This Week I Have Been Mostly Driving... A Morgan!

[Baldchap]

Not technically this week, but my local dealer kindly let me borrow this the other day:



Morgan Plus Six.

Without Googling specific numbers I can tell you it's the straight six from the BMW 340, an automatic gearbox with a very BMW gear selector, RWD and 1100kg.

It also has three very tiny windscreen wipers, which made me laugh:



Definitely quick, I wouldn't want to abuse one on a wet day with the stability control turned off. It squirmed up to about 80mph on a private road with it turned on.

Sadly it was too wet to really give it the full test drive treatment, but I did enjoy my time with it. Plenty of comments every time we stopped from both young and old.

The breeze inside with windows (slidey ones) and doors closed mean it's definitely not a winter car, and you could put your hand outside without opening either, but it was good fun and I'm glad I had the opportunity to have experienced it.

Next is the three wheel V twin thing they do, but as it has no roof, that'll have to wait to see if the rain ever stops.

[Master Bean]

Is it a new 3 cylinder 3 Wheeler?

[Baldchap]

Master Bean said:

Is it a new 3 cylinder 3 Wheeler?

Ooh, I don't know!

[Wacky Racer]

Big fan of Morgans. I've had two, although they are getting rather expensive, but they can still sell every one they make.

[Baldchap]

Mateyboy said they sell 600 cars but do 30,000 factory tours each year. Makes you wonder what their *actual* business is...

[Wacky Racer]

Baldchap said:

Mateyboy said they sell 600 cars but do 30,000 factory tours each year. Makes you wonder what their *actual* business is...

I've been on four factory tours since 1977, they are very good value, a great day out, even if you are not really a car fanatic, I think the last one was about £30.

[oilit]

Gosh - that’s £1m year once you include refreshments and items sold from the gift shop.

Nice work if you can get it!

[GTRene]

I've never driven one, but look out for them in occasions every day just like many other cars.

wonder if you have a hardtop on such plus 6, that the car is then a bit more 'closed' ? no hand through when driving? or is the side window construction to loose a the top? t much play?

maybe one can put in doors of the GT version? those have higher door, maybe more stable?

I do like the looks of those plus 4 and plus 6 models, more then say the longer fat as Aero models, but I like the normal doors with up/down windows in those aero models way way more/better.

[gareth h]

I test drove the BMW engined 4cylinder car from the factory some time back, the chassis wasn’t brilliant but it was an improvement over the Aero 8, the salesman warned me there had been several “incidents” with the 6 cylinder car due to the lack of traction control (have they added it now?) apparently when the auto box was put into sport, and then booted it would change down 3 gears and wheels spin it through a hedge!

[GTRene]

gareth h said:

I test drove the BMW engined 4cylinder car from the factory some time back, the chassis wasn’t brilliant but it was an improvement over the Aero 8, the salesman warned me there had been several “incidents” with the 6 cylinder car due to the lack of traction control (have they added it now?) apparently when the auto box was put into sport, and then booted it would change down 3 gears and wheels spin it through a hedge!

was that in their latest chassis Plus four cars? with the powerful BMW engine i4?

[gareth h]

GTRene said:

was that in their latest chassis Plus four cars? with the powerful BMW engine i4?

I drove the new chassis plus four, the salesman was referring to the new chassis auto only plus 6

[Sporky]

I tried a Roadster (previous 6-cylinder model) a few years ago and thought it was brilliant, but at the same time not quite a good enough car for my use. I did love it though.

[NDA]

Sporky said:

I tried a Roadster (previous 6-cylinder model) a few years ago and thought it was brilliant, but at the same time not quite a good enough car for my use. I did love it though.

I had a V6 3.7 Roadster for a while and didn't get on with it. Tudor engineering at it's finest! Leaf spring rear suspension and sliding pillar suspension at the front - all the refinement of a medieval oxcart. I also thought the engine sounded a bit weird - this was a brand new car.

So I switched to an Aero 4.8 V8 which I still have. The new 'CX' platform with proper suspension etc - it's a mighty beast.

[sospan]

I'm on my third Morgan.
First was a 1993. 4/4 with XR3i engine.
Second a Plus8 with 4l Rover V8
Currently a new Plus Four, same colour combo as the OP.
Done 7k miles in year1.year 2 will exceed that.
2l BMW turbo with auto box. Sport and Spirt+ modes plus paddle shift.
250 bhp in an 1100kg car. Plenty for great fun! Mostly used in auto but Sport and paddles for fun. Sport+ is errrr exhillerating ( read that as you imagine!) Kickdown in auto normal setting gets you surprisingly fast quickly. LSD and ESP keeps traction ok.
Test drove a Plus Six with the 3l version engine. Huge power. You need to learn it's reactions!
I am more than happy with this Plus Four.

