Roadster 4 seater
Discussion
Getting itchy feet for a change of car but need a 2+2.
3 years ago I was going to buy an Eva but that obviously didn't work out and I'm not sure I really believe the delay story or that it may still appear in 2015 etc. I also fear they may try and use that shape for their EV stuff.
Anyway, while the 4 seater Roadater is not as pretty as the standard, it does tick an awful lot of boxes. The only other car that appeals is a late 80s Vantage.
Does anyone have one of the newer 3.7 units and can share their experiences before I go and drive one?
Thanks.
3 years ago I was going to buy an Eva but that obviously didn't work out and I'm not sure I really believe the delay story or that it may still appear in 2015 etc. I also fear they may try and use that shape for their EV stuff.
Anyway, while the 4 seater Roadater is not as pretty as the standard, it does tick an awful lot of boxes. The only other car that appeals is a late 80s Vantage.
Does anyone have one of the newer 3.7 units and can share their experiences before I go and drive one?
Thanks.
Have you been over to talkmorgan.com ? there are a few folks there who have a 3.7 roadster, but not sure if any have a 4 seater - they seem favourably impressed by the performance of the mustang unit, but the tacho and speedo also lifted from the mustang have come in for a bit of comment.
I have a 4/4 4 seater, which is great fun, but I am not certain you would get away with using the 3.7 performance with rearseat occupants - its quite exposed back there, the latest cars have an odd look to them, compared with my '80s car (which looks great to my eyes) it think its the full size seats with headrests and all - just looks clunky to me
I have a 4/4 4 seater, which is great fun, but I am not certain you would get away with using the 3.7 performance with rearseat occupants - its quite exposed back there, the latest cars have an odd look to them, compared with my '80s car (which looks great to my eyes) it think its the full size seats with headrests and all - just looks clunky to me
sawman said:
Have you been over to talkmorgan.com ? there are a few folks there who have a 3.7 roadster, but not sure if any have a 4 seater - they seem favourably impressed by the performance of the mustang unit, but the tacho and speedo also lifted from the mustang have come in for a bit of comment.
I have a 4/4 4 seater, which is great fun, but I am not certain you would get away with using the 3.7 performance with rearseat occupants - its quite exposed back there, the latest cars have an odd look to them, compared with my '80s car (which looks great to my eyes) it think its the full size seats with headrests and all - just looks clunky to me
Thanks. I have a 4/4 4 seater, which is great fun, but I am not certain you would get away with using the 3.7 performance with rearseat occupants - its quite exposed back there, the latest cars have an odd look to them, compared with my '80s car (which looks great to my eyes) it think its the full size seats with headrests and all - just looks clunky to me
They look better without the rear headrests, that's for sure. I have two toddlers so they would need them.
With the kids in the car it would just be pootling or roof on.
The key is to find a car which is just fun to use and has the retro style without necessarily being old itself.
Edited by DonkeyApple on Sunday 18th August 18:06
DonkeyApple said:
Thanks.
They look better without the rear headrests, that's for sure. I have two toddlers so they would need them.
With the kids in the car it would just be pootling or roof on.
The key is to find a car which is just fun to use and has the retro style without necessarily being old itself.
Exactly my reasoning for getting the 4 seater, I was also looking at cerberas and lotus elan plus2 at the time, but opted for the morgan on the grounds that it was more likely to be less painful to run. my kids fitted in the back well - my lad was 5 at the time - we had diagonal seatbelts fitted and he was able to sit in securely without a booster. My daugher has now outgrown the back seat, this means that we rarely go out together these days (one of the reasons its up for sale)They look better without the rear headrests, that's for sure. I have two toddlers so they would need them.
With the kids in the car it would just be pootling or roof on.
The key is to find a car which is just fun to use and has the retro style without necessarily being old itself.
Edited by DonkeyApple on Sunday 18th August 18:06
As it happens it has been extremely reliable over 4 years.
There is a line of thought that suggests the 4/4 is a better alround proposition than the plus8s and roadsters - they are built on the same chassis design, but the bigger engine is heavier and makes the car less chuckable. The 4/4 then is all about handling and balance, where the roadster is theoretically faster, but pushes the wobbly old chassis to its limits.
