Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Plus Four, Supersport & Plus Six (CX & CXV Generation Vehicles) Hello and Advice

Hello, I have used the forum as research into buying my first Morgan. It has been really helpful. I have now joined and this is my first post.

I have always owned and enjoyed driving a classic British sports car, so I'm familiar with working through 'issues', noises and rattles. Over the years I've developed reasonable DIY mechanical skills and tool kit. But, I prefer to drive, rather than spend days under cars on concrete garage floors! I am recently retired (early!) and aiming to do more weekend trips away with my wife, further afield from my usual 'classic' car runs. Hence, a more modern motor in the classic Morgan bodywork should be the ticket as a 'fun' 2nd car.

So, I am going to see a Plus Six on Saturday. I have negotiated by phone and reached an agreement I'm happy with, subject to my inspection. The car is one of the last P6s made. It is 10 months old and <2,000 miles. It ticks the boxes on spec and colours. I will be able to take it for a test run. I like that it will have just over 2 years factory warranty remaining and the reasonable mileage. It will have the latest brakes, radiator/software version (but I'll get it up to temperature and look for leaks). It is clear of any insurance claim history, but I'll check panel lines and obvious fit issues. Although, I see sidescreen, door and hood gaps are fairly common, but can be improved.

I would welcome any suggestions from forum members please, on particular Morgan / Plus Six things you'd recommend I focus on in my inspection. I'm grateful for any advice.

Many thanks, Martin

Welcome to the forum Martin.
As the owner of a mid 80`s +8, I have no worthwhile tips to pass on re your choice of Morgan, other than to type that you have made a wise move in joining this forum given the wealth of experience available here on just about every Morgan related activity. Hope all goes as you would wish with your test drive as the first of your many Morgan adventures....

The first step in buying a Morgan is recognising you are buying a handbuilt car, with a few areas left for owner improvements eg door seals and like all cars they have their moments., I find with Morgans it's just better to go with the flow,and accept them warts and all for what they are and that is amazingly good fun and can be really enjoyable to drive.

I think the last of the P6s are a great specc'd car, with plenty of power, roomy cabin and enough safety systems eg abs and traction control to keep you on the straight and, bendy path, for times when you can get a little too keen. Others will disagree and not want any potential dilution of the driver input, as they say horse for courses.

One of the nicest aspects of Morgan ownership, is the fellowship of other owners and the clubs and forums, involvement with the dealer network and of course the factory in Malvern, where I get my P4 serviced. My P4 auto is now my daily driver and I wouldn't have it anyother way., except for the few draughts I've yet to fix

Enjoy the test drive, they are amazing cars, the CX chassis is a step change to the trads. and a great driving and touring platform. I'm with you cars are for driving, and they reward you more and generally prove more reliable, the more they are used. . Don't worry about radiators and the like you still have factory warranty................

I hope its a nice sunny day on the test run, so the hood is down and you get to feel all of the sensations of sitting close to the driving axle which is connected directly to the input of your right foot, real seat of the pants stuff. Enjoy,

Martin, good choice! I was originally looking at a Plus Four, but arrived at the Plus Six and haven't regretted it.

You will get draughts coming in through the doors, and maybe some water if it is wet. That's standard for all Morgans, I believe (except perhaps the Supersport). As John says these things can be slowly addressed, and that's part of the attraction.

Check the levels in the coolant expansion tanks (one on each side, you will need to open each bonnet one at a time), the levels tend to settle a little lower than the indicated marks on the tank, but you may need a dipstick to check these; I use a wooden plant support stick. If the tanks are really low or, heaven forbid, empty, then suspect a leak somewhere. I've never had a leak, and I'm now officially out of warranty, but I know MMC will still address the radiator issue under 'warranty' if I have a problem.

Have them demonstrate how the hood goes down and up, and note that the tenax press studs must be loosened before moving the hood frame ... you don't want them pulling out of the bodywork. On my P6, which also had low mileage for its age, the spring clips were a bu**er to get into place because the retaining mechanism was 'dry'. It may need some lubrication to ease the operation. Mine works perfectly now.

If you're buying from a dealer these last issues should have been identified and addressed.

Above all, and again as John says, enjoy the test run.

