Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms A slightly provocative question

Let me say at the outset that I greatly admire the friendliness and inclusiveness of this forum, which I have enjoyed to no end during my relatively short tenure as a Morgan owner. My question is not intended to stir any pots, merely to elicit views on an interesting topic.

I suspect that for many members of this group, the differences between, for instance, classic body Morgan four-wheel models (8, 6, 4, long door/short door, two- and four-seater, and, perhaps most importantly, trad and CX) loom rather large. But I can attest that for newcomers to Morgan these can seem like rather fine distinctions, like that old saw about eskimos having a hundred words for different kinds of snow. That certainly was the case for me when I first got the idea of buying a Morgan, and it took me a rather embarrassingly long time to begin to understand the differences (thanks again, DaveW, for your excellent book, and to the good people of this very forum).

As I headed on line to get my head around the model range and their various attributes, I noticed that while different people naturally have different preferences (I for instance eventually concluded that a late-model two-seat trad +4 was the right car for me, and I confess that there are certain models, beloved by others, that I doubt I would ever want to own), they can, at least on occasion, also have strong opinions. For instance, about trad vs CX, classic body vs Aero, etc.

To be honest, this kind of baffles me. To my mind, the differences between Morgans kind of falls into the marzipan category -- you might like it or not, but it would be odd to have a very strong opinion about it. While I don't happen to like marzipan, my wife loves it, but that in no way offends me (and indeed, my wife has looked on rather quizzically at my sudden interest in a strange, new-but-old car that leaks, creaks, is uncomfortable and requires you to do such esoteric things as "grease the kingpins" and purchase a "code reader", perhaps wondering if I have contracted a rare brain disorder or am in the throws of an existential crisis -- but thankfully she has done so with a modicum of love and patience).

So my question is this: what am I missing? From whence do the strong opinions flow? I get, for instance, that underneath the surface a CX is mechanically a very different beast than a trad, that an Aero actually does look pretty different from a classic body car, and that a Supersport can be seen as a brilliant modern reinterpretation of a classical look or as an unappealing pastiche of an aesthetically perfect original. All perfectly understandable and I love that something as quirky as all this exists in the world and feel fortunate to be able to be a part of it. But plenty of intelligent people seem to sincerely have a strong right/wrong take on all of this and I'm curious as to the foundations. Is it based on functionality? No Morgans are terribly functional, right? Tradition? Every Morgan seems pretty "traditional" to my eye? Aesthetics? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder -- or is it?

I'm genuinely curious. Thoughts on this welcome!

Well I have loved the Plus 8 for 56 years and my car is the living proof, it's part time stable mate (shared with my Son it's his really) is a 4/4 Sport with 116,500 miles on it and they both offer totally different experiences, both of which make me and all those that see the cars happy. It's a feeling not a choice to me.

I do like all the other newer cars but I feel no attraction personally to them, my good lady suggested I got a new Plus 6 but it doesn't work for me but I am an old boy so maybe that is the explanation as I need to get under the bonnet and find my way around.

There is no other car that elicits such warm reactions wherever you go.

It's a reality for 21 years for me now and long may it continue.

If my knees eventually call it a day I wouldn't hesitate getting a Plus Four Auto.

`I'm sure you'll get many varied and differing answers to this. But here's my particular 2p.


I have a 1969 4/4 because it represents a time in my life - ie certain memories and circumstances, which I like to be reminded of. A modern CX (or even a 1980s/1990s car) could not do that. TBH a Lotus Elan or TR4 or even an Austin Healey 3000 would be just as good as a Morgan in this respect. But my brother had Elans and Triumphs, so to be different, I got a Morgan.