Not sure where you are but almost all of the morgan dealers I have come across, have been hugely enthusiastic and helpful but it would be unlikely any of them have a 4 seater roadster in stock, but it might be worth phoning the factory (even better have a day out there)
sawman said:
DonkeyApple said:
Thanks.
They look better without the rear headrests, that's for sure. I have two toddlers so they would need them.
With the kids in the car it would just be pootling or roof on.
The key is to find a car which is just fun to use and has the retro style without necessarily being old itself.
Exactly my reasoning for getting the 4 seater, I was also looking at cerberas and lotus elan plus2 at the time, but opted for the morgan on the grounds that it was more likely to be less painful to run. my kids fitted in the back well - my lad was 5 at the time - we had diagonal seatbelts fitted and he was able to sit in securely without a booster. My daugher has now outgrown the back seat, this means that we rarely go out together these days (one of the reasons its up for sale)They look better without the rear headrests, that's for sure. I have two toddlers so they would need them.
With the kids in the car it would just be pootling or roof on.
The key is to find a car which is just fun to use and has the retro style without necessarily being old itself.
Edited by DonkeyApple on Sunday 18th August 18:06
As it happens it has been extremely reliable over 4 years.
There is a line of thought that suggests the 4/4 is a better alround proposition than the plus8s and roadsters - they are built on the same chassis design, but the bigger engine is heavier and makes the car less chuckable. The 4/4 then is all about handling and balance, where the roadster is theoretically faster, but pushes the wobbly old chassis to its limits.
Not sure where you are but almost all of the morgan dealers I have come across, have been hugely enthusiastic and helpful but it would be unlikely any of them have a 4 seater roadster in stock, but it might be worth phoning the factory (even better have a day out there)
I move between London and West country so getting to the factory is easy enough.
Strangely, my Grandfather had a three wheeler before the war and his father knew HFC and apparently once raced his Bugatti against him up the drive after a long lunch.
I've always liked the cars and seem to be at a point where fun isn't about performance.
I just hired a 4/4 2 weeks ago for 3 days, I wanted to hire a 4 seater but of course none around. I had a similar line of thinking to you possibly, what with having 2 young kids, 3.5 and 5 years old. To be honest at that age, mine, when I took them out individually in the 4/4, weren't too keen on the exposed, windy, perceived 'fastness' of it.
Given the size of the rear seats in the 4 seater, I reckon the window of opportunity for family motoring outings would be quite short: the kids would have to be a bit older to be handle the sensory attack, but not too big before it gets tight back there.
As a side note, the 1.6 in the 4/4 was great fun (has a 'sports exhaust' which added to the sensation). If I was buying now, I would go for a basic 4/4 for me and/or the missus; previous to the hire experience, I was convinced I would 'need' a 2l plus 4 4 seater.
Worth spending a couple of days in any Morgan you can to get a feel for them if you have not done so already. The chassis must be at the upper ends of its limits with the v6 in it. It was quite easy to get it a bit squirrely with just 110ps on tap.
HTH
Given the size of the rear seats in the 4 seater, I reckon the window of opportunity for family motoring outings would be quite short: the kids would have to be a bit older to be handle the sensory attack, but not too big before it gets tight back there.
As a side note, the 1.6 in the 4/4 was great fun (has a 'sports exhaust' which added to the sensation). If I was buying now, I would go for a basic 4/4 for me and/or the missus; previous to the hire experience, I was convinced I would 'need' a 2l plus 4 4 seater.
Worth spending a couple of days in any Morgan you can to get a feel for them if you have not done so already. The chassis must be at the upper ends of its limits with the v6 in it. It was quite easy to get it a bit squirrely with just 110ps on tap.
HTH
my kids were 9+5 when we first got the 4 seater - they have loved it, but with the roof off the back seats are quite exposed so 40-50mph is your limit with the sidescreens on, probably less with them off. My daughter is now 13 and 5' 6" so can only get in the back for short trips with the roof off and it would be a real struggle to get her in the back with the roof on. I think there is more room in the back of the new versions - mine in a 1988 car. My 9 year old is still happy in the back, as even with a booster seat he cant really see out in the front.
One of the main advantages of the 4 seater is that 2 peopple can take a long road trip and have enough space for luggage (and cases of wine). That said we did a 4up spain/france trip in ours, by managing to pack everything into a large suitcase on a luggage rack. It was one of the best family trips we have done.
