RE: Morgan Plus 4 gets (mildly) facelifted for 2024
Discussion
forgot about those, now this is a plus 4 plus I would like to see reborn, with normal up/down side windows :-) ok, not with scary wire wheels though, but still, nice car.
https://www.hagerty.co.uk/articles/automotive-hist...
https://www.hagerty.co.uk/articles/automotive-hist...
cava said:
I presume they are forced to fit an airbag steering wheel for 'safety', but seems pointless when there's no rollover protection, side impact protection, etc. People know what they're getting into when they buy such a car. I guess it'd be easy to fit aftermarket and code it out though.
A number of owners have posted pictures online having removed the (admittedly ugly) airbag wheel and fitted a Nardi. I can imagine the dicussion with their insurance after an accident when an undeclared saferty modification comes to light.GTRene said:
forgot about those, now this is a plus 4 plus I would like to see reborn, with normal up/down side windows :-) ok, not with scary wire wheels though, but still, nice car.
https://www.hagerty.co.uk/articles/automotive-hist...
The roof always looked a bit too bubble-car to my eye although the front is nice. https://www.hagerty.co.uk/articles/automotive-hist...
dinkel said:
ajap1979 said:
Iamnotkloot said:
I still think it needs a less incongruous steering wheel.
Yes!! It looks completely out of place.I fiddled with the configurator:
Better wheels but no options on the steering wheel...
Harrumph, shades of Shed and the enigmatic Post Mistress there (although I presume Shed is off at the Post Office enquiry at this time, providing her with ample..’support’).
I can only imagine Shed and said lovely lady attempting a liaison using this car, with Shed attempting to stuff armfuls of posterior in through the passenger door like a deranged man trying to cram a broken sofa into the back of a Fiesta Connect…
As you probably surmise, this is not a car for me, never has been and never will be, and as others opine there are surely much better ways to spend this sort of money on a car that does a similar sort of thing.
Pistom said:
I appreciate that these CX platform cars are now actually good cars compared to the old ladder frames but to me, they seem to have become a pastiche of their former self.
They've somehow lost their soul.
It's over 30 years since I had my 1600 OHV but that was cheap, uncomfortable, slow but fun.
The current day cars seem expensive, well engineered but somehow dull.
Not sure where the sweet spot lies - if it exists.
I suspect the sweet spot was the old ladder-frame car. The appeal was effectively that of a restomod; an old car with old car character but with a punchy starts-on-key engine and brakes that work. Otherwise what's the appeal over a 7' or something more modern? They've somehow lost their soul.
It's over 30 years since I had my 1600 OHV but that was cheap, uncomfortable, slow but fun.
The current day cars seem expensive, well engineered but somehow dull.
Not sure where the sweet spot lies - if it exists.
The "Elise with a sofa's worth of joinery at the back" seems a really awkward middle ground, and if it leads to a £100k price tag then that's an issue.
Liking the interior colourway, agree about the steering wheel (do a colour match leather rim?), the mirrors remind me of deely bobbers (showing my age) and just look odd - I bet they wobble at speed/over rough ground, shame they haven't integrated the number plates better and I'd prefer the indicators in the wings away from the headlamps so you can actually see them working when the headlights are on full beam. Needs an optional leather strap over the bonnet and period wheelrims?
These to my mind have lost all the charm they once had whilst becoming a very expensive play thing with major drawbacks in the usability that you would realistically want from one. Horrendous in any other situation than dry, smooth roads and incapable of touring without having your luggage sent on ahead. You have to hope it doesn't rain either with the comically bad windscreen wipers and noisy, leaky roof.
Roof down once the rain has stopped, prepare for spray and s
te to cover the inside of the windscreen and most of the cabin.
I did a factory tour a few years ago, a game changer, but not in the way Morgan would want....dreadful place.
Roof down once the rain has stopped, prepare for spray and s
te to cover the inside of the windscreen and most of the cabin.I did a factory tour a few years ago, a game changer, but not in the way Morgan would want....dreadful place.