Also, you can fix pretty much anything on a traditional Morgan (eg pre 1990) with spanners and screwdrivers, etc. No computers. I spent a lifetime in the computing industry, so a modern CX Morgan would not be very appealing to me, given I could not do any real work on it and would remind me of all the computing systems that I have worked on and never properly understood. And they are really expensive - my 4/4 is probably worth 12k - I personally would not want to spend 10 times that on a CX, as I know it would not be 10x more fun. The CX is a beautifully made car - just not something I feel I need. I do have a modern car that is stuffed full of computers - a Seat Leon 1.5 PHEV - it is a wonderful piece of technology, extremely well built, thoroughly involving to drive, and sometimes I can't even work out from the plethora of lights and buttons on the dash whether I have just turned it on or off! But it can't evoke the emotion of my teenage years like the 4/4. It is merely pleasant to drive, while you can guarantee the Morgan is going to be the full technicolour experience. So for me, the reason I have Morgans because they somehow recall past events and experiences in my youth. But then a mid-1960s 850 Mini would probably do the same and would be a lot drier in the rain.

Morgans in my humble opinion are like Harley Davidson, in that if I had to explain why they are so special you wouldn't necessarily understand it.They get under your skin, to such an extent you feel kind of naked without one in the garage, your life is somehow a little less full. Doesn't matter whether you just polish or drive the wheels off it, life is a little more complete.

It's then a case of what Morgan tickles your fancy and matches your driving style.

It’s just human nature ……..I like pink and you might like British Racing Green. I wouldn’t have a pink Morgan but I might have a BRG one.
Much of the above posts I can agree with especially falling in love with Morgan’s in the 1960s and buying my first of four . Then the other three all different colours !
Now my plus 8 is in my garage, needing some repair but it gives me a nice feeling just knowing it is there.
But as I age I know I will need an automatic as the 8 was a heavy clutch and you used to have to throw out an anchor to stop it.
I dont enjoy working on cars now so a CX it must be ?? I never liked the squinty eyed Aero and find the Supersport a visual abomination…..but it’s just human nature or mine to have differing views.
Best to all MM
PS it’s very much like women, if we all agreed on what is attractive, then we would all be going after that one woman or very similar women. We all find attraction in differing things…..human nature.

Well Adam you have just explained it. Originally there was the three wheeler. the 4-4 and then the plus 4. All, over the years have been up graded with engines and transmissions keeping them more current with the latest tech. So 4-4 meaning 4 wheels, 4 cylinders. the plus 4 was really a 4-4 with a more powerful engine.

Then followed body and drive train upgrades inc chassis' too, over quite some time. When Charles started getting more involved in the company there was a C change that moved thing forward much faster than previously.... The Rover V8 engine and the birth of the plus 8. From this point many rapid changes and progressive designs started to happen with special editions reflecting racing variants from the past although in a much updated guise. This continued until Charles' baby the aero class was born. This resulted in a totally new platform and through a transition of the plus 8 which resembled a classic moved them into the CX era.

Here is where devision starts to rear its head. The plus 8 BMW was short lived in production and although to the uninitiated it was just a Morgan it most certainly was not. But it brought into production the CX range, namely the plus four and plus six. Both competent cars but being a totally new car in every respect it did suffer with problems initially, problems which Morgan really were not getting solved in a timely enough manner. The dealerships in their limited numbers were not equipped to deal with the cars or repair them quickly enough and for almost three years this was an issue with owners, couple this to the price drops of up to 50% at three years old and it effected the whole Morgan market. Morgan knew this and two things happened. Firstly and not soon enough they went all out through the dealers to rectify these cars with problems. Although the new cars were a radicle shift from the classics they still had a poor suspension system when compared to the cars they were trying to compete against although much improved over the classic and the bodywork had not really changed much from how the classic felt and performed ergonomically yet the interior had left all traces of a classic behind. Morgan then got to work on the CXV platform which became the Super sport and resolved most of the CX issues.

Now, here's the rub. The CX and CXV don't really drive like the classic's, certainly not by as much as they look like them! So on one hand it's very clever in that Morgan have retained the classic look with a car that easily matches the super car market, but uniquely retaining the old school charm. This has split the buying user straight down the middle as those traditionalists want it to look like a classic Morgan and drive like one whereas others want the look but the drive of a lotus or 911.

