The green one

[IanF]

or the green one..

I was idling away the hours last night and, following on from previous discussions, found a Morgan that I like but then realised that if I'm going for impractical two seaters, i really should look at Caterhams; so I spec'd one up (advice re equipment will be appreciated) and so I thought I'd ask you fine fellows which you would prefer? Same same, but different

https://caterhamcars.com/en/configurato ... BW7I%2BWST

https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1789770

[Marv]

Get yourself to Krazy Horse in Bury St Edmunds. They sell Caterhams and Morgans!

[jamcg]

I went with another Morgan, and went full evonomics with the price and picked a supersport. I know they’re not everyone’s cup of tea but I like them. As for the choice- Morgan if you want to use it on the road all the time, caterham if it’s a more occasional use/track

Even found you a green one



https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C2056118

[Rich B]

Morgan’s do nothing for me, go for a caterham!

[Shlergen]

Caterham

[mik]

620R

Buy mito’s dad’s one - he’s probably bored of it by now.

But you have to track it - the only place you’ll see what it’s really capable of.

[speedingfine]

I saw a Morgan Supersport last week, looks awesume in the metal (in the right colour with the right wheels like this one) Guy driving was from Morgan and delivering it for the lucky owner...

url=https://ibb.co/Csz7VkvS][/url]

[Jobbo]

That particular Morgan doesn’t appeal. Take the wire wheels off for a start. I like the one HarryM took to the Lake District; may have been the same car as in ECOTY. And I love the Supersport.

A Caterham is a different thing really. I’d probably go Morgan now I’m an old fart.

[IanF]

Get yourself to Krazy Horse in Bury St Edmunds. They sell Caterhams and Morgans!

Not very convenient, but a good suggestion.. thanks!

[IanF]

620R

Buy mito’s dad’s one - he’s probably bored of it by now.

But you have to track it - the only place you’ll see what it’s really capable of.

Fortunately, I know lots of priivately owned roads nearby...

[IanF]

@Mito Man Does your dad still have his? If so, does he use it more or less than he supposed? And any other info etc...

[duncs500]

IMO:

It's entirely about circumstances.

There was no car that I lusted after more than a Caterham, driving one in fun situations only confirmed that they are the best car ever. Then you get one, and you realise that when you're not in a fun situation they're not that enjoyable.

So if you have other cars that can do other jobs, you can definitely make a case for them, but you need to either live somewhere with fun roads on your doorstep or have a trailer to take them up to the highlands/track. They're not really viable average road cars.

I can't speak with experience about Morgans but my guess would be that they're 50% shitter to drive and 20% less compromised. So on balance worse.

TL;DR if you've got an E-Class and a 911, and have space for another car a Caterham is a nice addition to the fleet. If you like that idea but a Caterham seems too extreme, errr Morgan? I don't really know who buys them...

[Mito Man]

Still has it, takes it for short spirited drives when the weather is good. The real limitation on his one is the ride height, however it’s adjustable and they’ll ask you how you want it. Sequential gearbox also doesn’t like driving at very slow speeds in traffic so not something you want to take into a busy city.
As a 3rd+ car it’s excellent because it’s so different. You go deaf after 10 minutes, they have straight cut gears so in normal driving that’s mostly what you hear, the rear diff is also extremely loud, like a bag of spinning hammers in the boot behind you. Once you get acclimatised to that the exhaust is up to temperature so the car starts popping and shooting flames on every gear change. The gearbox prefers to be shifted at full throttle, the ecu cuts spark but not fuel. It results in an almost seamless shift with a fireball.
The energy surrounding the car is immense, when you’re stopped your vision is blurred through the heat haze above the long bonnet. Even with fast road driving the tyres will get hot enough to pick up all manner of debris so you just hear rocks behind flung into the arches non stop, on tighter roundabouts you’ll get them flung into your face.

After typing that out I can see why his next car was a barge with massaging seats

[John]

As I’ve already mentioned on here I’m aiming to buy a Caterham “soon”, could be any time within the next year. I want something newish so I’m looking at the Sigma engined versions in the 310 flavour with 152bhp. As most of its driving will be on the road I don’t want something too powerful as being able to wring a cars neck without hitting silly speeds is part of the appeal.

The Duratec engine starts at 180bhp in the 360 but apparently suffers from a low sump with people destroying it on cat’s eyes and even the road camber on narrower roads. The 420 and above have a dry sump so don’t have that problem.

I’m very lucky to live close to the Peak District and not too far from the Lincolnshire Wolds so lucky in that respect. It’s the most excited I’ve been about buying a car for a long time. Of course I need a test drive first to make sure I like them

[mik]

Caterham could do with something that fits between 410 and 620 versions - something with 250-270bhp and a normal h-pattern box would tick many boxes.

[Jobbo]

TL;DR if you've got an E-Class and a 911, and have space for another car a Caterham is a nice addition to the fleet. If you like that idea but a Caterham seems too extreme, errr Morgan? I don't really know who buys them...

I think Elise if you like that idea but the Caterham is too extreme - but having said that, my feeling is that the Elise isn't a softer alternative to the Caterham but simply a more modern way to do the same thing, which happens to be more usable at the same time. A Caterham or an Elise can easily be specced to be more compliant and civilised, or turned into something which is the most visceral thrill which is road legal.

The Morgan, though - well my neighbour who has one is always polishing it. I live less than 10 miles from the factory as the crow flies so maybe I'm biased but they feel like part of the fabric of Britain more than the Caterham or Elise to me. And they're definitely not cars for driving at 10/10ths so clearly aimed at a different type of person.

[IanF]

Yeah, I think I’m coming at this from the perspective that I want something that is smaller, ie narrower, that suits our road dimensions and still gives a feeling of freedom.. probably helped by seeing a convoy yesterday of four cars - Cobra, Morgan, E-Type and 964 turbo cab driving near Bix. Very jealous of those gents on a lovely sunny day!

I’ve actually seen several E-Types recently and people seem to drive them quite hard which, whilst I could keep up with in my fat tyred M3, looked great fun in a fit/nimble manner and they seem to cover the ground barely touching it as opposed to the German method of pummelling the road into submission!

ETA - I guess part of the appeal of the Morgan is the fact you can still buy them from the manufacturer and are more modern than an EType or Cobra. Caterham falls into that category aswell with both Morgan and Caterham using some modern components (engine, gearbox) that make them look more reliable to me

[JonMad]

I'm doing the Morgan factory tour and hour drive experience thing with a few friends in July. Drive is either in a Plus Four or a Super 3. Tempted more by the latter just for it being the more unusual experience - at low speed though.

[IanF]

Nice Jon, I did see you can hire one for the weekend and was planning to do that at some point. Obviously let us know how you get on!

[mik]

I'm doing the Morgan factory tour and hour drive experience thing with a few friends in July. Drive is either in a Plus Four or a Super 3. Tempted more by the latter just for it being the more unusual experience - at low speed though.

Watch you don't mince your face a-la-Flintoff. (The 3-wheelers do nothing for me personally).