Morgan +4 Forum

We arrive in the UK next week!

Only hiccup thus far is the 2014 +4 we had arranged to rent was in an accident this week, and won't be repaired in time. So the agency is providing a 2001 +8 in it's place.

Other than the extra power and increased petrol usage, what else should we expect?

- Ken

Far superior car IMHO
Petrol is expensive in the UK but you should not care less as this is a journey of a lifetime
Almost all accidents that I have ever had has been in red cars and because of that I never ride a red car or buy one

Additionally Police in the UK play snooker for stopping cars so they have to book a red (1 point) car before the book any other colour car and in order of importance the next is black7, pink6, blue5, brown4 green3 yellow2. A while colour is lose 4 points so they don't bother with white
Every time the officer books successfully a red car then he can have a go at a colour and so on. You can see why all the company cars in England are white
For all uninitiated snooker is a game similar to Pools

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I am always OK............. the trouble is with the others :-)



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2019-07-19 02:39 PM by Broadcaster.

The +8 is a wider better more comfortable car overall BUT watch the speed it will get away with you if your not careful. Speed cameras abound so be careful. For me personally I like a smaller more narrow car when driving on the opposite side of what I am use to and wonderful along narrow country lanes. Just remember to look both ways when pulling out and always think of putting yourself the driver in the CENTER of road...that's how I think about it anyway.
If for any reason the V8 car doesn't work out for what ever reason Both Richard Thorn Morgan in Reading (near Heathrow) and Melvin Rutter near Stanstead London airport both rent out Morgans. Have fun send photos and good luck.

My wife, Melon, called the Plus-4 “arrest me red”!

The Plus 8 is Blue, so perhaps that is an improvement if we can watch our speed well enough!

I too like a narrow car, but the agency’s 4/4 wasn’t available.

Just happy they did have a Morgan available!

Having just completed Morgan's Over America VII in my +8 where we covered 7600 miles in 49 days averaging 200-210 miles on the driving days with 85% being on back roads you will like the extra few inches of room for the two of you. As said by others the power is good too, thoroughly enjoyed my trip.

This one , as probably all 2001 models, has lift-the-dot fasteners on the hod connection to the windshield. Is that a leak problem whilst driving in rain?

- Ken

I forgot to say WOW! at your amazing trip!!!!

My 1994 +8 has the lift-the-dot fasteners in my opinion not a major issue if you carry the statutory bath towel!!! During MOAVII we had snow, hail, heavy rain, high winds and scorching sun occasionally rain or snow would come down the inside of the windscreen, not much in just a couple of places. I sit on an old bath towel so its easy to get at to wipe it away if necessary, I don't recall having to do it though. It is a Morgan after all. Pictures attached.

This is more of a question.
I have owned two +4s .A1961 dhc and currently a roadster.
I did a test drive on an eighty something +8 with the expectation of purchasing it.
As I recall I didn't like the way it handled .
I wonder if it was the car ,It being a +8,or me.

Not sure in how you want us to answer that question.

I think it was most likely your experience with the 4/4 of that period VS the +8 of that time. The 8 has a lot of power without an accompanying refinement to handling. It takes some practice and familiarity with the beast to tame it down then it becomes a real joy to operate. My take anyway.

Ken, if after your UK trip of a life time and you feel you cant live without a Morgan Mistress in your life send me a note. I may be persuaded to let mine go. Just sent me a note and I can arrange for you to inspect and drive it. It only a 20 minute drive away from the Malvern factory having some interior work done. Its a 1971 4/4 2 seat with the highly desirable X-flow Kent engine 30,000 miles. restored with new wood, steel front wings etc. Its should be a snap to import into the USA due to age. Not many early 70s cars around...just a thought.

Shouldn't be. If we are talking of pre-2004s (when they standardized Morgan Classic on what was previously the Plus8/4 chassis I believe the cockpit
dimensions were the same..save the variance for different gearbox widths and therefore the footwells. It is wing width and styles that changed, in shape and
width. Admittedly, the Plus 8s had some better components prior to the other models getting them.

Of course, the Plus 4s didn't make sense (aside from their lower price) after the Plus 8s began. They were largely the same except for less power. That is
why they weren't produced from 1968 to 1987. Wonderful cars, that handle completely differently from the +4 and +8s. Lithe, reactive..there are things that
a great driver can do with them that are impossible with a Plus 8.

I once had a bottle-of-wine discussion with the Morgan designer (Bill Beck) during a snowy night. He also could not figure out, if the MMC wanted to
standardize on one chassis, why they chose the Plus 8's in 2004 rather than the 4/4 chassis. He created the first V6 Roadster on a 4/4 chasiss, a huge
wetght saving! Unbeleivable car!!! But remember, after he left 2002 and PM passed, the Morgan board has never had a hands-on car fella. It explains
a lot that has happened since.


Curiously Broadcaster, there was never a total petrol expenditure difference or us in Europe. Yes, petrol costs much more double there. But we RARELY mog
with an itinerary. And you can find 3-4 times the great things to stop for in UK/Europe per distance traveled, especially if you avoid divided highways. So the
average daily mileage drops more than 1/2 what one does in NA. .


Right at the time Morgan made their tradionial weather equipement leakless (up to 90mph), they switched to the nutty "easy up hoods", which brought back
the leaking and ruined the top down profile. I insisted they rebuild my present (and last) Mog with the old type top and it has never leaked. Actually, I had
the 1990 UK top mildly modified with the later feature and it was fine as well (up to 70mph)

Here is an idea for you that will allow you to forego the towel. Buy a roll of window insulation. It comes in different widths and often with a sticky side at any
hardware store. When it rains, pull off a strip of the correct length and stuff in between the top and the windscreen from the inside. The strip is reusable.

Are you leaking from the sidescreens as well? http://www.gomog.com/allmorgan/allmorgan31.html#PROPERLY

Mr. Nogera and I share a habit. We tour hardware stores looking for things we can adapt to improve our Morgans. Focus on the plumbing section!!

gmg



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2019-07-20 10:14 AM by GoMoG.

I understand.I could have been clearer.
Basically I am asking what another persons opinion is who has also driven a 60's +4, and an 80's +8.
If the +8 handles about the same as the +4 only faster and a more refined it would most likely be the specific automobile that I drove.
What brought it to mind was Ken's upgrade to a +8.