RE: Morgan Plus Six | Driven
Discussion
As a reader of a certain age , I can remember as a school boy lusting after a Plus 8 when the first road tests appeared in around 1968, this car has a real appeal. The ZF Automatic is one of the best available and actually adds to the appeal, hopefully allowing left foot braking to assist turn-in on track . I’m really keen and now as an old man I could actually buy one, come on Bell and Colvill , lets be trying your demonstrator soon please ! Could this be a British made performance car that could replace a Porsche GT4 as a realistic track day car , I really hope so ?
Kolbenkopp said:
There must be enough cars suffering from the looks of the generic ZF/BMW stick by now to make a working business case for an after market solution 
. Alfa Giulia, Toyota Supra, Morgan +6...
The Giulia's one is different? Probably the same electronic components but a different plastic case. . Alfa Giulia, Toyota Supra, Morgan +6... BigChiefmuffinAgain said:
I think people are being silly complaining about the lack of a manual. They had £7m to develop the Whole Car. That's peanuts in the car business. I think it's a miracle they managed anything with 4 wheels ( which is admittedly better than some of their recent efforts....)
They also must ensure that they can extract customers from other generations and it seems that unless you have the money to do both then auto targets a larger group of potentential customers. That BMW engine does come with a manual box doesn’t it? So it’s not inconceivable that a limited edition could be offered at a later date.
Morgan has no choice but to modernise and it must be an utterly unenviable job to be deciding which parts will benefit the company most by modernising and which parts will benefit the company most by keeping as traditional. It’s a tightrope act and to be honest, I think they have done extremely well with this car with their balance.
I suspect that with regards to the modern looking steering wheel and gear knob they had many discussions. Looked at the cost required to create bespoke items (maybe there is even legislation that makes this more costly than we imagine or even legalities to do with the deal with BMW), looked at the need to keep the Morgan look but also show a modern side to ensure that they appeal to the next generation of buyers. I also suspect that they looked at the steady evolution of their customer base and who is buying their most expensive cars and came to the view that more would prefer auto over manual.
It being auto doesn’t put me off in the slightest. The zf8 is an incredibly good box. The steering wheel doesn’t put me off either.
The plasticy, travelling salesman parking lever? It grates. It looks fine in a BMW utility box but not quite right here.
Just rumbled through France in my 8.... I can't think of a better car for such a trip.
If I didn't have the 8, I would have a 6 - with the option of the better exhaust.
I imagine the cost of developing a manual box from the short geared 8 speed BMW engine would have been beyond Morgan's modest development budget.
Loved the comment about Morgans being 'kit cars'... hahahaha. Most cars are 'kit cars' - with bits arriving from foreign factories before being assembled. Morgan is actually less of a kit car than most.
If I didn't have the 8, I would have a 6 - with the option of the better exhaust.
I imagine the cost of developing a manual box from the short geared 8 speed BMW engine would have been beyond Morgan's modest development budget.
Loved the comment about Morgans being 'kit cars'... hahahaha. Most cars are 'kit cars' - with bits arriving from foreign factories before being assembled. Morgan is actually less of a kit car than most.
kambites said:
Kolbenkopp said:
There must be enough cars suffering from the looks of the generic ZF/BMW stick by now to make a working business case for an after market solution . Alfa Giulia, Toyota Supra, Morgan +6...
The Giulia's one is different? Probably the same electronic components but a different plastic case. . Alfa Giulia, Toyota Supra, Morgan +6... 85Carrera said:
I would agree with you on that but referring to Morgans as kit cars is a bit silly.
Last time I was there I was told the chassis is built off-site by a separate company and delivered in whole to Morgan. The engine and box are built by BMW, front hubs from Ford, rear axle from somewhere else (was Mazda, probably BMW now). Assembly time was around 22 hours in total.Morgan hand make the body and frame and trim the interior, that's all the manufacturing they do.
Not sure what the true definition of a kit car is but this isn't far off.
Steve Benson said:
Last time I was there I was told the chassis is built off-site by a separate company and delivered in whole to Morgan. The engine and box are built by BMW, front hubs from Ford, rear axle from somewhere else (was Mazda, probably BMW now). Assembly time was around 22 hours in total.
Morgan hand make the body and frame and trim the interior, that's all the manufacturing they do.
Not sure what the true definition of a kit car is but this isn't far off.
That’s more than Honda and Nissan in the UK and most other major manufacturers at their tax subsidised overseas facilities. Morgan hand make the body and frame and trim the interior, that's all the manufacturing they do.
Not sure what the true definition of a kit car is but this isn't far off.
The world knows that a lot car is a car is intended to be built by the owner on their domestic premises. And likewise, when we refer to factory built cars as ‘kit cars’ it is with the specific intent of causing offence.
There’s no problem at all with winding people up for a joke or using hyperbole to further put across a view but you can’t then actually go and try to argue that they actually are kit cars. That just seems a bit odd. Just suggest to those mortally offended that they lighten up a bit rather than bafflingly start digging a hole for no reason and no possible, positive outcome.
