Post by Roadrunner on Mar 21, 2017 22:46:59 GMT
Morgan 4/4 Sport
As something of a birthday present to myself and to share with my brother I hired a Morgan for a long weekend. My brother and I have always liked Morgans, coming away from 1980s motor shows with the Morgan stand as one of the top visits of the day. Indeed, a Morgan was one of my teenage bedroom pin-ups. Would it live up to expectations? Having booked at shortish notice, the only car they had available was the 1.6 litre 4/4, but I thought it would be good to try it in its purest and simplest form first, so happy with this. The plan was to spend the Friday out and about with my brother and then, having left William to be spoilt by his grandparents, spend the weekend away with Herself.
The Friday route was to take us from Malvern to Ledbury, Ross-on-Wye, then down the glorious B4521 to Abergavenny, the B4558 to Brecon, the B4520 and B4519, with its stunning scenery, to Garth, then along to Builth Wells. From there we took the B4567 and B4594, with its hairpin bends, to Paincastle, then down to Hay-on-Wye and the B4348 along the Golden Valley and back to Ross-on-Wye. Then back to Ledbury, Eastnor, Upton-upon-Severn and around Bredon Hill. Some epic roads in there, but did the car live up to expectations?
Our car is in brilliant white, which would not be my choice, but adds a modern twist to the unashamedly 1930s style of the car. The roof, being the latest easy to fold design, is quickly lowered, side screens stowed and we climb into the snug cabin. As is often the case with this sort of car, entry and exit is difficult, but once inside, the snug cabin is comfortable, with everything falling neatly to hand. Morgan has returned to a dashboard design reminiscent of one they used many years ago, with the main cluster of Smiths branded dials being grouped in the centre and a rev counter in front of the driver. The speedometer is almost redundant, being in front of the co-driver and well out of my line of vision. The effective heater soon fills the footwells with warmth, as we head out into the cold, sunny morning. Hats are essential. 
First impressions are of how snug the cabin is and how long the bonnet is, as it stretches out before us. Remember the ‘can you see your bonnet’ thread? Well this one makes no attempt to hide itself as we follow its louvered top through Malvern, along Jubilee Drive and out into the countryside. The first surprise is the ride quality. I was expecting something rather crashy and uncouth. Instead I found the ride to be surprisingly compliant, as the car felt its way over the road’s imperfections. Sure, the short travel suspension is easily caught out on large potholes, but most of the time it rides noticeably better than our MINI Cooper Clubman. Build quality is good, something which Morgan has worked on in recent years. Aside from a few disappointments, such as the crude steering column shroud, this car has the feel of a high grade product. More a craftsman built quality item, than something which has been put together by well-meaning enthusiasts in a shed. A factory tour last year revealed the skill of these craftsmen and I would recommend the tour to anyone who is in doubt of Morgan’s ability to combine traditional craftsmanship with modern technology.
The current 4/4 is fitted with a 110 BHP 1.6 litre Ford ‘Sigma’ engine and a Mazda 5-speed gearbox. Since it weighs in at only 795 KG, this is enough to propel the car to 60 MPH in 8 seconds. Olde English aerodynamics limit the maximum speed to 115 MPH, but V-max is not what this car is all about.
Once on the open road we can slacken the reins. The combination of induction roar and exhaust rasp is intoxicating as I work up through the meaty, rifle bolt action gearbox. Nothing soft and over assisted here; this is as far removed from driving a VAG product as it is possible to be. Unassisted steering, heavy floor hinged pedals and gears which change at the firm flick of a wrist combine to make this a proper job of driving, not just gliding from A to B in the way to which we have become accustomed in the 21st century. The engine needs to be worked to extract its power, but this is no great hardship as I soon discover that downchange blippery is what this car is all about. The steering, while perhaps not as sharp as that on an MG Midget (what is?), still manages to communicate plenty of what is going on up front. It loads up significantly on tight corners, encouraging me to lean an arm out of the cutaway door as I pile on extra lock. The car handles very well and it would take a determined effort and/or a more powerful engine to provoke any tail wagging. Body roll is absent as the car remains firmly planted on the road. It does not feel its way over the road surface as well as a Focus, but is a damn sight nearer to that than I could ever have expected.
One thing we notice is how, while we are having the drive of our lives, we are not actually travelling all that fast. 45 MPH feels like 65, while 65 feels like 95. The Morgan, at least in 1.6 litre 4/4 guise, is not all about out and out speed. No. An indecent amount of fun can be had while travelling at relatively modest speed and this is what might divide opinion. Do we enjoy a B-road blast because we are travelling fast, or because it feels fast? I am firmly in the second camp and that is why I begin to realise that perhaps the humble 4/4 is the best Morgan to choose. This car has to be worked to extract its performance. Another bend means another downchange. An uphill bend means two downchanges. Each exit is accompanied by that intoxicating induction and exhaust symphony as I snick the upchange, just in time to blip down again for the next bend. This is not a restful drive but, after too long driving anaesthetised modern motorway munchers, this is a lesson in real driving.
There are occasions when I feel I could do with a little more power, so a drive in the 2-litre Plus 4 must be done. That could be the sweet spot of the range, but I am of the opinion that the 3.7 litre Roadster and soon to be launched Plus 8 could be so powerful that they could make the drive too easy. Then we are back on the road to effortless modern driving. I also worry that the wide wheels and tyres of the larger engine models would detract from the feelsome drive provided by the 4/4’s 185 x 15 80 profile tyres. Indeed, it is probably those 80 profile tyres which go some way towards explaining the surprisingly compliant ride.
I was expecting there to be a lot of discomfort, some disappointment and the need for cape, moonboots and rose tinted specs; but came away from that first day thoroughly impressed.
Saturday involved retracing some of the previous day’s roads as Herself and I headed to Herefordshire’s Golden Valley for a walk amid stunning scenery before retiring to the outstandingly good Stagg Inn at Titley for some Michelin Starred nosh. Sunday brought a more laid back trundle through the lanes to Berrington Hall, then another blast, this time to Tebury Wells, Upper Sapey, Great Witley and on to my parents’ house. 
One noticeable point from the whole weekend is how much a Morgan makes everyone smile. Young and old, everyone smiled while some waved. The young lad sat on the wall in front of a village pub stuck up his thumb and said “cool car mate”. Drivers of E-Types gave an appreciative nod and wave. A bus driver even let me pull out in front of him. We were almost mobbed by total strangers in car parks who all came over to admire the car; some of whom had tales to tell of racing Morgans in years gone by. I somehow think that a Boxster, however good it is, would not engender such a response.
A chilly early Monday morning drive back to Malvern hailed a sad farewell to what had become an automotive friend. I started out with some concern over meeting one of my motoring heroes and left convinced that I need to own a Morgan.