[Sporky]

NDA said:

I had a V6 3.7 Roadster for a while and didn't get on with it. Tudor engineering at it's finest! Leaf spring rear suspension and sliding pillar suspension at the front - all the refinement of a medieval oxcart. I also thought the engine sounded a bit weird - this was a brand new car.

So I switched to an Aero 4.8 V8 which I still have. The new 'CX' platform with proper suspension etc - it's a mighty beast.

I can well believe the Aero is better. I certainly felt very "involved" driving the Roadster.

[Lungauer]

sospan said:

I'm on my third Morgan.
First was a 1993. 4/4 with XR3i engine.
Second a Plus8 with 4l Rover V8
Currently a new Plus Four, same colour combo as the OP.
Done 7k miles in year1.year 2 will exceed that.
2l BMW turbo with auto box. Sport and Spirt+ modes plus paddle shift.
250 bhp in an 1100kg car. Plenty for great fun! Mostly used in auto but Sport and paddles for fun. Sport+ is errrr exhillerating ( read that as you imagine!) Kickdown in auto normal setting gets you surprisingly fast quickly. LSD and ESP keeps traction ok.
Test drove a Plus Six with the 3l version engine. Huge power. You need to learn it's reactions!
I am more than happy with this Plus Four.

I’m on my first Morgan after a succession of 911s, so quite a departure (and something of a wrench). Mine is an ex-factory ‘22 Plus Four Manual, also the same colour combo as the OP. I wanted a manual so that ruled out the Six, plus I think the Four’s lightness and narrower track is better suited to the roads of the Welsh Marches where I live.

Sospan I am interested in you mentioning that you have a LSD. My research showed that this was not necessarily recommended and the service department at the factory corroborated this saying that they had extensively tested the CX with a LSD and decided an open diff was better. I am not sure - I tend to lean on my cars pretty hard and I think a not overly tight LSD would be beneficial.

Anyway, I am pleasantly surprised at how much I am enjoying the car, especially as open top motoring was never really my bag. I’m thinking of a trip to Litchfield for a spot of re-mapping when the warranty is out, plus the performance suspension once it’s been beta tested by a few.

[sospan]

Apologies re LSD. My previous Plus8 had one not the Plus Four.
It has exc though. It corners very well. I tend to dive in auto mode mostly but Spirt and paddles is good too. Yet to fully explore Sport+ as auto or Sport are sufficient on roads.

[Dewi 2]

Wacky Racer said:

Big fan of Morgans. I've had two, although they are getting rather expensive, but they can still sell every one they make.

Wacky Racer said:

Baldchap said:

Mateyboy said they sell 600 cars but do 30,000 factory tours each year. Makes you wonder what their *actual* business is...

I've been on four factory tours since 1977, they are very good value, a great day out, even if you are not really a car fanatic, I think the last one was about £30.

Do Morgan export most of their production these days?
Their UK new car registrations have been tiny recently.
July 2024 = 5 (2023 = 11)
Jan to July 2024 = 60 (2023 = 94)

The factory tours were even better value, before they began charging.
You could just turn up at reception, to be told, "There are arrows painted on the floor. Just follow the arrows through the factory. Enjoy your tour."

Probably a successful tourist attraction now, which also makes a few sports cars.
Slightly similar to Porsche, who are now an SUV maker, which also makes some sports cars.

Are InvestIndustrial 'cracking the whip' yet at Morgan? They had a winner with Aston Martin, selling their shares in the stock market flotation at £19 per share. The share buyers then saw the share price fall by 90% in a very short time. Ouch, but they should have done their research first, instead of simply getting carried along by the Company image.

[Mikebentley]

I live 100 metres from the factory. I see lots of LHD cars being road tested and hundreds of European registered visitors cars. I think the visitor count for factory tours is nearer 50k people. This sells the heritage of the product and likely sales too. It’s a huge draw for the Malvern area and brings a lot of tourists to the town.

[gareth h]

Mikebentley said:

I live 100 metres from the factory. I see lots of LHD cars being road tested and hundreds of European registered visitors cars. I think the visitor count for factory tours is nearer 50k people. This sells the heritage of the product and likely sales too. It’s a huge draw for the Malvern area and brings a lot of tourists to the town.

All the road tests don’t go well!