Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) What choices

Hello
Wich morgan could I choose in my case?
I 'd like to drive 3 or 4000 km/year on B road in Belgium Ardennes with different relief and turns.

Can you explain me the advantages and limits of the 3 models below:

-the 4/4 2016 80th anniversary: very beautiful but what about the power engine and his torque?
-the plus 4 with 2.0l duratec engine and mazda gearbox?
-the roadster v6 3.0l s3?

You can see I am more interested in trads morgan but maybe the new plus four is a good alternative?

Thank you for your time

Pierre

IMHO it depends on your driving style.

The 4/4 needs some little higher revs, if you like this style driving in mountain and also on b-roads is fun.

The best way is: Make a test drive with "your" car. YOU have to find the car/engine YOU like!

+1

To quote from another TM member's signature:

I can only speak for myself, I had three Roadsters, one of which was a 2010 S3. It was a very reliable car with plenty of composed power but also rev-happy. It's more for cruising and has the seven-mile boots on. On the other hand, she loves to drive straight ahead in a very relaxed manner without having to correct anything. In terms of manoeuvrability, it is the least manoeuvrable compared to my other Morgan. The gearbox is not optimally tuned, gears one and two are far too short, gears four and five are too long, it was the Ford Tramsit gearbox together with a long rear axle. Only series 1 roadsters with a Getrag gearbox had a reasonable gear sequence.

Let's move on to my former Plus4 Supersport with Mazda engine and gearbox. It comes closest to your mention of a Plus4 with Mazda box. If you mean the older Duratec 2.0, I think it's a better choice than the GDI engine because it's very popular and many tuning experiences exist. The Plus 4 is the perfect all-rounder, it's fun in the bends and at the same time it's a real touring car. The balance is better than the Roadster for agile cornering. The torque is sufficient for two people with luggage. There's really nothing against this choice.

I've had my current Morgan for 9 years, longer than any other before it. That alone is proof. It's a 2014 4/4 with chip tuning, sports exhaust manifold and approx. 145 hp at 795 kg. Thanks to the tuning, it is sufficiently motorised for long journeys, e.g. with my wife to Italy with luggage. But the grin doesn't leave my face when I'm driving along the country roads in the Eifel. After three Roadsters and the Plus4 Super Sport, I would always choose a 4/4 again. Even though the P4SS was very exclusive and exciting, I sold it to a trackday racer because I didn't have OBD2 and the MOT wouldn't have been legally passable without a few kindnesses.

As for the 4/4, I sometimes wonder whether I wouldn't prefer to have a 4/4 75 Anniversity, i.e. the 4/4 with the 2.0 Duratec engine. I think it would be the best of both worlds for me personally. Maybe you can find one like that?

You have to try the different cars as we all have different tastes and styles really.

Most importantly enjoy the choosing process.

I would always choose a narrow body 4/4. Best looking Morgan imho. The engine power is completely sufficient.

https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1592444

This would be great for your B roads

As others have said, take your time, enjoy the prosess, drive different cars. But in my opinion:
4/4 for morganeering on a budget (if such a thing exists), light, nimble but perhaps a little low on power for longer cruising
+4 might be the best bang for the buck, nice kombination between weight, "chuckability", power and price
Roadster for effortless cruising with a superb engine and loads of power. If you get an S1 also with a superb gearbox. Rare and possibly expensive.
+8 for classic V8 rumble and torque, torque, torque. Not as well balanced as the Roadster, though, sometimes cooling difficulties and generally an old-fashioned engine. Seems to be many's favourite, though.

Hi S'

I had exactly that question last year and after trial and possibly error too! I went with the plus 4 with the Duratec engine and fird MT-75 gearbox.

Here's why!

Roadster is a great car but for me on the mainly B roads I drive in North Wales, much like yours I think, I found it too powerful driving the constant tight bends. its an engine that needs revving high and I just couldn't balance my driving and found it tiring.

4-4 is a light and smaller feeling car and loves to be thrown around and is very forgiving but would need muchos extra spent to give it the power to weight ratio that I wanted but was tempting as the cost is considerably lower than the other 2.

Plus 4 For me it was like the three bears story, I just felt right in it and knew that I'd found the right bowl of porridge! I then researched the options and quickly settled on the original Duratec engined cars up until 2011. I tried the later options but knew I wouldn't be buying the GDi version. Plenty of info here as to why that is the case! The Mazda gearbox does feel nicer though although In the end I went with the MT-75 ford box, yes the change isn't as slick but the Mazda box has two problems for me: 1 mated with a Duratec variant engine the bell housing sticks below the engine and is venerable to being hit and damaged (badly). Its even lower than the chassis protection bar on the chassis and is in fact the lowest part of the car!
2: The gear change linkjage when fitted to the Morgan is fragile and its not will it fail but when...... try and get a replacement!

The Ford MT-75 was the gearbox fitted to the Sierra saphire cosworth and you don't hear those owners complaining about it!

Between 2011 to 2012 ish the original Duratec 2.0lt was fitted to the mazda gearbox and if you feel you need that box and a plus 4 this might be the way for you to go!

I would certainly try the Plus Four for a comparison with the trad chassis cars. It's more comfortable in my opinion and has all the power you'll need.