One of the main advantages of the 4 seater is that 2 peopple can take a long road trip and have enough space for luggage (and cases of wine). That said we did a 4up spain/france trip in ours, by managing to pack everything into a large suitcase on a luggage rack. It was one of the best family trips we have done.
Thanks.
Mine are 2 & 3 so a bit young. To be honest, whenever I've owned a convertible I've rarely put the roof down. For me it's not really about a 'convertible' more the desire for a classic style 2+2 which doesn't have more buttons than pedals.
Such a car is almost impossible to find outside the classic arena.
The Eva was exactly what I was looking for.
Mine are 2 & 3 so a bit young. To be honest, whenever I've owned a convertible I've rarely put the roof down. For me it's not really about a 'convertible' more the desire for a classic style 2+2 which doesn't have more buttons than pedals.
Such a car is almost impossible to find outside the classic arena.
The Eva was exactly what I was looking for.
I have a 3.7 roadster.
Main problem is mapping on engine, the revs 'hang' once your foot is off the accelerator.... fantastic for straight line accelerator on a quiet A road ... scare you to death going into a corner in the wet or winter time ....or shooting out on to a round about and all traffic stops ...you soon get very handy at stamping on the clutch pedal to get the car stopped.
Otherwise the car is great.
Main problem is mapping on engine, the revs 'hang' once your foot is off the accelerator.... fantastic for straight line accelerator on a quiet A road ... scare you to death going into a corner in the wet or winter time ....or shooting out on to a round about and all traffic stops ...you soon get very handy at stamping on the clutch pedal to get the car stopped.
Otherwise the car is great.
I called the factory when the Eva was announced and have watched progress since, can't see it happening but hope I'm wrong.
I had a regular 4 seater until about 2 years ago, ironically my 2 seater TVR went so I could buy that, the 4 seater was fun but not quick. The kids aged 3, 6, and 7 at the time loved it, and it made for an interesting school run. The roadster 4 seater sounds fun and fast, and I am sure like any performance car you would hold back with the family on board and have the ability to be enthusiastic when sans kids. End of summer probably means most have been sold, they will start to show again soon though.
I went from my Morgan to a Maserati Gransport, which was silly quick, great for carrying the kids in and still relatively analogue. Wonderful car, is for sale at a dealer, who have been sat on it for 4 months if anyone wants a pointer. I bought an old Fairline boat which I had restored and figured that running boat and Maser was a bit excessive hence the sale, however have recently bought a Porsche 964 which is being fettled and upgraded and the kids also love, lots of options out there.
Am sure I will have a Morgan again, have had 3 so far and driven many more!
I had a regular 4 seater until about 2 years ago, ironically my 2 seater TVR went so I could buy that, the 4 seater was fun but not quick. The kids aged 3, 6, and 7 at the time loved it, and it made for an interesting school run. The roadster 4 seater sounds fun and fast, and I am sure like any performance car you would hold back with the family on board and have the ability to be enthusiastic when sans kids. End of summer probably means most have been sold, they will start to show again soon though.
I went from my Morgan to a Maserati Gransport, which was silly quick, great for carrying the kids in and still relatively analogue. Wonderful car, is for sale at a dealer, who have been sat on it for 4 months if anyone wants a pointer. I bought an old Fairline boat which I had restored and figured that running boat and Maser was a bit excessive hence the sale, however have recently bought a Porsche 964 which is being fettled and upgraded and the kids also love, lots of options out there.
Am sure I will have a Morgan again, have had 3 so far and driven many more!
I can just about remember my Dad coming home in his new 4/4 4 seated back in April
'84. I was 3 and my sister was 18 months. Due to an unforeseen corner his Chevette left this world soon after and the 4/4 became the family car for a few years.
It was often hard work sitting in the back: it was windy, loud and fumey with the roof up. My sister and I are both enormously fond of it. Dad still has it and enjoys it nearly 30 years later.
Get one!
'84. I was 3 and my sister was 18 months. Due to an unforeseen corner his Chevette left this world soon after and the 4/4 became the family car for a few years.
It was often hard work sitting in the back: it was windy, loud and fumey with the roof up. My sister and I are both enormously fond of it. Dad still has it and enjoys it nearly 30 years later.
Get one!
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