Talk Morgan Forums Thread Like Summary - roof up roof down

I hope some people are enjoying their summer, we go out for spin full of excitement and often have to pull in to do the roof after getting a soaking. If you look at the forecast you would never go out, what's everyone else doing not seen many Mogs out and about this summer in Pembrokeshire. We vowed to use the six a bit more than our previous Mog 's but parking is a bit of an issue which we sort of glossed over. Came back to the car the other day with a three year old sitting on a running board, nice car said the father as he pulled the toddler off. Hey ho another day another shower.......Em

Get over yourself Peter, Boxter this Boxter that.The thing is deep down your not happy because no one leaves you out of junctions anymore and the last person you tried to lip read did say cockster. If you want all of the above there's no hope, Morgan's rule.....Ha Em

It's very simple really. If you don't get why Morgan attracts buyers, it's not the car for you. Its a heart ruled purchase, which makes no sense empirically.

Boxsters and the like are for the sensible majority, and that's fine.

Okay if any of these resonate and you buy one (and then it all goes pear shaped) don't blame me. I am never going to claim to be a level headed person. We have ended up with two Aero's.

First you have to work out if you are looking at a Trad car or one of the modern aluminium platform cars like the Aero V8 engine or CX based Plus Four/Six models. It's not cut and dried. Some people are looking for an antidote for the BEV-SUV and a Trad will do that at lower speeds and for a lot less money. They mostly hold their value so you can step in and out without a bath. Some of the special Trads (Brooklands models etc) are surprisingly quick and the SSL suspension upgrades to make a big difference to the driving experience. Less bouncy but still not an Aero/CX modern experience. Servicing is sensible and insurance is great.

In a modern sports car you get to enjoy the experience of the drive. In any traditional shaped Morgan (Aero Plus 8, CX Plus Four/Six or real trad) its like one of those plays where the audience joins in as everyone smiles at you and lets you out at every junction. You get to feel like you make people a little bit happier in their day for seeing it. People are nicer to you, I cannot tell you the number of times people have moved cars to allow me to park the Mog.

In a real Trad you are far more involved in driving the car as the various traditional elements like suspension, steering etc require a bit more engagement. These can be reduced with a few selected after market kits like SSL suspension. In essence you will have more engagement at legal speeds and many people want to keep their trad for that reason. The newer CX cars more or less act like a modern car to drive but bring a greater experience.

I had a string of nutter cars (Skyline GTR, 968CS, VR6) before becoming a Morgan Aero owner. I actually went to drive a Noble GTO3R but there was an Aero in the showroom and the salerep said "if you go for a drive in it you will come back laughing, then you will have to reset your expectations because you will want to buy it". It was an Aero S1. I was amazed that this odd looking thing went like a rocket and was good fun. When I got back in the car the good lady said she would be a lot happier if I bought the Mog and not the Noble. I did not buy it then, but later the Aero S2 turned up. It stuck.

If I am having a bad day I take the Aero Coupe out and it just takes the pressure off. I feel better. It's just a lovely experience that diffuses the frustrations from the job or life. The GT-R just made me drive too fast if I wanted to enjoy how it went. The Mog can go fast but you don't need to.

In full disclosure it is an Aero and so parts are a PITA, servicing is a pain as I have to drive a 100 miles to the dealer I use (Williams) Stuff does break. You will find a few stories on this forum, people here are honest. It costs less to run than most sports cars from my experience. Insurance is really good. Servicing for general stuff is good, unless you break a big bit. Then again perspective is everything and I am used to being fleeced by AMG dealers. I expect the CX should be less of an issue but we are still learning.

As Dave outlines. Work out which Morgan you are taking about (probably a real Trad with SSL or a modern CX Plus Four?) and try a couple. If it's a CX then make certain all the recalls have been completed. Brakes, suspension, radiator all should have been sorted. They don't have the development budget of Pork.

You will know pretty quickly and then the rest will just be about accepting some of the issues that do come with owning a Morgan. I know I have had moments when I have sent some pretty sharp emails.

Actually this forum is also a good reason, some very helpful people that made my introduction to owning the S2 a lot better.

I also think it's simple PMP.
if you aren't yearning for the experiences you had in the Sprite, the old driving techniques. If you're not looking to find that as you get to know the car you actually improve your skills. If you don't want to experience universal love from other road users (invariably letting you out etc) and passers by. If you don't want to be accosted by old men telling you they had one once, it was the best and worst car they ever owned and they wish they still had it, if you don't want to have a car that you can arrive anywhere in classless fashion, if you don't want to come back to your car to find a gaggle of admirers standing round it...even if it's parked in a row of Ferraris and Porsches and Mercs..if you don't want a car that looks just as good dirty as sparkling clean...finally, if you don't want a car that you unconsciously pat as you put it away.....
Then a trad is not for you.
A cx model shares some of these characteristics.
Nick