Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms Is The Seven Year Itch At Play?

Another RAMBLE.

Interesting stuff Howard.. The Nick has been across the Atlantic a couple of times.. I am with you on all things relative to wood on boat exteriors, let alone wooden hulls, though wood looks so much nicer when maintained.. For sure just as there are those like myself who in times past would be ever messing around rebuilding my old m/cycles and cars, just as there are those who do much the same for boats of all shapes and sizes... Matters not a jot to me if some boats may end up little used for their original design purpose, just as some ageing owners m/cycles and cars may do in time.. You accurately describe the boatyard/marina scene in the way that boats can create their own land-based community of folk beavering away on old boats that may never see the water again in their present owners hands.. I think that no matter the pastime chosen if it involves physical or mental involvement which folk may be losing to some noticeable degree, lack of use or involvement in the pastime may well show up as matters evolve. All of which just seems like a recurring and somewhat natural progression, just as others have already posted..? As ever each to their own....(-:

I owned a Moody 30 for a decade or so home waters being the Clyde estuary and it`s Islands and sea lochs, sailed to Ireland and around the Western Isles a bit for annual holidays with my good lady as only crew. The Moody was formerly my uncles sloop which we had sailed together over the years though he mostly sailed it single handed, as did I in time.. I spread my uncles ashes from it`s stern at a favoured cruising spot of his.... but burial at sea, I doubt I could have managed that, though if he had expressed any such wish in that regard, I would have looked into it and given it my best shot..

Sold the Moody (but kept the +8) to initially fund my self-build home extension... Happy wife equates to happy life... That decision worked out well enough for many a year..

I also agree on Porsche water-cooled reliability from 996 up to 997.1. with a circa £15k bill seemingly hanging by a thread over ones head...Hmm..? .As earlier water-cooled Porsches age and loose a degree of their value unlike their air-cooled brethren, the cost to benefit ratio of the risks and potential parts costs is perhaps best assessed. I suspect Ferraris too can cost rather a lot to maintain and repair, which can perhaps go some way to explain why so many owners seem somewhat reluctant to drive them other than rarely...I guess trying to retain value in "classic" machinery may be more of a consideration for the financially conscious or restricted, than it might be for those who may be fully enjoying adding miles to their machinery with no real care as to it`s monetary value....?

A pal owned a 400i which initially belonged to a rock superstar.... For me the engine was a revelation, I had never seen anything like it, the V12 being set up as two sixes with their own distributors, fuelling systems and oil filters... a fantastic bit of kit.... The bodywork and electrics...Hmm, questionable at best. Ferrari`s ever scared me given the potential to wreck any budget I had available for a hobby machine. Porsche in the air-cooled era was very expensive for parts too, but far less likely to need as many costly parts as an older Ferrari.

Given air cooled Porsches seem to have evolved from Mr Porsches idea to create a simple and reliable "peoples car" built to last, as opposed to Mr Ferrari`s dreams of building a race car.? That both evolved to eventually compete against each other at LM was quite an achievement for Porsche, and with Porsche competing and winning in just about every other kind of motor sport event over many decades, caused me somewhat reluctantly into appreciating the marque.

A couple of decades back a friend drove his 911 SC Sport down to the South of France and by chance met up with a group of Germans who stayed at the same hotel and had also motored down in their Porsches, they spoke of their friend a Ferrari owner who had started the journey with them but broke down on the way, and was in the process of returning home to pick up his Porsche and join up with them in time... Apparently this was an annual trip for the Germans and the Ferrari owner had tried and failed at least on one other occasion to complete the journey.... My guess is that rarely used cars can suffer if not made use of, and the more complex they are mechanically or digitally the more often the suffering may present it`s self...?

In my youth it was all about working on my old m/cycles, not until I was in my twenties did old sports cars take over as my main interest. Went back to m/cycling in my fifties had an old BSA B40 and a BMW R850R for a couple of years even rode the BM in the snow...!

A while back even with the tonneau in place and the heater on full blast aches and pains would show themselves... I guess my general health was on a downhill slog for quite some time, but surprisingly in the last month or so since adopting morning 40 min walks it seems to have improved to the extent that I have enjoyed driving the old Mog for a few miles on a warm day..with the tonneau in place and the heater on...(-:

No doubt in my mind that the old Mog is a work of art sitting in the garage. That I can still drive and enjoy doing so for now is an unexpected bonus at this moment in time..

Thank you Ewan and Graham!

The current owner has gone quite but it is the weekend so fingers crossed this can be boxed off tomorrow.

All,

this has been one of the most interesting, informative and philosophical threads I've ever read and enjoyed on Talk Morgan: thanks to everyone who contributed. . . . . so far....where will it take us?

Good evening All,

Thought I'd give an update on this journey I'm on...and a bit of a ramble.

So, the owner of my former Defender did come back with a no on an offer of less than what he paid which is what the selling dealer wanted to put forth and in line with the market. I went back and asked that a offer of making him whole be put to him and whilst he was flattered, he stated he wanted to keep it a bit longer and perhaps next year he would swap out.

I then went back to another 90 in my wanted colour of Aintree Green which is located quite a ways from from. The price they are advertising is very much at the very top end and if it had a few more options it might be justified. A short call had the retailer drop the price slightly but it was still silly money hence I kept looking.

