Plus 4 or Roadster?
Discussion
BlackandWhite said:
Any chance of some constructive feedback on the ARP4? Test drove a 420R and then ended up sort of accidently trying a 4/4 and then a roadster, both left me unsure. Woke up a week later and bought an ARP4 on looks alone. Never owned a Morgan, it's a scary amount of cash and I am papping myself.??
It's worth having a look on the talkmorgan forum - Morgan chatter on PH is pretty quiet to be honest.I've not driven the ARP4, but have read a lot about it from those that have. It's a traditional Morgan - but with all the medieval bits removed and modernised! Proper suspension and a very lively and throaty engine. You're going to love it.
Thread resurrection alert!
I read this with interest as I am considering a Morgan. I've thought of it before, droven both stock Plus 4 and Supersport (though never a Roadster) and decided to stick with 911s. And here I am back at the same point again.
Leaving aside the new Plus Four, so sticking with the old chassis, would people choose a Roadster over a Plus 4? What about the 110 Works Edition? Looks splendid in green and has 180bhp, yet is light and cheap to run. Or would I miss the grunt of the larger 6 cylinder, especially after both air-cooled and modern 911s?
Edited to add - the Roadster has 5 link rear suspension - does this alone make it the one to choose over a Plus 4?
I read this with interest as I am considering a Morgan. I've thought of it before, droven both stock Plus 4 and Supersport (though never a Roadster) and decided to stick with 911s. And here I am back at the same point again.
Leaving aside the new Plus Four, so sticking with the old chassis, would people choose a Roadster over a Plus 4? What about the 110 Works Edition? Looks splendid in green and has 180bhp, yet is light and cheap to run. Or would I miss the grunt of the larger 6 cylinder, especially after both air-cooled and modern 911s?
Edited to add - the Roadster has 5 link rear suspension - does this alone make it the one to choose over a Plus 4?
Lungauer said:
Thread resurrection alert!
I read this with interest as I am considering a Morgan. I've thought of it before, droven both stock Plus 4 and Supersport (though never a Roadster) and decided to stick with 911s. And here I am back at the same point again.
Leaving aside the new Plus Four, so sticking with the old chassis, would people choose a Roadster over a Plus 4? What about the 110 Works Edition? Looks splendid in green and has 180bhp, yet is light and cheap to run. Or would I miss the grunt of the larger 6 cylinder, especially after both air-cooled and modern 911s?
Edited to add - the Roadster has 5 link rear suspension - does this alone make it the one to choose over a Plus 4?
The 3.7 V6 Roadster (I've owned one) is a much heavier beast than than the Plus 4. So it feels more planted - it's quite quick too. But maybe a bit too overpowered for the elderly chassis and suspension design... The Plus 4 is much more 'authentic' in comparison - lightweight and great fun to chuck around. But obviously much less power.I read this with interest as I am considering a Morgan. I've thought of it before, droven both stock Plus 4 and Supersport (though never a Roadster) and decided to stick with 911s. And here I am back at the same point again.
Leaving aside the new Plus Four, so sticking with the old chassis, would people choose a Roadster over a Plus 4? What about the 110 Works Edition? Looks splendid in green and has 180bhp, yet is light and cheap to run. Or would I miss the grunt of the larger 6 cylinder, especially after both air-cooled and modern 911s?
Edited to add - the Roadster has 5 link rear suspension - does this alone make it the one to choose over a Plus 4?
If you want power - the Roadster is the only choice. If you want something to fling around country lanes - the 4.
Go for test drives in both. That way you get a feel for how they react. You will feel the difference!
I changed from a 4/4 with 1.6 cvh efi engine to a Plus8 with Rover 4litre.
Big difference in driving style, capability.
The type of driving you do will influence the engine needs.
More torque = relaxed, almost automatic style that can easily be transformed into fast, power driving by using revs and gears.
On test drives it is worth working the Plus4 over variations in revs/ gears to feel the response.