The CX cars are a definite step up from the trads. I have a 2023 Plus Four from new and driven 19k+ miles.
I had a 2002 Plus8 before that. Yes, you can still get the Morgan " they all do that , sir" little things like draughts and sometimes water leaks.
Overall quality of build is better, comfort better, ride better, power steering etc.
It's a BMW turbo so plenty of capability. A 2l version so the Plus Six has a good bit more to offer. Take your time learning!!! You will be impressed / frightened but it's good to get a fright now and then. I was a manual devotee but chose the auto and it is superb. As with any change of car get used to how it responds. Tuning your right foot is something to do!
I use mine in auto in normal power mode but switch to paddles if I want to. Overtaking? Nudge into Sport for a better response to get the job done . I've tried Sport+ but it's not needed, kickdown in auto is more than enough with Sport mode for that bit extra response if "needed" ( the need is for fun too!).
No dipstick for oil checks!!! Use the built in engine management button press method in the handbook. Remember that the engine must be at running temp so I do mine when arriving home.
MMC sorted a couple of warranty jobs ok. One done at the dealer, another at MMC themselves.
I've not had radiator failures. Regular checks are easy, my middle finger is a perfect dipstick! Only one drip found and that was a simple cure of small tightening of ahose clamp.
Driving range...... tank is smaller than a trad. The rule of thumb is to use 250 miles as a guide. Fill the tank, zero the odometer trip and plan your refill stop. I get 45-50 mpg depending on right foot use. A mate with a Plus Six gets slightly less mpg but not much lower, using the 250 mile guide.
Quite a bit of money to buy but.....
You are only here once.
Enjoy the car.

You didn't post where you live but I would recommend joining MSCC and the local centre. You aren't just buying a car you are buying into a great social life.

Good luck on your test drive. Will you take another Mog owner with you who can be a dispasionate observer?

Thank you for the replies.

I am very familiar with sidescreen sports cars from the late 50s. Seat over the rear axle and drafts around the kidneys won't be new. I will do something about them in time, if they're bad. There is good advice and pictures on this forum for dealing with that. I have owned high performance cars in the past. This one has traction control, but I will take it easy. My main aim is to make sure the car is fault free before I pay the balance.

I don't know any other Morgan owners, so I will be checking it over alone. It is from a non-Morgan dealer. I have spoken to Krazy Horse, who are my nearest dealer, about the factory warranty and servicing, so I know they will be happy to have me as a customer, even though it wasn't sourced from them.

The car is some distance from me, so I've agreed a deal subject to test drive and given a small refundable deposit, they have had my part-ex in for a couple of days to inspect and confirmed they are happy. I will be getting a train up to them Saturday morning. I will drive the Morgan home if I'm happy with it after a test.

I'm familiar with lift-the-dots and Tenax fixings on hoods and the need to release the B and A-post fixings before lifting the hood. TBH, unless you think I should, I probably won't mess with the hood and sidescreens until it is home. I'll test it with its wet weather kit fitted and drive home that way. It also has the Morgan case strapped to the rear rack.

The journey home is about 170 miles, so I will need to be prepared... Being a Six, there's no 5th wheel. The car comes with a puncture repair goo in the lockable compartment behind the seats. I have a 12v compressor and a 12v battery booster. I will take these along with a basic touring tool kit and some towels! I have organised cancellable insurance from Saturday, which includes breakdown / recovery. So I think that should get me home. Despite heated seats, I'll take warm clothing!

Anything else you think I should take with me for the first long journey? Anything else I should check over on the car?

Thanks, Martin

You'll have a mobile phone with you, I assume. Take a charging cable so that you can keep it topped up, and therefore available if you do need it. The USB port will likely be in the glove box. Be familiar with the dashboard warning symbols in case any appear. The link below is to the MY23 CX cars, but the MY25 cars will likely be 99% the same.

As sospan says, check the oil level once the car has had the run and the engine is up to temperature. At that mileage I would expect it to show 4/4 (full, green).

The fuel could be stale, at the earliest opportunity fill with E5, and I suggest using E5 for the first few fills. E10 should be OK if you are using the car regularly but it is more likely to absorb water and the ethanol / water mix can cause deposits, which you don't want in the fuel system (ask me how I know ...).

I'd check the fluid levels in the two header tanks to be safe plus tyre pressures and that the washer bottle is full of suitably strong screen wash.


Good luck and if you are in the Norfolk / Suffolk area as it seems let me know and I can put you in touch with other Mog owners in FolkMog.

I'm in N. Essex, south of Colchester, so Suffolk is nearby.

What are the recommended tyre pressures, please?