A few more weeks went and nothing of interest was found so I called this retailer again and offered what I felt was a more realistic amount but still a tad higher than what I felt a private sale would have fetched. But it was a cherished example, showed well, 1 former keeper etc. He wanted £500 more than I offered to which I said I would be open to it and wanted to think on it.

It was at that point I called the retailer who sold on my former 90 and offered more than what the current owner paid which was a bit less than this other one. Sadly, while flattered, the owner said he couldn't find something comparable so declined.

At this point I called the other retailed and arranged a viewing on the Friday that the storm came in. Needless to say it was a three hour drive north and a stressful one at that. In short, the retailer couldn't have been less interested in me if he tried. The 90 was as nice as I imagined but the desire to buy it went ice cold due to the reception I received and the treatment whilst there. I muddled through as I made the drive and it came down to him agreeing to knock £500 off due to a few minor issues. He stated he'd think about it but felt it was fair due to and I quote 'all the to and froing' It would appear he was put off that I didn't just buy it on the stop. I reminded him that the market has cooled, the 90 in question has been for sale since July etc. I left.

45 mins later he messages and said he would accept my offer. I truly politely thanked him, complimented the lovely retailer space they have etc but stated I was put off but the experience. He stated he had bad news earlier in the day and felt horrible that he came across as he did. Not sure what to believe. Needless to say he hasn't reached out since.

However, it's still for sale so clearly my 'low' offer has been the highest he's been given thus far. I can't tell you how often I went to close the deal and then didn't and during this, telling myself I will sell the Morgan in the spring and then connivence myself I won't ... and round and round I go. I look at him, the 4/4, and I fall in love again, but a short drive or rational think and I rush to my phone to close the 90 deal. I know I could get the 90 and give myself the next 5-6 months to come to terms that the 4/4 must go yet fear I will chicken out and then be straddled with two toys which isn't practical on my levels for me.

I appreciate this is BEYOND a first world problem considering the state the world is in.

It's quite surprising how one can get so emotionally attached to what is in the end a piece of metal. I would like to think that the sadness of selling a special car passes quickly...

By the sound of it, you’ve nothing to lose by waiting, other landies will come along and not everyone can be bothered hanging out for top dollar. Added to that, across the board, ransom prices for anything at all can be asked but doesn’t seem to be achieved.

There are early signs we may see a recession, with house prices dropping and another bout of 90's negative equity, especially likely if the Israeli conflict widens as it already is into the rest of the Middle East and oil prices head upwards already talk of $150 a barrel possible....if that does come to pass, there maybe a lot of second vehicles /fun cars being off loaded and resultant depressed prices.

Perry

I think Morgans and Land Rovers make good companions - if nothing else they share the " we start them, you finish them" philosophy. Which I guess is why so many people here - including me - have them.
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I also share the dilemma expressed on this thread. I have owned my +8 for 21 years now, having bought it from new (my second new car), but in the last few years I have barely done 200 miles a year in it. I should really let her go, but the "pleasure of ownership" factor, right or wrong, keeps it in my Garage, I also still enjoy making plans for developing it though, I initially set it up for touring and commuting, but now I keep planning on moving to a Cafe Racer style, lose the spare wheel, bumpers, set up a cut-down windscreen, permanently detach the hood et al, knowing full well that none of this will actually happen but the planning is fun.

The Defender, also bought new in 2012 suffers from the same mileage issue as the Morgan, Living on an Island 9 * 5 for which I am out of for 4 - 5 months a year, an improving bus service and a decreasing desire to drive just for the sake of driving has meant that it has a mileage of just under 9k and that includes a trip to Spain! . Coupled with the fact that the Defender has to stay outside under trees because I have quite constrained space means it should also be sold. But it is SUCH a good vehicle for the Jersey roads.

I have thought long and hard about selling and came to the conclusion that one should go, probably the Morgan but with my usual dithering actually got very close to buying a 3rd car. But that is another story.

Having said all that we are currently being hammered by Storm Cieran, at about midnight last night we had a flurry of golf ball sized hail stones, that genuinely sounded like someone was hitting the windows with a hammer, it only lasted a minute or so but if they hit the Defender they would have caused severe damage. It is too dangerous to go outside at the moment to check it out, the wind has dropped, but is still gusting to 80mph. Wind direction was to the rear of the house whereas the Defender was at the front so fingers crossed.

Having both, I agree that a Defender and a Morgan is a perfect duo ... no plans to change either.

Hope the hail missed your Landy .... alloy body a bit vulnerable to denting .... maybe you can console yourself that the dimpled surface might up your top speed on the same aerodynamic principle as a golf-ball. 🙂 .... good luck.

Not too bad up here this time ... bit breezy and just about to start in on two days of continuous heavy rain on already waterlogged land ... glad I live up a hill.

K

My stepson who lives in Jersey has sent pics and videos of the destruction there, He lost 2 trees and some slates of the roof so not too bad. Children doing schoolwork from home.

Update from Jersey police :-Winds have reached a top speed of 102mph in the last half an hour and swells of up to 9m are expected in St Ouen's Bay in the next hour. Please stay inside. It is very dangerous out there.

Just managed to have a look, no damage as far as I can see, so no additional Aero help in getting up to our max speed limit of 40 mph