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Aug 24th, 2023
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Joined: Aug 2020
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Talk Morgan Expert
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Talk Morgan Expert
Joined: Aug 2020
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All the 3 litre Roadsters have a very low hung aluminium slump, which has been known to catch and split , so many owners have fitted the modified shallower sump. also with the SSL front system you can set it up so the front of the car rides about an inch higher. Just something to be aware of the limited front ground clearance.
Last edited by JohnHarris; 19/09/23 12:20 PM.
Prev '12 Plus 4 Sport OZZY
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Joined: Jan 2023
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Talk Morgan Regular
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Talk Morgan Regular
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Les, If you're in the market for a roadster do a search here for ( M MC hammer ), Malcolm is selling his 2011 model. Not only is it a stunning Roadster its actually the best Morgan I have ever seen. concours in fact, see his pictures. This is definitely the best example you could hope to find. I'm gutted as after a lot of looking I bought my Mog in February, yeh! its not bad but oh how I would have loved Malcolm's!
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OP
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I'm in no hurry at the moment. I have a perfectly good Plus 4 but want to explore the Roadsters as a possible change. I need to understand all the pros & cons of changing (older car, running costs, etc), and once I have narrowed things down see what's about. I also feel I need to test drive the different variants to see what 'floats my boat'.
Thanks for all the comments and info so far.
Roadster 3.7
Plus 4 110 Anniversary
Plus 4 Fiat TC
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Wave & smile... It's a Morgan Member of the Inner Circle
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Wave & smile... It's a Morgan Member of the Inner Circle
Joined: Jun 2014
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Stewart. Does your car have the Ford gearbox? If it does try this oil. The gear box is a Ford transit box, which also is “ tight” getting into 1st & from 1st to 2nd, especially when cold. Ford have been trying to modify the oil to help. I changed to it with a vast improvement. Make sure it is this exact oil. Number bottom right on bottle. Worth a try. ![[Linked Image]](http://tm-img.com/images/2023/09/18/ACF7C06D-31FB-4787-92A6-7EB78BD77203.jpeg) Thanks I will definitely put that in on this winters service
2008 XXVII Platform, Bugatti Blue Roadster 4 Seater
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Member of the Inner Circle
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Member of the Inner Circle
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You don't change much in 3.7l Vs the S1. The 3.7 on A and B roads can be left in the grin gear aka 3rd. Where the 3.7 box scores is 6th is great as an overdrive on long runs. It is also flyby wire so you can fit cruise control for all those AVG speedzones
JohnV6
2022 CX Plus Four
2025 MG ZS EV aka Trigger
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BigLes |
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Hi Les
The S1 has a Mondeo derived V6 - 223bhp/200lb ft of torque, with a Getrag 221 gearbox with direct drive in 5th, and a 3.08:1 rear axle ratio. The dashboard is shallow, allowing more upward movement of the steering column. The instruments are cream. The speedo & tacho are ahead of the driver with four supplementaries along the dash centre.These cars had devol bushes in the kingpins and steering damper blades.
The S2 & S3 have the Ford MT-75 gearbox with direct drive in 4th, an overdrive 5th and a 3.73:1 rear axle ratio. This makes the S2 very slightly higher geared overall. These models use the Ford Escape V6.
The S2 ran from approx 2007-2010 with 201bhp/194lbft.From 2010 the engine was reworked into 240bhp/223lbft of torque. The Roadster Sport came along in 2010, and the front frame was widened on all S3 Roadsters, making the front track wider.
Instruments were black. Rev counter ahead of the driver, speedo & tri gauge in the centre. A deeper dashboard means less upward adjustment of the steering column. Removal of wooden seat spacers means a lower seat position. S2 & 3 have MMC steering bearings, replacing damper blades.
The 3.7 uses the Ford V6 Cyclone engine with 280bhp280lbft, and a Ford/Getrag MT-82 six speed gearbox.
I had my S1 Roadster before I got my GDi. The Roadster is streets ahead of the standard GDi, but a GDi with the Aero Racing upgrades is much closer, but nowhere near as relaxing to drive. They are very different cars.
