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

Acouple of us were discussing cars a while back. The addition of driver aids came up. Yes, some are superb but others might give a sense of " the car will save me" leading to poor driving. Add in the myriad infotainment and other distractions.
I don't think MMC have major issues as the design process is so much better these days. Add in the manufacturing improvements and doing recalls when necessary are vast steps forward from the " old days".
When you buy a car you look at what it is and decide yes/no on your needs and concerns. A 4-seater? B****y h**l.....rear passenger safety? No wonder they were dropped! An idea.....remove the rear seats, clamshell cover and 2-seater hood.
Want a safe-ish car? Look to Volvo, avoid soft-top.

In this respect an interesting video on the Mercedes CLA auto emercency braking system causing a collision!

To be perfectly honest if anyone is risk averse any MMC product is definitely not for you, we are all grown up's and take our decision to further our enjoyment of life with enriching adventures with friends but it's not for all of course.

Some maybe safer wrapped up in a lovely Polestar instead and good for them it is their choice of a very nicely constructed car..

Very sad to hear of the P6 incident last week. I know the road and I know the driver.

While there is a difference between poor driving and a vehicle’s poor response to circumstances beyond the driver’s control, the outcome may be similar.

Examples of the latter are many and could include an unprovoked rapid downshift, sudden front tyre deflation, a large animal darting into the road, sudden loss of headlights on an unlit road at night or engine rev hang. All could be completely unexpected and at best may give the driver a fright or at worst may be game over.

I wish the driver a full recovery in time and hope the cause of this incident becomes a catalyst for appropriate safety improvements going forward.

Chris,

Most of those unfortunate circumstances you describe could happen to anyone at any time and irrespective of what car you were driving, could lead to serious consequences. Certainly, open top cars are more exposed/prone,. as they tend to lack the same structural rigidity of a closed car and literally don't have the potential added protection of a metal roof to protect the occupants.especially if they flip.the car.

There is a risk every time you drive any car no matter what car it is and having said that, just living can present it's own risks. One of Sue's Uncles (In Dublin) was killed .waiting at a bus stop, when the bus for some unknown reason mounted the pavement and demolished the bus shelter killing and injuring those waiting for it.

Add in the driver variable. It is easy to over estimate skill and ability. When the P6 was introduced there weresome crashes on test drives.
Get into a new car for a test.
Heavy right foot before you have learned how the car reacts = scary moment/crash.
I wondered if this was the case in those early tests. The car is advertised as one that has Performance( capital P). The " lets give it a go" mentality sets in too soon? Foot down and lost control is then easy.
I was taught to be careful and only do a foot down in straight lineson a good road. Even then progressive to see response.
I moved from a 1993 4/4 to a 2002 Plus8. Test drive was gentle, foot down in higher gear then in lower gears. Impressive! I bought the car and spent some miles getting familiar. Easy to kick the rear out so that limit was a key learning point. 3k revs in 3rd gear and the car came alive, it felt like the car was saying " thank you".
Same with the Plus Four. Test 1 in a manual car,some gently right foot stuff then heavier on a good road. Tested an auto and went for it. Over 19k miles I've learned normal mode and Sport mode. Tried Sport+ but it's not needed. OK for a track but never tested. Sport is handy for overtakes as it gets done easier and safer PROVIDED the right foot has been educated and conditions are ok.
It's a soft top, no roll bars so flip means serious consequences.
The mindset is important. Driving on the limit is for racing. Yes, on public roads you can get a move on but common sense must prevail.

Open topped cars (no matter what make they are) IMHO increase the sensual aspect of the driving experience, you are exposed more to the elements, which intensifies the sensation of speed etc,. Whilst a closed car shelters you more, in a cocooning way, it wraps you up with lots of metal and gives you are greater sense of security and safety by removing the the direct often telling and informative abrasive interaction with the elements and the visceral sensation of your speed. Closed cars can dilute that self preservation element you tend to experience much earlier at lower speeds in an open car. Its akin /like riding a motorcycle, without a fairing/screen, at speed you are a big sail and holding on to the grips for dear life,helmet is being buffeted and trying to be ripped off your head compared to behind a screen where life is far less hectic. and quite calm.by comparison.

When it comes to Morgans, I've found with my CX over other Morgans, is the intensification of that seat of the pants feel, sitting close to the driven axle with effortless and quick steering and continuous progress un-interrupted by manual gear changes. The car feels more like a go kart by comparison to my trads. I can only imagine what its like to drive an auto Aero at speed......probably great fun.

I've always gone for open topped cars, especially the faster vehicles, with the exception of a Lotus Carlton, but that was a company car, basically because roof down open top cars at high speeds get to a point where self preservation limits are hit earlier, where as with closed cars I would have most likely pushed even harder. and gotten myself into real trouble..........

I haven't even put mine in sport mode at all so far, I find kick down is more than enough to get past slower vehicles, especially on the current damp and greasy wintery roads.

I have to switch mindsets between cars. Our Volvo EV has myriad driver aids, but has a major weakness (in my eyes) that if changing lanes from outside to inside on a motorway the adaptive cruise control can sometimes pick up a slower vehicle in the inner lane and suddenly slow down. Awkward for me, and must be a surprise to anyone following me. I have to adapt my manoeuver accordingly, but occasionally forget. I do love one-pedal driving.

The P6, of course, has none of this, and I have to say, overall, I much prefer it that way. I enjoy the journey in a way I can't in the Volvo. I just have to remember that the P6 doesn't have one-pedal driving!

Technology creates more risk, not less. Examples like adaptive cruise control mentioned above is just one. Autos which kick down without warning is another. Fatalities when the electric door handles don't respond, either submerged in water or with fire. There are lots of risks even before hitting another car.

This headline may be clickbait but singles out hybrids in particular:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...e-times-leading-road-safety-experts.html

Some technologies without question, especially during their design , application and rollout infancy, do seem to create as many problems as they solve. However, established developments like ABS, design crumple zones etc increasing passive safety are for the better.

I remember my Granada was fitted with ABS, when most other cars weren't and having to continually check the cars behind me on the motorways, in case I had to brake hard and make sure I didn't collect someone up my back side, as I could easily out brake them. So not the best situation when ABS first came out, but the level of control ABS gave me in emergencies outweighed the added risk, which melted away as ABS became more common place.The same will apply to the new technologies as more and more cars are fitted with the same technology and all will react in a common way, whilst we have limited roll out, it is more a case of driver beware.