All this help and advice has me gripped by enthusiasm. Thanks to everyone
who has replied so far - this is a splendid forum.
So my plan. First, try a scooter and provided I'm not scared witless on the
streets of SW London, buy one and sell the Frontera :-( Most the cash from
the sale stuffed under the mattress and a bit of hard saving. In the
meantime I believe a garage is a must; I live in flat and a car port is not
possible. As for parking in the road - I had a wing mirror snapped off my
Land Rover a while back over night and it was made of cast steel!
Next, find a good excuse (at least one Jackie will believe) and rent one for
a few days. Eventually I'll buy a Morgan - this has become something of
lifetime ambition now :-)
I'll keep you all posted of my progress and pester you senseless with
questions as I get nearer my goal.
Lastly, two questions: i. Are there any events which I could visit and meet
and see the people and their cars? ii. Which model (a bit(!) opened ended I
know but I'm very green to the differences).
-----Original Message-----
From: Jeremy Edwards [mailto:jeremy@jmemee.demon.co.uk]
Sent: 26 August 1999 22:31
To: Steve Harman - SHA
Cc: 'Simon Orebi Gann'; 'morgans@autox.team.net'
Subject: Re: A Morgan virgin !
Steve Harman - SHA <SHarman@ideal.co.uk> writes
>Thank you for the welcome.
Pleasure
>
>Simon - it's interesting that you regard the car as suitable for everyday
>transport; every one I've seen has had fantastically low mileage whatever
>its age and I thought they might be Sunday only cars.
Snip
A lot of people treat a Morgan like an ornament and you will have to
make some sacrifices to personal convenience to live with one as an only
car- you cannot leave any valuables in it as it doesn't lock, large
quantities of shopping might not fit, the ride is hard, it's noisy
compared to a normal car and you/partner will break the odd fingernail.
You cannot drive it with your mind on automatic like a tin box either!
Some people can never adjust to the physical and mental effort to drive
one well.
>Jeremy - thanks for the advice. I've already decided to find myself a
garage
>before purchasing a car and wouldn't expect to do more than 10K miles a
year
>tops.
I know of several people who leave it outside all year and swear that it
helps drying out, but I'd have thought a car port would be a better
idea.
>Your quoted running costs must be less than half of my current
>outgoings (Vauxhall Frontera (?)).
Big, heavy, expensive, modern, depreciates= easily believable
> My strange idea is to sell my car and
>purchase a scooter for the journeys to work; start saving and eventually
buy
>a late spec used Morgan. I'd imagine leaving most of the servicing to the
>dealer.
Hardly that strange, in London this sounds like a good compromise. I'd
still suggest learning to do your own servicing as it is not difficult
and can be quite satisfying. Personally I'd look at an older, rebuilt
car as it will be much cheaper, mechanically simple without significant
electrics to go wrong or a catalyst. A more modern one will ride better,
but it will still be much worse than a tin box.
>Lastly, a great idea to rent - but where from?
Other posters have sent some suggestions, if you get no joy, re-contact
me and I'll send you a list. I do think that you need to live with one
for a few days, especially if it's to be an only car.
--
Jeremy Edwards
1972 Morgan 4/4 2 str
Melton Mowbray, England
--
Ideal Hardware plc
http://www.ideal.co.uk
+44 181 286 5000
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