For the Roadster with 3.7l engine do the same BUT less aggressively until you get a feel for the power input.
Remember, too, that you can upgrade the suspension on a Plus4 to the SSL 5 link if you want to. Go to this website...Talkmorgan.
Browse the sections. Ask for details there and you will get many good responses.
http://www.talkmorgan.com/
I changed from a 4/4 with 1.6 cvh efi engine to a Plus8 with Rover 4litre.
Big difference in driving style, capability.
The type of driving you do will influence the engine needs.
More torque = relaxed, almost automatic style that can easily be transformed into fast, power driving by using revs and gears.
On test drives it is worth working the Plus4 over variations in revs/ gears to feel the response.
For the Roadster with 3.7l engine do the same BUT less aggressively until you get a feel for the power input.
Remember, too, that you can upgrade the suspension on a Plus4 to the SSL 5 link if you want to. Go to this website...Talkmorgan.
Browse the sections. Ask for details there and you will get many good responses.
http://www.talkmorgan.com/
Thanks for the replies. On Friday my wife and I went to Williams Automobiles for a test drive. What had picqued my interest was a Works model, so we took out a Plus 4, being the nearest in spec. When we got back I must admit I was underwhelmed by the power. Perhaps coming from 911s has left too big a gulf, at least on a relatively short drive. So I asked to take out a Roadster and that was much more my thing. Immediately whooping with fun at the chirrup of wheelspin changing through the gears. The five link rear suspension felt much better and you could ride the wave of torque from the big motor However, whilst it's fast in a straight line, going round bends is a whole different matter. A limited slip diff may have helped, but I am an unapologetically enthusiastic driver and I know the lack of handling would ultimately frustrate me.
What prompted me to look at Morgans was the feeling that I needed more soul than my current modern 911 can give me, fast as it is. The new chassis might give the handling, but I'm not sure a modern turbo engine is what I'm after either. So it's back to an air cooled 911 to capture the soul and still have the ability to really press on.
What prompted me to look at Morgans was the feeling that I needed more soul than my current modern 911 can give me, fast as it is. The new chassis might give the handling, but I'm not sure a modern turbo engine is what I'm after either. So it's back to an air cooled 911 to capture the soul and still have the ability to really press on.
I've just got back from a 3-4 day trip in a new 2020 Plus Four and if you have any misgivings over the turbo engine then i'd heavily recommend a test drive. Driven enthusiastically these cars are a world apart from the trad Plus 4's, handling, braking and body control really can't be compared and the new engine seems to suit whilst providing loads of grunt with unexpected character too, i'm smitten with a Morgan again!
I think Morgan have made a song and dance about the new chassis and tbf, I can see why a steel ladder chassis is being chucked out in favour of a new aluminium bonded one. Also by all accounts the new Plus Four has a proper amount of poke because of that BMW engine (new plus Six is basically a muscle car).
Autocar reviewed the new Plus Four q well (3.5): Autocar Review
Morgan shared a pretty good review off a blog on their socials the other day which is less technical and a bit more literary but gets the point across: Fitzroy Motor
Top Gear gave the new one 8/10 in their mag. Only thing I'd be concerned about would be storage for more than a weekend soft back stuffed just behind the seats but you can put it in the footwell too.
Autocar reviewed the new Plus Four q well (3.5): Autocar Review
Morgan shared a pretty good review off a blog on their socials the other day which is less technical and a bit more literary but gets the point across: Fitzroy Motor
Top Gear gave the new one 8/10 in their mag. Only thing I'd be concerned about would be storage for more than a weekend soft back stuffed just behind the seats but you can put it in the footwell too.
VelvetGreen said:
Only thing I'd be concerned about would be storage for more than a weekend soft back stuffed just behind the seats but you can put it in the footwell too.
There's a removable rack you can put on the back... I did two weeks in France last year in my Morgan - a weatherproof bag on the back was more than enough. 
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