Talk Morgan Forums Thread Like Summary - One & Done?

I recently watched a video that Henry Catchpole did on RUF Automotive and specifically the SCR. At one stage in the video, he poses the question as to whether the car in question could answer the eternal petrolhead question, "is there such a car that negates the need for other cars and does all that any enthusiast really wants and needs; in other words: one and done."

If we are playing this theoretical game, the one vehicle rules really need to apply: enjoyable to a degree that a some who loves driving won't get bored and practical enough to be used daily (and, I assume in a perfect world, have four seats for those occasional requirements to carry more than driver and one passenger!). We can avoid the 'what if I need to move furniture' debate because renting a van is cheap and easy for those rare occasions. If you carry three adults regularly, then that needs to be considered and probably rules out 2+2 type sports cars, with their tiny occasional seats in the rear.

So, over to you chaps... what would your One & Done be? Is there automotive nirvana or is it a fallacy and the reason why people justify owning more than one vehicle?

OF&H episode https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/If_They_Could_See_Us_Now

They finally make it rich in the previous episode and invest it. They then go on holiday to Monaco. The investments tank and they run for it. Maria laughed so hard when she saw this episode and we promised that one day we would go there (and possibly have to do a runner as well when I did the booking and found the prices). I did five years in an insanely busy US tech startup and took no holiday so we banked it and went on what they call "a bender" at the end. I will admit I did feel like a total imposter staying in that hotel. The funny thing was the staff said it was one of the most attractive cars they ever had and could they put it there each day.

I have found a picture of it by the steps.


When we hit Positano the garage put it in a corner next to the local Ferrari and also the Police chiefs car. It was hilarious trying to drive down the tiny road into town as everyone was jumping out to take photos of it, I must have nearly flattened dozens of people.



I still think they get more love because they don't scream rich like so many other cars do.

When the good lady and I went on our two month tour down to Amalfi we had a stop booked at the Hotel de Paris with the aim of re-enacting the Only Fools and Horses episode. As we arrived they removed the brand new Ferrari TdF that was in front of the steps and put the Coupe there.

Every night they put it in the underground car park and every morning they bought it back up and put it on the steps. Sometimes we could not even see it for the crowd taking photos of it. I will see if I can find some of the photos. I did not know if I should laugh or cry and the people rubbing up against it. Then I got the bill.

Found one. They put it in the centre place. Cars coming up the hill into the square all slowed down to look, it was funny to watch.

Such a beautiful design.

Difficult luxury question (if you have more than one car). I wouldn't take the watering can for a bit of sportiness, a bit of comfort etc. I would take a car that I know very well and that I have always loved driving everywhere. My still existing 1968 Mecedes 230 6 cyl. Apart from its drunkenness I love this car, so many trips in the late 90's and 2000's with our then young children. So much space, comfort, style and already handling characteristics of the engine and chassis that are still good today. Plus that fantastic feeling of being on the road, driving as driving. Not a bit sporty, but all the other things and the great sympathy. Here a photo from a 1996 printed pic. She still looks the same today without any welding.

There is a bit of difference between the original Brooklands 4 door and the Brooklands Coupe to be fair. They share nothing. The Coupes were almost totally hand formed top of the range monsters. The original Brooklands saloon was a "poverty spec" Rolls-Royce T based model they first built when RR bought Bentley. Still a lovely motor car by most standards but not the hand built lump that the Coupe represents. I could possibly afford the car (and running costs at 9mpg etc) of the 4 door at a push, the Coupe, ha ha ha. I would still have to be mad, but I kind of am?

One of my track day acquaintances has been working on something along those lines Rich

Do it - when No2 daughter and to be son in law had a house in Hildenborough the chap next door had one and it was magic when he started it up outside our bedroom window, his name was Mr Bentley and he has arrived alright.

Coincidently there was a riding stable opposite so quite a gathering of thoroughbreds one way and another 🐴🏎

A thing of grace and style.

Not sure which C4S you drove but I've noticed Porsche, and the same can be said of most car makers, dial the 'error protection' up and hence, the unpredictability and (some would say) involvement / driving feel down. I remember having a conversation with Porsche guru Richard Tuthill where he said to me that the tail happy reputation the 911 had was unwarranted and generally came from poorly set up cars or equally poor driving. Nevertheless, Porsche themselves obviously took this (general reputation) to heart and have work tirelessly to make the 911 handle predictably and I would go as far as to say, in many cases, flatter and protect unskilled drivers. A modern 911, specifically a 4WD version, made even greater with the four wheel steering, feels like it can bend physics to the drivers will. They flatter even the most inept driver (I'm raising my hand at this point, not pointing a finger at others) and the problem with this is that along with their immense competency comes a similar level of predictability. To many, this can be seen as dull and truth be told, in my past experience, you need to be driving at licence loosing speeds for the car to really feel alive. Nevertheless, and as I mentioned at the start, Porsche are not immune to this, Mercedes, Audi, Ferrari, etc, have all dialled safety up (and rightly so) but at the expense of what drivers often call 'feel'. A fair price to pay when so many road users are driving on autopilot and really not paying proper care an attention? Perhaps. However, it does make it a struggle for me to make a modern sports car a One & Done.

Personally I like a car that has personality - and by this I don't mean issues that rose tinted owners call 'personality' - I mean a car that has dimensions to it that unfold as you use it more and get to know it. Not a snappy unpredictable car but one that flatters you when you drive it well but also gives you a little nod when you don't. Probably a very challenging blend in a modern car and why very few modern vehicles are being mentioned on this topic.

And DaveW, I agree that the Jensen's poor mpg would get tiring quickly; furthermore, that perhaps it would underwhelm. In defence of it, I did post a link to the resto modded version with modern LS2 engine, overhauled (modern) suspension, etc, but I'm sure it would still be 'compromised.' And, perhaps that this the nub of it, there is always a compromise with cars, hence the justification for more than one?

The C4S was brand new at the time, but was about 20 years ago. It did everything perfectly, and as you said lacked that little 'frission' of unpredicability (and I took it over some fairly challenging roads - Tregaron to Rhayader via Cwmystwyth, down to Beulah and then back across the Abergwesyn Rd).

In fairness, my mate found it a little boring too, and soon chopped it in for a GT3RS which was a little more exciting.

My partners electric VW Golf has blistering acceleration, but is completely dull and boring in every other aspect, even when I spend the first 5 minutes turning off all the 'driver aids'. However, every drive in the Morgan and MG starts and ends in a grin, and often an occasional bum clench

Very Bergerac on steroids!

I want to love the Bentley but it's tricky.........😆
it's got all the right bits but not necessarily in the the right place.........to paraphrase Eric Morecambe........🤷🏻‍♂️

A great picture Alistair, and quite an experience.

I'm not sure of the Only Fools... connection though, that must be an episode I missed. For me, the Hotel de Paris is synonymous with The Persuaders!

Bet you can find that green colour in a car park quite easily!

I am not usually keen on the bold/block colours but that looks way better than most, perhaps it is the black contrast balancing it.

Nice.

Oh yes, I forgot to say, those one and done women shouldn't be so picky as another good quality🤠