AmyRichardson said:
Pistom said:
I appreciate that these CX platform cars are now actually good cars compared to the old ladder frames but to me, they seem to have become a pastiche of their former self.
They've somehow lost their soul.
It's over 30 years since I had my 1600 OHV but that was cheap, uncomfortable, slow but fun.
The current day cars seem expensive, well engineered but somehow dull.
Not sure where the sweet spot lies - if it exists.
I suspect the sweet spot was the old ladder-frame car. The appeal was effectively that of a restomod; an old car with old car character but with a punchy starts-on-key engine and brakes that work. Otherwise what's the appeal over a 7' or something more modern? They've somehow lost their soul.
It's over 30 years since I had my 1600 OHV but that was cheap, uncomfortable, slow but fun.
The current day cars seem expensive, well engineered but somehow dull.
Not sure where the sweet spot lies - if it exists.
The "Elise with a sofa's worth of joinery at the back" seems a really awkward middle ground, and if it leads to a £100k price tag then that's an issue.
I think you have to really want a Morgan to buy one. They've been at a price point that's out of scale with other sports cars for many years.
Many Morgans are in the Porsche/Jaguar price range but there's no comparison in terms of quality.
I've had two made for me and currently have an Aero +8 for summer fun. An expensive toy - but a delight in the right conditions.
The shape is iconic and it's basically driving something that looks pre-war but modern underneath. In a world of eco blobs, a Morgan is very different - the view down the bonnet when it's pointed down an interesting road is hard to beat.
Many Morgans are in the Porsche/Jaguar price range but there's no comparison in terms of quality.
I've had two made for me and currently have an Aero +8 for summer fun. An expensive toy - but a delight in the right conditions.
The shape is iconic and it's basically driving something that looks pre-war but modern underneath. In a world of eco blobs, a Morgan is very different - the view down the bonnet when it's pointed down an interesting road is hard to beat.
B10 said:
For me it needs chrome bumpers, rear spare wheel and a chrome grille
you're right. The design doesn't flow without a curved bumper and possibly over riders. Do they think a low impact tap should always be turned into a front end rebuild?.Blunt and under resolved lower styling.magic Monkey Dust said:
B10 said:
For me it needs chrome bumpers, rear spare wheel and a chrome grille
you're right. The design doesn't flow without a curved bumper and possibly over riders. Do they think a low impact tap should always be turned into a front end rebuild?.Blunt and under resolved lower styling.they look cool in a retro modern sort of way and thats it. Had one for 3hrs from Malvern a few weeks back. Neither one thing or another.
Not really a sports car... auto box with no paddles / soft throttle response / massive sidewalls; less than direct handling and turn in / not that quick
Not a tourer...NVH off the clock, no luggage space, fiddly roof, boomy exhaust etc etc
Not a single thing that a £70k 981 Spyder or similar wouldnt do at least twice as well. Or frankly a brand new Boxster 4.0 GTS
So you really really need to like the looks or have some need to buy into the whole brand , history, Englishness (despite BMW bits)
Its the equivalent of a Barbour wax jacket. The reality is something made of Goretex or other technical fabrics is just better. and probably cheaper. But may look less cool. Hey ho. Personally I like engineering integrity, excellence and function. And would rather hear a flat 6 howl
Not really a sports car... auto box with no paddles / soft throttle response / massive sidewalls; less than direct handling and turn in / not that quick
Not a tourer...NVH off the clock, no luggage space, fiddly roof, boomy exhaust etc etc
Not a single thing that a £70k 981 Spyder or similar wouldnt do at least twice as well. Or frankly a brand new Boxster 4.0 GTS
So you really really need to like the looks or have some need to buy into the whole brand , history, Englishness (despite BMW bits)
Its the equivalent of a Barbour wax jacket. The reality is something made of Goretex or other technical fabrics is just better. and probably cheaper. But may look less cool. Hey ho. Personally I like engineering integrity, excellence and function. And would rather hear a flat 6 howl
squirdan said:
they look cool in a retro modern sort of way and thats it. Had one for 3hrs from Malvern a few weeks back. Neither one thing or another.