I think when you boil it down its not strong opinions, more a preference in that there has always been a preferred car within the range but this massive thrust forward has brought to the fore a most radical change, much like happened with the Land Rover Defender. And the price hike was found to be limiting the traditional buyer as it had almost doubled the cost. Then to watch the falling prices after only a short time was a real nail in the coffin, as Morgan owners had never seen this before.
There are other issues, one being the new association with BMW. Owners with say a Ford engine could happily get help from a Ford dealership in resolving problems they may have, but BMW won't touch your Morgan! so You are stuck with the limited Morgan network to sort you out and the final thing and perhaps the most relevant is accident damage. If you are involved in an accident and you suffer Tub damage the cost of repair is so great that the insurers are righting them off, even worse, is that there have been CX cars with relatively minor damage and Morgan couldn't get the parts or repair it in a satisfactory time and they are being written off too. So perhaps you will see some strident statements about some of the cars, both past and present but I would go as far as to say that all Morgans from whatever age have....their own foibles! And of course there are those who love a particular car and others that don't. More frustration has come to the more recently newer technical cars which are attracting a new sector of the market in ownership and they haven't quite got the..... Well it's a Morgan Sir! But in saying that Morgan really have moved into this century with what they are now producing but you are looking at Porsche type money and it has excluded a vast former and current owner of a classic from even looking at them.

I like marzipan.
I like Morgans.
I prefer trads.

I find it best not to overthink it...........🤷🏻‍♂️ just accept it and enjoy them.....😁

🇬🇧🇬🇧

The discussion about the various Morgan models reminds me very much of Harley Davidson motorcycles. I still have a FatBob and a RoadKing in my garage.
With every new model, the community has cried out: “That's not a real Harley anymore!”
And everyone considers the model they currently own to be the only genuine one. I experience exactly the same thing with Morgan.
I include myself in this realization. I am the proud owner of a CX PlusFour and I would never want any other Morgan. I only got to know Morgan three years ago. When choosing which model to buy, my wife and I test drove them all. A +4, a +8, a Roadster, a PlusSix and a PlusFour .A Trad would never be an option for me.
We decided on the CX PlusFour auto. For me, it's the coolest Morgan there is. But that's just my opinion. Others may see it completely differently.
Back to the Harley brand... when there was a meeting, everyone embraced each other regardless of which model they owned. Then they all represented that one brand.
And I experience exactly the same thing with Morgan... the community is great, no matter which model you drive 😃

Well this is a fun thread. I echo a lot of what has been said above.

I came up through the world of hot hatches and some fairly powerful cars with good handling. Whenever I saw a Morgan the driver always had a smile on their face. I had a drive in a Trad and the experience was not for me. I can understand why people like it, authentic and an actual driving experience at safe road speeds. It also helps that you look out and everyone seems to be smiling at you and letting you out at junctions. It makes a good day for all parties (until you get the service bill on an Aero!).

So when the boss pointed out an Aero Series 2 and I tried it on for size I had a smile from ear to ear. Okay it did have a bit of a Clarence going on but V8, sidepipes and 1000kgs, job done. When the drop dead beautiful AeroMax came along I was hooked. A different proposition to the Trad. I don't think it is right to directly compare them which is probably what Morgan was after. I guess the Aero Plus 8 with it's retro look was the highest selling of the Aero chassis cars which possibly shows you can have the best of both worlds if that's your gig. Peter Jenks had a Trad V6 and enjoyed it but then came over to the dark side with Tarka, power corrupts.

If I understood correctly this forum occurred due to an oil and water moment for our benefactor when he first got involved with the Aero and found the clubs of the time being less keen as the new car was a bit gauche for their tastes. I think that dissolved and the CX may have helped integration a lot more? You could infer that the CX was released with a trad style body for this reason? I do not claim to know, just a guess.

Either way it is a far better living experience than pretty much anything else in my experience. I have never retained a car as long as the S2. It's all those smiles.

Yep, it's all about the smiles.

Back in the day there were indeed a few twats in the trad world who tried to claim that Aero cars weren't 'proper' Morgans, just as even earlier there were a few twats in the 3W world who felt the same about 4-wheelers, but since nobody gave their self-appointed gatekeeper role any credibility they were swiftly dismissed with appropriate amounts of ridicule.