine on a bit of traffic free twisting Tarmac...(-:

As for the possible comparison in terms of the "luxurious" Morgan experience, compared to that which my old +8 might provide..hmm...? I have read contributions where suspension "improvements" to the rear of a Trad Morgan might make it ride very smoothly, regardless of the rather restricted overall travel limitations of the cart spring set up on the rear....But then as one much wiser than I wrote.. Everything is relative..? (-:

Despite her adventurous nature my good lady ever preferred the side screens fitted while enjoying a bit of Morganeering in the usual climatic restrictions of the UK, though was happy enough to have the side sceens removed while travelling over quite a few thousand miles during our Southern European escapes...

As for the Mog advantages over a 7 for touring. While on our first Mog adventure down to the LM 24 hrs in 2002, I do remember catching sight of the rather high and rather unstable looking luggage stacks piled up on the rear racks on 7`s, thus it would seem that a Trad Morgan may be a tad more suitable for an occasional European jaunt...? Quite how Mrs Luddite managed to pack all her little essentials into the Mog and leave enough room for my kit, limited to a spare pair of underpants, socks, more importantly overalls, and a few tools, must have taken quite a bit of positive thinking and organisation on her part.

I am pretty sure had I said at almost any time in more recent years, "are you up for another European jaunt," she would have had the old Mog fully packed with her kit in jig time.. (-:

Morgans may not be considered as first choice for ideal all-round transport, however it seems Morganeers have been a a pretty determined bunch over many decades to the extent that neither Mogs on race tracks, transporting Christmas trees, or taking to back road adventures including crossing continents has been entirely unknown..? (-:

A good friend of mine had an R500, a blisteringly quick road car, I had the opportunity to drive a few times and be passenger in. I found more so as a passenger it felt a very low and very exposed car, that was quite intimidating to be in with lorries around. His wife made him sell it as he was either going to lose his licence or potentially have an accident in it. I can only image what a great track day car it would make.

My one experience of a Caterham was at a track day at the Bedford Autodrome.
The track was damp and I managed a spectacular pirouette ending up backwards on the grass.
Great fun to drive, but above my skill level.
Bud
4/4 - Stanley

Yes the 7 is a wonderful fun car, I had mine 12+ years and it went from a standard 1.6 K series to 1.8 R400+. It has to be said it's as useful as a chocolate fire guard as transport for the road, but it was always life affirming on every drive. On track it's a weapon, but it can become a bit of an arms race if you let it. You are somewhat exposed yes, but you do get used to it and I always felt that was even a good thing on the road, as there's no hiding if you do something stupid!