Talk Morgan Forums Thread Like Summary - New Morgan Supersport 400 being launched tomorrow

Looks like a new 400 bhp version of the Supersport is being launched tomorrow..

The Porsche comparison, at least to me, is tiresome and feels like lazy journalism.

There were times when the same was done with respect to the Aero 8 and this site saw countless 'first time new Morgan' members join, usually with a flurry of posts, only for them to rapidly subside, and the car be sold.

At the time, I approached the factory and we did a few owners focus groups (some of you may remember those), with one of the key points raised being: 'setting new owners expectations for a hand-built vehicle vs machine made'.

This is like stating the obvious to this community, and the even wider Morgan world; however, it isn't to those coming new to the product and, who after reading articles and watching videos, believe that what they are looking at is 'competing with a Porsche or an Aston Martin'.

At the time, my feeling was that it was a far better approach to set expectations at a reasonable level, and exceed them post-delivery, than the opposite. However, perhaps that was too much to ask when it may influence a sale; nevertheless, I felt that was short sighted then and, if it still occurs, now. A new customer, who goes in with their eyes wide open, understanding they are buying something that it would be almost impossible to get from anywhere else (a car bespoke to them) should/would be far more willing to accept some of the 'fettling' points that have proven to be insurmountable and cause for a quick sale to previous new owners. For clarification, I am not excusing signifiant faults (or mechanical issues) but simply the ones that often prematurely ended ownership for first time owners but are seen as small niggles to overcome (either at first service, via the supplying dealer, or for the more resourceful, by themself) by existing Morgan owners. Those previous Morgan owners who invariably see it as the ownership journey and part and parcel of something handmade at a factory in England!

I've said it before but I like the vehicles Porsche produce and have owned more than a few. They are superb and I have rarely had any issues at all. Even the modern classics feel like they are hewn from a piece of granite and are both impressive to drive, reliable, and feel like a quality product after decades of use. However, with that said, I view the vast majority of them as 'white goods' - reliable, dependable, quality, but perhaps, in some ways, a little cold and 'digital'. Comparing any Morgan to a 911 seems a lazy one to me and is more than likely done so because there really isn't a direct comparison to Morgan!

...and, isn't that a good thing and something to be celebrated?

You can walk into any large, multinational, and buy clothing. In many cases, it will be what is now known as 'fast fashion', garments produced in vast overseas factories on CNC machines and the like.

Or, you can go to a small tailors, get measured, choose a fabric, discuss cut and tailoring, with someone who is a craftsperson and buy a bespoke garment.

A Morgan is a handmade suit and comparing it to any other mass produced vehicle I can think of does it a disservice.

Probably in "The Observer's Book Of Hedges And Ditches Of Worcestershire"......

I totally agree on that! My conclusion was that the gear selector is an improvement (should be standard on all automatics, including PlusFours, or at least an option), the rest not needed and I don't like the extra vents. My PlusFour 258 BHP is more than enough for me! And I have a manual...!!

Ruut

A Morgan with 400 horsepower—100 more than a Ferrari 250 GTO?
We live in crazy times.

Early this morning, when it was still cold, I drove to work under a steel-blue sky, bundled up in my sheepskin flight jacket. Along beautiful country roads. There, 115 hp was more than enough to arrive at the office in high spirits.

That made me go back into the configurator and, yes, I got to £160k for the equivalent of what I currently have (minus around 60 horses).

But some of the optional costs are plain daft; vertical seat pleating is standard, horizontal pleating is over £800 more. £800 for the privilege of having a sewing machine turned round!

Smoke and mirrors as I said, as long as it keeps MMC going all is good.

The Midsummer was and is an amazingly brave design, power to their elbow, I laugh at the naysayers we have on here that damned the Italian intervention.

To me they have injected overdue dynamism as a way to secure the future but I don't expect anyone else to agree with that.

Just because it's beyond your reach is not a valid reason to knock them in my limited book

In the news - this mornings paper.




Source Telegraph.

So they can call it a limited edition and bung £10k on the price

I have plus six, with traction control. In sport mode, at 50mph, if I floor the throttle to overtake, I can feel the traction control kick in and smell rubber. I don't need more power!

To be serious in their 911 comparison, they really, really need to sort out wind noise. I had a 996 cabriolet. It had a perfect fit roof and was comfortable at 75mph touring. Roof down, they supplied a wind deflector that massively increased comfort at speed. On my trip to Liverpool from Essex last week in my plus six, I had to wear motorbike earplugs, roof up or down.

I can live with that. I bought it to replace a 1959 TR3a and it is comparable to that for wind noise. So I'm happy with more reliability, better power and handling. I'll live with earplugs, but my wife won't.

Rather than more power, for both the Four and the Supersport, development needs to go into better door seals (acoustic and rain) and a laminated, noise insulating soft top, for sustained long distance touring, plus a quickly detachable wind protector behind the occupants, like Porsche / older Mercedes SLs. It shouldn't be too difficult to make a sensational improvement. Then they would have a true sports grand tourer (if you have a rear rack!).