300bhp/ton said:
Visually amazing. But an automatic in a car like this just seems wrong. Would rather 2 sec slower to 60 and a manual gearbox.
Manual? Nah... If you want to drive an old car, buy an old car.IMO - Auto & paddles are perfect in that package.
...but that gearstick!!??!! WTF!!
M
DonkeyApple said:
Steve Benson said:
Last time I was there I was told the chassis is built off-site by a separate company and delivered in whole to Morgan. The engine and box are built by BMW, front hubs from Ford, rear axle from somewhere else (was Mazda, probably BMW now). Assembly time was around 22 hours in total.
Morgan hand make the body and frame and trim the interior, that's all the manufacturing they do.
Not sure what the true definition of a kit car is but this isn't far off.
That’s more than Honda and Nissan in the UK and most other major manufacturers at their tax subsidised overseas facilities. Morgan hand make the body and frame and trim the interior, that's all the manufacturing they do.
Not sure what the true definition of a kit car is but this isn't far off.
The world knows that a lot car is a car is intended to be built by the owner on their domestic premises. And likewise, when we refer to factory built cars as ‘kit cars’ it is with the specific intent of causing offence.
There’s no problem at all with winding people up for a joke or using hyperbole to further put across a view but you can’t then actually go and try to argue that they actually are kit cars. That just seems a bit odd. Just suggest to those mortally offended that they lighten up a bit rather than bafflingly start digging a hole for no reason and no possible, positive outcome.
I built mine in my garage, perhaps that is a kit car then.
Steve Benson said:
85Carrera said:
I would agree with you on that but referring to Morgans as kit cars is a bit silly.
Last time I was there I was told the chassis is built off-site by a separate company and delivered in whole to Morgan. The engine and box are built by BMW, front hubs from Ford, rear axle from somewhere else (was Mazda, probably BMW now). Assembly time was around 22 hours in total.Morgan hand make the body and frame and trim the interior, that's all the manufacturing they do.
Not sure what the true definition of a kit car is but this isn't far off.
Where would you draw the line??
M
kambites said:
CedricN said:
If its similar to the bmw DTC theres alot of tech going on in that gear knob assembly. The dtc can now be run in any car with a certain after market ecu,but that dreaded shift assembly need to go with it, which looks quite funny in race cars etc, and Morgans of course 
Indeed, but that tech is not inherently tied to the awful plastic case.Take out the gubbins and re-package it.
M
camel_landy said:
Steve Benson said:
85Carrera said:
I would agree with you on that but referring to Morgans as kit cars is a bit silly.
Last time I was there I was told the chassis is built off-site by a separate company and delivered in whole to Morgan. The engine and box are built by BMW, front hubs from Ford, rear axle from somewhere else (was Mazda, probably BMW now). Assembly time was around 22 hours in total.Morgan hand make the body and frame and trim the interior, that's all the manufacturing they do.
Not sure what the true definition of a kit car is but this isn't far off.
Where would you draw the line??
M
I went to watch my Vanquish being 'made'. Engine shipped in from Cologne, chassis from somewhere else, body panels from another supplier, wheels from another etc etc.... Aston did the leather trim and bolted the bits together, painted and polished it. A kit car. Most are.
300bhp/ton said:
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.
Indeed... Back in those days, the waiting list was sooooo long, you could generally put the deposit down and then start saving. By the time your build slot came up, you were pretty much there with the funds. Well, that was the theory!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.
Aesthetically, I always found the Plus8 to be too wide for my liking but this one looks to be visually better proportioned (for me, anyway).
M
camel_landy said:
Manual? Nah... If you want to drive an old car, buy an old car.
IMO - Auto & paddles are perfect in that package.
...but that gearstick!!??!! WTF!!
M
But there is a difference. Old cars are old. Which is fine, but also require the attention of an old car. A new car shouldn't. The Morgan does, or did at least, offer a 'new' classic car experience. In keeping with it's styling. And an 8 speed auto just doesn't suit a car of this style IMO.IMO - Auto & paddles are perfect in that package.
...but that gearstick!!??!! WTF!!
M
The Supra or z4 it does more so. Just not a hand built classic British sports car. All IMO.
camel_landy said:
Indeed... Back in those days, the waiting list was sooooo long, you could generally put the deposit down and then start saving. By the time your build slot came up, you were pretty much there with the funds. Well, that was the theory!
Aesthetically, I always found the Plus8 to be too wide for my liking but this one looks to be visually better proportioned (for me, anyway).
M
I think I was estimated 7 years at the time. Production had stopped of the Plus 8 before my order would have come up and the replacement was the then V6 Roadster using a Ford Mondeo V6. It looked nice as it introduced the over rider style front bumper. But for someone at the time wanting a V8 sports car. The V6, no matter how good, would have been a let down. Aesthetically, I always found the Plus8 to be too wide for my liking but this one looks to be visually better proportioned (for me, anyway).
M
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