RE: Morgan Plus Six | Driven
Discussion
Living in Malvern I've seen a few of these about already. They have more road presence than the older models, but nowhere near as much as the Aero's did. The 'war time' slit LED headlights look cool too. When I first heard they were using a 6 cyl turbo engine a bit more than a year ago, I thought it would be interesting if they got it right, but for me they missed the mark a little. These sort of woosh along with no real noise or drama (as said in the article) and with an auto box it detracts from the whole experience of a Morgan a bit, manual option would have been good, and I'm yet to hear the 'sports exhaust' so there is a little hope if you can swap out the out of place interior items..
However, I have been told the next new model, likely a plus four replacement, will have a 4 cylinder turbo engine, which I imagine is much more likely to have a manual box, and will probably be much more in keeping with the old ones in terms of being able to wring the nuts off it around the countryside, which would make the plus six with 330-odd bhp and its 8 speed auto more of a sort of grand touring option, which I imagine would be preferred in somewhere like the states, whereas a 4cyl turbo plus four replacement would be much more suited to British roads..
However, I have been told the next new model, likely a plus four replacement, will have a 4 cylinder turbo engine, which I imagine is much more likely to have a manual box, and will probably be much more in keeping with the old ones in terms of being able to wring the nuts off it around the countryside, which would make the plus six with 330-odd bhp and its 8 speed auto more of a sort of grand touring option, which I imagine would be preferred in somewhere like the states, whereas a 4cyl turbo plus four replacement would be much more suited to British roads..
Lovely car and colour.
Struggling to see how this is all new, yet the previous alloy chassis Speed 8 wasn't? Twin power is single turbo too, great marketing.
I did enjoy the plus 8. To be honest, an auto box suits them well, aside from the cheesy lever. They aren't happy at 8/10ths, so it's best to enjoy the ride, lovely torque and let the gearbox do it's thing.
The old 4.8i Beemer engine sounded magnificent. A shame to loose it.
Struggling to see how this is all new, yet the previous alloy chassis Speed 8 wasn't? Twin power is single turbo too, great marketing.
I did enjoy the plus 8. To be honest, an auto box suits them well, aside from the cheesy lever. They aren't happy at 8/10ths, so it's best to enjoy the ride, lovely torque and let the gearbox do it's thing.
The old 4.8i Beemer engine sounded magnificent. A shame to loose it.
alexpie90 said:
Living in Malvern I've seen a few of these about already. They have more road presence than the older models, but nowhere near as much as the Aero's did. The 'war time' slit LED headlights look cool too. When I first heard they were using a 6 cyl turbo engine a bit more than a year ago, I thought it would be interesting if they got it right, but for me they missed the mark a little. These sort of woosh along with no real noise or drama (as said in the article) and with an auto box it detracts from the whole experience of a Morgan a bit, manual option would have been good, and I'm yet to hear the 'sports exhaust' so there is a little hope if you can swap out the out of place interior items..
However, I have been told the next new model, likely a plus four replacement, will have a 4 cylinder turbo engine, which I imagine is much more likely to have a manual box, and will probably be much more in keeping with the old ones in terms of being able to wring the nuts off it around the countryside, which would make the plus six with 330-odd bhp and its 8 speed auto more of a sort of grand touring option, which I imagine would be preferred in somewhere like the states, whereas a 4cyl turbo plus four replacement would be much more suited to British roads..
Was hoping they'd partner up with Mazda for new (naturally aspirated) 4 bangers. However, I have been told the next new model, likely a plus four replacement, will have a 4 cylinder turbo engine, which I imagine is much more likely to have a manual box, and will probably be much more in keeping with the old ones in terms of being able to wring the nuts off it around the countryside, which would make the plus six with 330-odd bhp and its 8 speed auto more of a sort of grand touring option, which I imagine would be preferred in somewhere like the states, whereas a 4cyl turbo plus four replacement would be much more suited to British roads..
Nerdherder said:
Was hoping they'd partner up with Mazda for new (naturally aspirated) 4 bangers.
