RE: Morgan Plus 8 Speedster: Driven

RE: Morgan Plus 8 Speedster: Driven

Thursday 14th August 2014

Morgan Plus 8 Speedster: Driven

Endearing retro racer or anachronistic folly? Time to find out!



We had been after a Morgan Plus 8 Speedster ever since the anniversary special was confirmed back in April. Hopefully it doesn't take much to see why, but we'll come to that. Yet through commitments on both sides, plus the availability of just one prototype press car, the drive was pushed further and further back.

Flat cap advisable with that screen!
Flat cap advisable with that screen!
As it eventually transpired the booking should have been perfect. A Speedster needs sunshine so what better time than the second weekend of August? OK, that didn't quite work out. But it did correspond with Wilton Classic Supercar weekend and for that the Morgan was perfectly suited.

The sortie to Salisbury, indeed the whole weekend with the Speedster, was a motoring adventure of the delightfully old-fashioned kind. Can this journey be endured with just goggles or is a helmet required? Will a parking ticket be stolen if the roof isn't put on? Will anything fit? And is it going to rain?

Cold and wind battered at 0515h on a Sunday morning, the old days seem grossly overrated. But when strangers in supercars mention how cool your Morgan is, when members of the public smile and wave and when the V8 rumbles off stone walls you won't want to be driving anything else. Providing it's sunny, obviously.

Sunny mood
The Speedster wasn't actually meant to be in the supercar paddock at Wilton; turning up at the gate without the required passes, the taste police declared it was "fantastic" and waved it through. The 997 Turbo in front commented on how great it sounded when we parked up. It's that kind of car.

Riding on such a wave of positivity, how on earth can the Speedster be objectively assessed? It's tough, so let's deal with the good points first.

Noise from here suitably rowdy
Noise from here suitably rowdy
Every single person loved the Speedster's appearance. It isn't markedly different to the Plus 8 but the changes are enough to create a fabulous retro racer vibe. The bonnet strap, the steel-look aluminium wheels, the screen and the exposed tow hooks are minor tweaks but make it look really special. There can't be many other £70K new cars that can command similar attention.

Snap, crackle and pop
And it sounds like an old racing car too. The V8 woofles at start up and emits a thunderous rumble throughout the rev range courtesy of the optional AR Racing exhaust. It pops, it bangs and it crackles. The noise is fantastic. It's also loud enough to set off car alarms but that's another story entirely...

However, the Speedster is also akin to a classic racing car in less endearing ways too. The feeling of being sat high is exacerbated by the tiny screen and a lack of windows. You probably won't fall out but that doesn't stop the fear lingering. And though the steering wheel is close, your body is too close also, meaning your arms can ache from prolonged periods at a skewed angle. Conveniently enough the door is an ideal arm resting place, creating an especially raffish one-handed driving position should one fancy it.

Who needs windows anyway?
Who needs windows anyway?
Two hands firmly on the wheel and with a great B-road reeling off into the horizon the Speedster is certainly memorable. The steering is slow and quite heavy but that engenders some confidence in the long front end. The brakes are powerful but need a big push to be fully effective. That muscle car sound is matched by towering performance in any gear.

Blurred lines
The Speedster's main issue is that it feels quite vague when pushing on, discouraging such behaviour. That's a shame as it doesn't seem particularly vicious beyond the limit, but the distant messages relayed up to that point make the experience rather disconcerting nonetheless. Especially when rain is being wiped from goggles with the sleeve of your blazer.

Soon you'll be dreaming of a cruise in the sunshine with the Speedster, a task it excels at if you don't mind some turbulence. But surely that's the remit of the Plus 8? The looks of the Speedster promise a more focused driving experience but it must be remembered the car is really just a cosmetic enhancement of the Plus and nothing more.

Looks idyllic; doesn't feel quite at home
Looks idyllic; doesn't feel quite at home
So how's this for an idea? The Speedster is £15K less than a Plus 8. A proper roof can be optioned if you wish. Keep the manual, the expensive auto is fairly sluggish and even Morgan admits that. And invest that £15K in some fancy dampers, maybe some brake tweaks, a decent racing seat, some optimisation. There's latent potential for a stunning track car in there somewhere. The performance is there for sure, as is outright dry grip from the Yokohama Advans. Plus it would definitely be cheaper than a (similarly heavy) Lightweight E-Type...

However. However. Even as is, the Speedster is totally captivating, probably because of its compromises. It's not the last word in dynamic finesse but let those people go and spec up a Boxster S. You'll chortle haughtily at F-Type drivers who think they have a eye-catching British sports car. Cursing it in the wet makes the moments in the sunshine all the more special. But most of all the Morgan Speedster plasters a ruddy great grin across your face and leaves an indelibly positive mark long after the V8 din has subsided and the flat cap is in the drawer. It's joyous.

Quick vid here.


MORGAN PLUS 8 SPEEDSTER
Engine:
4,799cc V8
Transmission: 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive (6-speed auto optional)
Power (hp): 372@6,300rpm
Torque (lb ft): 370@3,400rpm
0-62mph: 4.5 sec
Top speed:155mph
Weight: 1,100kg
MPG: 26
CO2: 256g/km
Price: £69,995

[Pics: Chris Teagles]

   
   






   
Author
Discussion

eliotrw

Original Poster:

302 posts

168 months

Thursday 14th August 2014
quotequote all
I actually think this is, dare I say it. A bargain?

