Talk Morgan Forums Community Welcome Forum Driving in the rain -- therapy needed

There have been occasions when system parameters relax. Usually during afternoon drives when the system has been fuelled with plenty of carbohydrates and a couple of glasses of something refreshing.

If anyone finds a definitive statement that could be included in future owners manuals, there is a new generation of drivers who could be forever grateful.

It's quite simple:-

In adverse and inclement weather conditions, wax cottons are optional, but Morgans leak and you get wet. The degree of water ingress on the move is not too influenced by whether the hood is up or down, Hence the hood design and methodology and time expended in raising the hood derives no real benefit, in exercising that option.

Some systems have a sleep mode, but it can take some time............!😜

I have observed sleep mode - usually results in the head rolling from side to side and me wondering if I am about to be pulled over and accused of transporting a corpse ...........

I went out today for an little ride with my 3 years old son. Yep, at the beginning we got some spray, and he got still asleep . ;Who else? Uses his Moggie to put the kids to sleep.

But as heaven opened his gates, i did put the hood up. Sometimes the better, even for your passengers. I do try it with hood down, when the rain is moderate, but safety first.

Adam
In the first 10 years my hood was in the loft. But like everyone else, the first 10 years the MOG was my only car. Since the wonderful MrsK came into my life , its side screens on and windscreen up! Cracking picture. Like everyone else these days I really only use the car in nice weather, but I don't worry if it gets wet😎

Thanks Rex and DaveK. I really like the idea of the Morgan as a year-round daily driver. I sometimes regret that I got a fairly new (2019) "fancy" Plus 4 with unblemished paint, nice brown leather, carpets, glossy dash, etc., since its pristine appearance makes me a bit nervous and feel like I have to coddle it cosmetically. Not being at all mechanical but definitely wanting a trad I felt at the time of purchase that I needed something fairly recent with a modern drivetrain and low wear-and-tear. Since I tend to be a buy-and-keep type chap (I've had my other two cars for 10 and 18 years, respectively) I suppose it will be up to me to relax and let the thing age gracefully. I suspect I will like it even more once it has patinated a bit!

Adam,

In terms of Morgan ownership enjoyment, whilst it's nice to own a pristine car, it's very use often brings its own problems with our fixed mileage insurance, to requiring regular paint touch ups for the inevitable stone chips and so on which can detract from the ownership experience.

My first Morgan was the former Sunday Times competition prize car, it was pristine, low miles and in fabulous specification, but being an 85 car it was from the days when the wings were attached to the bodywork before being painted, so the wing beading was spray painted. Every time I went for a drive with the chassis flexing, the paint on the beading would crack and require touching up. It drove me to distraction, trying to maintain the pristine condition, so much so I got rid of a really nice car and bought an older 4/4 a bit rougher round the edges. but a reliable car. I used it everyday for 3 years no matter what the weather was and enjoyed every minute of it. Just had the annual service and used it without a care in the world as to what it really looked like.

It was a Morgan from the period when it was not unusual for them to require rebuilding before too long, and at the end of my period of ownership I sold it to someone who immediately rebuilt it as it had suffered the then usual corrosion to the chassis, inner wings and wooden frame all accelerated by living in a coastal environment..

What it taught me with my later Morgan purchases was to understand and come to terms with why you bought the Morgan in the first place , for example if its to drive the car rather than polish it, accept the inevitable stone chips etc and to be less precious about the car. Have protective film put on, or accept the inevitable paint touch ups that will be required..

Too many Morgans IMHO languish in some form of hibernation, the lack of regular use usually brings its own reliability issues. They are cars meant to be driven and enjoyed to the full, they will from time to time capitulate and elevate your driving experience and enjoyment and occasionally and invariable let you down, A. long as there are far more highs than lows it's a great place to be behind the wheel of a Morgan

John, thank you for sharing your reflections on this. I sense a lot of accumulated wisdom!

I fully subscribe to the "to each their own" philosophy, that there are many different ways to enjoy a Morgan, from an almost a static aesthetic object to the type of "well enough" maintained workhorse that you describe with your second (4/4 Seamus) and, I assume, subsequents cars, to the (for those with the time and skill!) heavily-used-but-meticulously-maintained-in-all-respects approach.

Having now had some time with my car I feel I am probably someone who falls into the second camp -- the "mechanically sound but by no means cosmetically perfect" type.

This leaves me with a bit of a conundrum: do I follow your "Molly/Seamus" example and switch out my current car for something already a bit rough-hewn? Or do I hold on to my car (which I've already become rather attached to) and let it experience a degree of natural decline, in cosmetic condition and value, in my less-than-meticulous ownership?

I think I can sense certain readers already wincing at the latter idea, and I sympathise. But I find something appealing in a good pair of old leather shoes, especially ones I've worn myself since new. Very much a first-world problem I know, and one I confess I enjoy contemplating. I am very curious to hear perspectives on this!

Using a Trad will not degrade condition it you put the time in. After 17 years my Roadster is little different to when it was three years old. But after a Highland trip, for example, it needs a bottom up clean, including the inside of the wheels and underbonnet. Interiors need leather cleaner and conditioner, and localised re-colouring where use affects the dye, but really its no problem if you want to keep the condition good.