Some of the early Roadsters benefit from a much cheaper rate of road tax. Insurance is hardly any different, if at all. MPG from my S1 is around 30, and maybe up to 32, but it does encourage you to make it growl. My GDi is not much different on MPG. Is the Roadster 100 based on the S2 or S3? Looking at pictures it seems to be based on the S2? I gather the dash layout changes between the S2 and S3 - the S2 having the rev counter in front of the driver and the speedo and tri gauge in the centre (as you mentioned above) and the S3 the speedo and rev counter in the centre with 3 push buttons underneath. With it's more powerful engine and the wider front track is the S3 a preferable car?
Roadster 3.7
Plus 4 110 Anniversary
Plus 4 Fiat TC
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Learner Plates Off!
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Hi Les. I think I have one of the last S3's produced (march 2011). Dash layout isn't any different (rev counter in front of drivers, speedo & tri-gauge in the middle). I don't think there are many visual differences - but one to watch out for is the tubular exhaust manifolds: on the more powerful S3 engine the three branches each side are longer - they extend outside the engine bay sidewalls (I've forgotten the correct term for them) before they merge into one. In terms of performance and torque the S3 has quite a Jekyll and Hyde character: it has a big wave of torque at lower revs and can pootle around very happily from around 1500 revs: wind it up above 5000 - 5500 and it goes like the proverbial! Hope this helps!
Nick
Connaught Green Roadster S3 V6
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BigLes |
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Hi Les,
My very early S1 Roadster, 2004 with the Getrag 5 speed gearbox was purchased from Berrybrook (nice people to deal with) last December. I upgraded it straight away with the SSL front and rear suspension kits. It's a lovely car to drive - easy to potter along at 20mph when required but having startling acceleration too. It gives well over 30 mpg on basic unleaded. If you'd like a drive, message me. I live in North Somerset, presumably not too far from you.
Incidentally, the road tax on Roadsters registered before 23 March 2006 id £395. After that date it rises to £675. At some time (late 2007? can't be sure) the Roadster emissions reduced so that it fell back into the £395 category. If that is relevant to your decision-making, then check the emissions of any Roadster offered for sale by entering the registration number onto the DVLA Vehicle Enquiry facility.
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Yes, I installed my SSL front kit with the spacers at the top which results in a slightly higher ride height and thus gives a little more clearance under the sump. Makes me sleep more easily at night., but might consider fitting a shallow Mulfab sump some time.
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BigLes |
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Hi Les,
My very early S1 Roadster, 2004 with the Getrag 5 speed gearbox was purchased from Berrybrook (nice people to deal with) last December. I upgraded it straight away with the SSL front and rear suspension kits. It's a lovely car to drive - easy to potter along at 20mph when required but having startling acceleration too. It gives well over 30 mpg on basic unleaded. If you'd like a drive, message me. I live in North Somerset, presumably not too far from you.
Incidentally, the road tax on Roadsters registered before 23 March 2006 id £395. After that date it rises to £675. At some time (late 2007? can't be sure) the Roadster emissions reduced so that it fell back into the £395 category. If that is relevant to your decision-making, then check the emissions of any Roadster offered for sale by entering the registration number onto the DVLA Vehicle Enquiry facility. Hi Tony Thanks for the info, and the offer of a drive. I must say the S1 Roadster does seem to be highly regarded, but for me I'm uneasy with the idea of going from a 3 year old Plus 4 to a car that's nearly 20 years older. Of the S2 and S3 the S3 seems favourable as the engine has more power and it has the wider track at the front, but the VED on those cars is extortionate. There's a nice pale blue S3 in Berrybrooks at present but it means going up to the 3.7 engine with £675 per annum VED! I suppose a 3litre S3 would be ideal, but then the question of the Transit gearbox and rev hang start to come into play. Needless to say I am still mulling it over.
Roadster 3.7
Plus 4 110 Anniversary
Plus 4 Fiat TC
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