Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms New Plus 8s and Factory visits

I went up to the Factory this morning principally to finalise some detail on my Plus 8 order but also to have a good look round! As well as the Geneva Motor Show Plus 8 (very orange and much polished) there were a couple of customer Plus 8s already in production. This was just what I needed to see as although I started my order in January some of the spec detail has been quite difficult to finalise. For example we'd been told that there was nowhere to stow the side screens when not on the doors. I'd already included a luggage rack in the spec to make the car a tiny bit practical so I thought I could include a mod to carry the side screens between the rack and the rear panel. However the luggage rack sits quite close to the rear panel so a mod was proving a challenge. Discovered today that there's a side screen compartment underneath the back panel so no luggage rack mod required. There's also a doody little lockable compartment behind the seats. Big enough to take a wash bag and a bottle of wine so at this rate who needs a boot!

I also noticed that whereas on the Aero the grille is blank behind, on the Plus 8 there's a clear view through to the engine, as with all Classic Morgans. A mesh is an optional extra on the Plus 8 but I reckon it's a must if you want to stop speeding stones finding their way through to those expensive water and oil coolers.

I never leave without a wander round the dispatch bay and today was no exception. The difference today was that the bay was three quarters full of three wheelers - they must be selling like hot cakes!

All I need now is a build date so that I can schedule a few more visits to irritate everybody at the factory like an expectant father!

David

Are there any wheel options? What else have you gone for? You must be excited!

The wheel options are the Graphite centre 5 spoke alloy that you will have seen on the prototypes, or the same style but in silver. I've gone for the silver as the body colour is going to be dark and I wanted a contrast. I'm having a manual gearbox. I've driven the auto and it's brilliant but for an out and out sports car like the Plus 8 I prefer a manual box. Rear exit sports exhausts. I have side exit exhausts on the Aero and I love the noise but I found it quite wearing on long journeys and I figured it would be more so with cut away doors. The remaining changes are minor preferences that I have mostly acquired through previous ownership such as map pockets on the transmission tunnel and the like.

The real excitement will come when the build starts.

David

with envy!

One thing that concerns me (should I ever come to reconcile myself to spending the thick end of £90K!) is whether a spare wheel can be spec'd. It's a personal thing, I know, but I'm not at all keen on the "slab effect" of the Sport model rear ends, and feel sure that on the new +8 that must be even more pronounced. I also prefer the security of a spare. I've lost more tyres to destructive damage over the years than I've had punctures.

Couldn't find any mention of it in the new price list: is there any possibility of speccing a rear-mounted spare, do you know?

I'm sure the excitement is building David, when do you expect delivery?

Regarding wheels, I'm sure that at a cost you can have any of the previous Aero wheels and IMHO the AeroMax wheels are the nicest that have been fitted so far.

Not cheap, but worth it!

Brian

I love the Aeromax wheels as well. I have asked on a couple of occasions but so far the answer has been that they're too big.

Current build date is middle of May so I expect delivery to be towards the end of June.

David

I was having a good look at the Plus8 at the factory today...they were prototyping a new luggage rack for it. Looking at the width of the wheels and tyres I don't think a spare would sit neatly on the rear unless it was a spacesaver. There is also very little depth behind the rear panel to absorb some of the width of the wheel.

No - I think you're right (sadly). I wouldn't mind a spacesaver as an alternative to a gel kit - but it would look dreadful on the back - although a decent tailored cover might redress the balance! I'd still like to know why one of those rolling chassis in Gajet's excellent factory photo album has an extra wheel lobbed inside the "cab"! here