DoctorX

7,240 posts

166 months

Thursday 14th August 2014
quotequote all
Saw this at Carfest and can confirm it sounds superb. Fantastic cars, would love one (with a proper windscreen).

suffolk009

5,344 posts

164 months

Thursday 14th August 2014
quotequote all
What a fantastic motor car.

robsco

7,822 posts

175 months

Thursday 14th August 2014
quotequote all
Absolutely wonderful.

Tom_C76

1,923 posts

187 months

Thursday 14th August 2014
quotequote all
From the front it looks like it's been sat on...

TimLambert7

642 posts

124 months

Thursday 14th August 2014
quotequote all
Do PH just not read articles before they post them online?

It seems that every article has at least one glaring error. It's just a bit annoying.

SFO

5,162 posts

182 months

Thursday 14th August 2014
quotequote all
Fabulous .. probably rent one for a weekend when the weather is good as it's too compromised

Matt Bird

1,450 posts

204 months

PH Reportery Lad

Thursday 14th August 2014
quotequote all
TimLambert7 said:
Do PH just not read articles before they post them online?

It seems that every article has at least one glaring error. It's just a bit annoying.
Apologies, we do our best subbing but errors do slip through. I'm fairly confident not every article is afflicted though. At least it doesn't go to print this way eh? You'll find the story should be free from annoyance apart from my writing style now.

All the best,


Matt

405dogvan

5,326 posts

264 months

Thursday 14th August 2014
quotequote all
TimLambert7 said:
Do PH just not read articles before they post them online?

It seems that every article has at least one glaring error. It's just a bit annoying.
More annoying than people who complain about mistakes without highlighting what they are?

lifebegins@400

210 posts

199 months

Thursday 14th August 2014
quotequote all
Lovely bar the wheels - look a bit too much like space-saver spares to me, otherwise fab car

dukebox9reg

1,570 posts

147 months

Thursday 14th August 2014
quotequote all
Saw one yesterday driving back home near Warwick. Young guy looked very happy driving it and I thought it looked awesome. Didnt get to hear it though as he was stationary at the opposite junction (Fosse Way)

I have to admit this is the first real Morgan I think I would actually have (funding allowing obviously)

Vee12V

1,328 posts

159 months

Thursday 14th August 2014
quotequote all
I'm the first person to judge a car on its dynamic merits but in this case I don't care! Serious want.

EricE

1,945 posts

128 months

Thursday 14th August 2014
quotequote all
Tom_C76 said:
From the front it looks like it's been sat on...
there is an h missing somewhere in this sentence.

TimLambert7

642 posts

124 months

Thursday 14th August 2014
quotequote all
Matt Bird said:
TimLambert7 said:
Do PH just not read articles before they post them online?

It seems that every article has at least one glaring error. It's just a bit annoying.
Apologies, we do our best subbing but errors do slip through. I'm fairly confident not every article is afflicted though. At least it doesn't go to print this way eh? You'll find the story should be free from annoyance apart from my writing style now.

All the best,


Matt
Matt,

Perhaps I'm overly sensitive to it. No annoyance on the writing style, the article is actually a pleasure to read.

Cheers


Falsey

449 posts

138 months

Thursday 14th August 2014
quotequote all
I do quite fancy a Morgan..

RosscoPCole

3,300 posts

173 months

Thursday 14th August 2014
quotequote all
Fabulous car. I'm glad Morgan made it less than the standard model rather than other manufacturers who do this and add 20% to the list price.

Will see one next week as I am booked in for a factory tour with my daughter who is called Morgan and has kept asking about the cars with the same name as her.

Friggatron

21 posts

128 months

Thursday 14th August 2014
quotequote all
My dad's had 2 Morgans in the past, and I absolutely love them. Drove his +4 back from Donnington once, going along at 70 (!) looking over the low cut door at the road whizzing underneath you, was amazing, completely exposed compared to the S2000 I had. This car in an old war time dark blue colour would be perfect. I just can't like that steering wheel, would have to ditch it for a Moto-Lita one.

Matt Bird

1,450 posts

204 months

PH Reportery Lad

Thursday 14th August 2014
quotequote all
TimLambert7 said:
Matt,

Perhaps I'm overly sensitive to it. No annoyance on the writing style, the article is actually a pleasure to read.

Cheers
Thanks. Sorry, we're sensitive to it as well which is why it's so frustrating when errors are published! Obviously doesn't help when the editor swans off to Pebble Beach for a few days too...

Chris99

353 posts

159 months

Thursday 14th August 2014
quotequote all
Two out of two fun factor cars from Morgan - the 3 wheeler and now the Speedster.

It sounds from the review if, just like the M3W, the Speedster puts a huge grin on your face which is just what many of us want.

licklaughbiglaughbounce




P4ROT

1,219 posts

192 months

Thursday 14th August 2014
quotequote all
Does anyone know the engine code for this? I'm guessing it's N62- didn't Alpina have a hand in the development of this lump? (I just want to know what a decat would sound like? i.e. my perfect sprint spec cloud9)


Talking of Alpina, I'd also like to see this using D3 running gear lol: