Morgans

Posted by: Rockingdoc on 13 February 2004

I fancy a Mog.
Have any of you wise chaps any experience of Morgans? Am I mad to even consider it?
I want a +8, I think.
Why not go to the Mog Owner's Club forum? I hear you ask. Well, they don't seem to have one. I suppose computers are a bit to modern for them.
Posted on: 13 February 2004 by BLT
Drive one first. They are very different to anything else on the road. I had a 4/4 for a weekend and actually enjoyed it more than I expected. I don't know how I would feel about one with double the power, though - especially if you are used to your FQ300 day-in-day-out.
Posted on: 13 February 2004 by Bruce Woodhouse
No No No No

I've driven one and been a passenger several times. They are a very acquired taste. Heavy steering, zero suspension compliance and brutal (if agricultural) power. It cornered well enough but any poor road surface had it skipping all over the place. The image is a bit curious-lots of young people shout 'w****er' and lots of old men with whiskers go dewy-eyed and become your best friend. They are a 'mad' purchase by any logical measure but I guess you either 'get it' or not. My mate sold his (for a profit) after 6 bone-shaking months.

You really want a Caterham Seven. Faster, far more tactile and everybody likes it/grins/wants a ride. A lot cheaper to buy and insure too.

I think you knew I'd suggest this.

Bruce
Posted on: 13 February 2004 by Rockingdoc
I didn't think I was so image concerned, but the Evo is a nightmare. I can't park without being surrounded by envious yoofs asking "ow much was it mate?", and every set of lights brings on the next contender in his Saxo. Too afraid to leave it anywhere rough as they apparently have one of the worst theft/hijack records of any car.
My wife loves the Evo, so if funds allow she will keep it. I want a car that everyone will love me for.
Posted on: 13 February 2004 by Bruce Woodhouse
My car has a decent theft deterrent-I just take off the steering wheel! Having said that the car is light enough for somebody to just pick up and walk with. Don't seem to get the traffic light envy either, most of the Saxo set have no idea what it is, those that do are sensible enough to not bother.

Bruce
Posted on: 16 February 2004 by BLT
"I want a car that everyone will love me for."
If you are serious then buy a late '60's US muscle car. A friend owns a '69 Pontac GTO ( a replica "The Judge"), the response when driving in this is unbelievable, yoofs go mad and want you to floor it so they can hear the noise, even old ladies have stopped and told us how much they like the car. I experienced a similar response when I spent a week driving a '66 Mustang through the Scottish highlands. Of course they don't handle or stop and guzzle fuel like crazy, but parts are cheap and in terms of heads turned per £ they really can't be beaten.
Posted on: 16 February 2004 by Rockingdoc
I have a friend who is heavily into big Yanks, but she has had a huge problem with vandalism when parked.
I think we are probably coming from the same place Bruce, it is a Mog vs Lotus 7 thing. The Mog seems to have a bit more class. Don't forget the Caterham is put together in Erith and there is nothing classy about Erith (I work there).
Been doing my homework and am fairly shocked by the price of Morgans. The new V6 is about 40K with a few options, as are the last remaining new +8s. That's a lot of cash for a toy.

p.s found the Mog owners chat site. They seem to be a very nice bunch of eccentrics
Posted on: 16 February 2004 by BLT
If you do go for a Caterham then for God's sake put a proper roll hoop on it, i.e. one with rear stays. I know somebody who only had the vertical hoop on the back, when he rolled his caterham the roll bar snapped off and he went down the road on his face with the car on top of him. Not nice.