Talk Morgan Forums Thread Like Summary - 4-seater models

Changes in family posture require consideration of a 4-seater
Can anyone enlighten me about the later models, including their engine setup?

I am specifically looking for details on the +4 (GDI) 4-seaters:
- When were they built?
- What are their strengths and weaknesses?
- What are your thoughts on the 4-seater Morgans?
- Where can I find one?

Love my 4 seater

I can thoroughly recommend the 4 seaters from 2005 onwards

The first 4 seaters with proper individual seats with 3 point seatbelts were in 1999 up to around 2004. They were all 4/4's with a silver top and later a black top 1.8 Zetec engine. I had a year 2000 one for about 3 years which I thoroughly enjoyed and put 15 thousand miles on but there were a 3 things that made me hanker after a later newer shape, post 2005 one

1. the shape of the hood. The 1999 version had an awkward sqaure back to the hood whch I always thought made the car look too short and 'cut off' with the hood up
2. power - I drove a friends Plus 4 and then another friends Roadster 4 seater and loved the oomph and the popping sports exhaust!!. My 2000 Mog had a sports exhaust but it never popped into life quite like the newer ones
3. extra boot space and the good looks of the longer rear end - the post 2005 one have extra boot space and the elegant rear end with the curved hood, I think is the nicest looking Morgan ever. but I would say that as I'm biased!

The later 4 seaters don't come up for sale too often mainly because they only made 1 a week on average from 2005 to 2017. when they announced they were ending the 4 seater (because of ISOFIX and compliance regs on 4 seater cars) they took quite a few orders and from what I've been told they ended the production making 3-4 in the last few weeks. Many to the export market. Europe (particualrly Germany) and even over to China. The Chinese dealer at the time had 3 4 seaters in their showroom when it opened!

For the post 2005 ones, the chassis, suspension (other than the rear leaf springs),engines are all the same as their equivalent 2 seaters so no real additional issues over the standard Plus4's and Roadsters over the same time period

The only issue that I've heard reported that is unique to the 4 seater is the rear leaf springs. I've not had an issue at all on mine but a couple of owners have had to swap them out with stiffer ones. The rear leaf springs used to be stiffer in the older 4 seaters for obvious reasons but I wonder if Morgan didn't put in a stiff enough spring in the later models or whether it was a batch that couldn't cope with the extra weight

the only main differences to their 2 seater counterpart are in the ash frame and body from the drivers door back and off course the hood and side screens

The hood is a two person job. I have done it on my own once, but it was a bit of a struggle because it won't fold if slightly twisted, but a breeze when when you have two poeple, one at each side helping

My hood is very good, completely watertight and I've been in some really heavy downpours.

There is pleanty of space in the rear seats for an aldult. I've toured Northumbria with 4 adults in the car and it performed superbly. The rear seats are sufficiently low enough for adults not to feel overly exposed unlike the pre-1999 bench seats which are precariously high and good for catching flies in the teeth