Not really a sports car... auto box with no paddles / soft throttle response / massive sidewalls; less than direct handling and turn in / not that quick
Not a tourer...NVH off the clock, no luggage space, fiddly roof, boomy exhaust etc etc
Not a single thing that a £70k 981 Spyder or similar wouldnt do at least twice as well. Or frankly a brand new Boxster 4.0 GTS
So you really really need to like the looks or have some need to buy into the whole brand , history, Englishness (despite BMW bits)
Its the equivalent of a Barbour wax jacket. The reality is something made of Goretex or other technical fabrics is just better. and probably cheaper. But may look less cool. Hey ho. Personally I like engineering integrity, excellence and function. And would rather hear a flat 6 howl
Great way to describe it. You want one because you are willing to put up with their many shortcomings. They cannot, will not ever win a 'group test' because they are demonstrably inferior to most other cars. I love them. Not really a sports car... auto box with no paddles / soft throttle response / massive sidewalls; less than direct handling and turn in / not that quick
Not a tourer...NVH off the clock, no luggage space, fiddly roof, boomy exhaust etc etc
Not a single thing that a £70k 981 Spyder or similar wouldnt do at least twice as well. Or frankly a brand new Boxster 4.0 GTS
So you really really need to like the looks or have some need to buy into the whole brand , history, Englishness (despite BMW bits)
Its the equivalent of a Barbour wax jacket. The reality is something made of Goretex or other technical fabrics is just better. and probably cheaper. But may look less cool. Hey ho. Personally I like engineering integrity, excellence and function. And would rather hear a flat 6 howl
I like this.....a lot.
This was my new Plus 4 in 2006, £29,500 at the time with full leather etc.
I appreciate this is a different car on a new platform, so the price is much much higher when you add in the taxes. I am sure they will sell every one the can make though as usual.
This was my 1973 Plus 8 £3900 new.
This was my new Plus 4 in 2006, £29,500 at the time with full leather etc.
I appreciate this is a different car on a new platform, so the price is much much higher when you add in the taxes. I am sure they will sell every one the can make though as usual.
This was my 1973 Plus 8 £3900 new.
AmyRichardson said:
Pistom said:
I appreciate that these CX platform cars are now actually good cars compared to the old ladder frames but to me, they seem to have become a pastiche of their former self.
They've somehow lost their soul.
It's over 30 years since I had my 1600 OHV but that was cheap, uncomfortable, slow but fun.
The current day cars seem expensive, well engineered but somehow dull.
Not sure where the sweet spot lies - if it exists.
I suspect the sweet spot was the old ladder-frame car. The appeal was effectively that of a restomod; an old car with old car character but with a punchy starts-on-key engine and brakes that work. Otherwise what's the appeal over a 7' or something more modern? They've somehow lost their soul.
It's over 30 years since I had my 1600 OHV but that was cheap, uncomfortable, slow but fun.
The current day cars seem expensive, well engineered but somehow dull.
Not sure where the sweet spot lies - if it exists.
The "Elise with a sofa's worth of joinery at the back" seems a really awkward middle ground, and if it leads to a £100k price tag then that's an issue.
if you're getting a bonded alu chassis then get a Lotus or Vantage body at the same time. pre-war looks need a pre-war chassis, even if it does start reliably.
Looks great to me I would love one.
Steering wheel is undoubtedly there because of regulations. It’s (probably?) based on a BMW wheel which will have been tested and certified for global markets.
Having worked in this area before it’s surprising how expensive and complex producing a relatively simple item can be now due to various laws and regulations.
It’s amazing Morgan can even make a car that looks like that these days, long may it continue.
Steering wheel is undoubtedly there because of regulations. It’s (probably?) based on a BMW wheel which will have been tested and certified for global markets.
Having worked in this area before it’s surprising how expensive and complex producing a relatively simple item can be now due to various laws and regulations.
It’s amazing Morgan can even make a car that looks like that these days, long may it continue.
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