I agree that would be better, but I think seeing as they have a long term partnership with BMW, and using those engines was a push in terms of being brand faithful, I can't see them using Japanese engines when they can easily get the BMW units. I know they used the MX-5 gearbox on the older models(And potentially the new 4cyl one?), but I don't think other than it actually being a manual it really changes the characteristics of a car like an engine does.As far as I know they only just got the (just one!) 4 cyl turbo unit, so I imagine it will be a long time before its actually being mounted in something, whereas I heard they had a 6cyl turbo mounted in a development car about a year before the plus six was announced. I was also told BMW test drivers crashed and wrote off a plus six during testing, which caused a delay in the development of that. This of course is all pub talk from employee's who have seen stuff in the factory, but what I heard a year and a half ago was exactly right about the plus six configuration, so time will tell.
Esceptico said:
I want to like it but a few key negatives - no manual, sounds rubbish (because turbocharged) and by the sounds of it, lack of steering feel. But then I have no idea who buys such cars and perhaps they don’t care so it will sell well regardless
Morgan's 20 or 30 years ago weren't like this. Although primitive and with quality issues, there was an inherent rightness to them. Like the person setting it up knew the car, knew how it should drive, and how it would feel best. As a result, it was immensely satisfying to drive quickly, in its own unique way, and the people who bought them actually appreciated this aspect as much as any other, I think.I fear modern Morgans have lost this. The final engine/chassis setup is often "wrong", somehow, and completely detracts from it as a sportscar. I am all for modern autos, in a lot of applications where people on PH would lambast me, but a ZF in a Morgan? And frankly, 330BHP/Tonne in a Morgan? Stiff chassis, monster modern engine, auto box - it just seems like they're trying to go after the 718 GTS or F-Type, but with olde-worlde styling, and that's just a bit tragic to me.
This is a car to buy, take in for warranty repairs and sell for a new toy in a few years. Old Morgans were cars to buy, fettle, and bond with.
I have never understood these cars or who buys them. If you want something old, get something old. If you want something new, get something new. Buying a car made out of new bits but with all the downsides of an old design, cramped, drafty, leaky and unsafe in a sizable crash seems daft.
I did the factory tour and asked why do they still use wooden frames when no other manufacturer does and apart from tradition they had no answers, they couldn't point out one advantage.
Drove one for the weekend and can't say I was impressed, I've built better cars myself. They seem to depreciate at a fair old rate as well. £90k for a kit car is mental.
I did the factory tour and asked why do they still use wooden frames when no other manufacturer does and apart from tradition they had no answers, they couldn't point out one advantage.
Drove one for the weekend and can't say I was impressed, I've built better cars myself. They seem to depreciate at a fair old rate as well. £90k for a kit car is mental.
That's what I was thinking.Steve Benson said:
I have never understood these cars or who buys them. If you want something old, get something old. If you want something new, get something new. Buying a car made out of new bits but with all the downsides of an old design, cramped, drafty, leaky and unsafe in a sizable crash seems daft.
I can see the appeal, or at least of the older ones.I drove a 4.6 Plus 8 (Rover V8) back in the day and loved it. And placed an order. Sadly life didn't turn out quite as I planned and I never managed to afford it. Although I don't recall it being anywhere as expensive then. Think it was £36k or something. Which must be nearer to £60k in today's money.
I really couldn't do an auto in a car like this though. For me the entire point is a "new" classic car. I do love how this new one looks though.
DonkeyApple said:
I’d imagine it’s people who want a new car that has some of the look and feel of an old car and who have £100k spare?
I have 2 out of 3, just failing the last bit.I do find it frustrating that the touchpoints of steering wheel and gearstick have the same impact as nails on a blackboard for me. I'd also need to know the sports exhaust made the noise more... throaty.
Otherwise it *looks* spot on.
The last motor show I went to (15 or so years ago at ExCeL London) my daughter who must have been 5 or 6 at the time sat in more cars than I remember. We had a great day, but the only cars that she remembers are the Morgans. They are pretty special, and know they know have a winning formula overall (stick, wheel & noise notwithstanding!).
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