Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms Sentiment in the Trad market.

I wasnt in any way suggesting that the buyer would be better off with a 911 or that it would be a better ownership proposition. I was simply surprised that the Morgan at twice the price of an equivalent 911 could in any way be seen as a bargain . IMO thats starry eyed Morgan enthusiast talk.

But each to his own I guess.

When first mentioned, I took a look at some Porches; a 2003 911 Carrera 4S at 16k caught my eye. Very shiny and of course a spotless top of the engine, with about 80k on the clock. I was theoretically briefly tempted, if I had the money. Now, as I wait for a clutch master cylinder (£40 odd quid posted from a place in kent), and gird my loins for a few hours work on the drive next weekend, the reality dawns that I couldn't manage such a car, desirable as they may be. If I had the means to scratch such an itch, I would forever be in fear of the inevitable specialist work required. I don't wish or need to sell my +8, and I'll do my damnedest to wear it out at the same pace I do, notwithstanding regular maintenance on both counts!

I reallyh enjoy the tinkering I do with my MG and Morgan - it's a nice release from all the stresses and strains of life (even when it doesn't go to plan). For me, it's part of the joy of owning a car, and one of the reasons I've got a classic for a daily driver too.

I've only driven a Porsche once - a Carrera 4S. I'd been driving a raggy old S3 Landy for a few years previously and the Porsche was amazing. Within minutes I was driving fast but safely. Everything was 'right' - handling, steering, speed etc. And that's why I'd never have one. Where is the fun in driving something that does everything perfectly? I much prefer ragging round in my old two, pushing the limits, surprising muself and others when I hustle them round corners, listening out for every squeak, bump and clunk and adapting to all feedback the car is giving you. For me, the Posrche was just a bit 'beige', and after a few weeks I'd probably be bored with it.

Photo is on the Cwmystwyth Road for those that know.......

It's a great road Phil!
Only driven it once (but in both directions) in my MGB Roadster many moons ago

It was good fun - I drove her from Tregaron to Rhayader via the Cwmystwyth Road, then from Rhayader down to Beulah, then back across to Tregaron via the Abergwesyn Road.

I’ve driven those roads many times in good and bad ( and I mean BAD) weather rain/snow. One extra is to go from Llandovery up to Llyn Brianne reservoir and along the road all the way up the reservoir. It joins up with the Beulah-Abergwesyn road so a choice of left to Tregaron or right to Beulah. No phone signal so be aware!
The Cwmystwyth road also leads to Devil’s Bridge. Nice stop there. You can get the steam train to Aberystwyth and back. Nice cafe/Small boutique hotel there too. A walk down into the gorge involves a hefty climb back up the paths! Then a choice or routes. One goes past Sweet Lamb Rally centre and a Red Kite feeding station.
An addendum.....if going to Llyn Brianne you pass a bird sanctuary with short walks along the river, just below the big dam. You can, if adventurous, visir Twm Sion Cati’s cave. He was a Welsh Robin Hood style scallywag!

Yeah, I used to teach an Adults IT evening class in Ysbyty Ystwyth - I decided to head over to Worcester when the class finished. It had started to snow when I was driving, and when the class finished it was proper blizzard conditions. Stupidly, I decided to carry on - I was in my old S3 109" afterall......

By the time I got half way across the mountain I could barely see the end of the bonnet and the road had completely disappeared. No chance of turning round, so option was to park up for the night and hunker down (I always had emergency kit onboard during the winter) or keep going, relying on my knowledge of the road. Finally got through, but took about three hours!

Llyn Berwyn is also a good place to visit - really peaceful.

My old neighbour Daffydd has a bit of a sideline dressing up as Twm Sion Cati for local events stuff. There's a statue of him in Tregaron Square.

Daffydd also created this fabulous map which is a happy reminder of my time living there.

TBM, I suspect you hit the nail on the head... (-:

As I have typed many times, if not too many times, I had given up with Porsche after many years of owning restoring, and repairing a series of three air cooled Porsches, of which I was very fond, given the build quality compared to my decades of restoring my old Brit sports cars, and LR`s too, the engineering and build quality of which I had grown up with... Porsche was so very different, although right up to circa 1977when Porsche started galvanising the body shells, they too could rot much in the way of Brit cars.

The last Porsche I really enjoyed driving was my 82 SC, 204 horses which demanded a degree of control on any interesting ribbon of Tarmac, of which there are a few in my locality. That Porsche was a real sports car any time I wanted it to be, track days included, though it also behaved it`s self in any traffic situation, and was perfect to transport my good lady dressed in her finest to any social occasion. The 911 was and still is an automotive icon that can induce emotions of pride in terms of achieving ownership of such a wonderful machine.

Things changed a bit by the time the 964 then 993 arrived on the market, it seems Porsche like most were forced to evolve with the increasing expectations of their customer base, such as power steering servo brakes ABS whole new suspension design, more comfort and of course easier to drive even faster.. Given the number of changes, I wonder if that might be why the nomenclature was changed to 964, 993, 996, but it seems as is to be expected the faithful and of course the marketing men were determined to hang on to 911, as regardless of whatever digits might determine the actual model, few outside Porsche circles would know what a 964, 993,996, 997, 991 or 992 might be, whereas it seems the majority of folk seem to think they know what a 911 is...?

When I drove the 993, at the time of owning my 911 SC, I thought it a wonderfully competent machine with loads more power and the ability to handle it in any kind of corner wonderfully well, I even drove it over my very favourite local road , amazing performance.... BUT exactly as you typed TBM you could easily find yourself driving much faster over interesting roads than ever before, and with ease... Hmm..?

That was when I decided a change in direction was worth considering, (mid 90`s) and which led me to contemplate on, and finally come to own my Morgan, which again as you type TBM, does indeed require driver input on a much higher level than the 996 you drove, and importantly at less than ballistic speeds, while providing huge driver satisfaction in the process of getting it just right, having allowed for every aspect of the road surface on each corner as it presents it`s self.....well OK, so not every corner every time... (-:

I still maintain my Mog myself. The then 9 year old 991.1 C4S I bought a couple of years back is looked after by the main dealer, it has circa 400 horses... nuts or what... ? It provides push-button select-ability in terms of handling, performance and much else, thus my C4S is as comfortable as any modern high end saloon when cruising, and yet if I decide to blow the cobwebs off, I can take it over the same wonderful road I have enjoyed over many decades, while making use of all the gizmology of which there is huge amounts available, and it reverts to providing a degree of sports car enjoyment, all be it a tad more sophisticated than the old Mog and likewise my former old 911 SC while doing so.

As ever each to their own.... Enjoy what you can and while you can seems a reasonable plan..? (-:

Spent many a happy hour tramping round that area (Mrs Image's brother lives in Salem up above Aberystwyth) .... love the map ... was expecting to find Mordor on it somewhere 🙂

K