On 20/11/98 9:04 am mgs-owner@autox.team.net said
>Howard's experience described below yields some good and many criticisms of
>the Marina. His was a TC setup and these were not offered in America. I
>believe the rear axle setup is TR7 and that was unfortunate. Howard's car
>was the early offering and improvements were made to the front end by adding
>stronger suspension components after 1975.
>
>Although Marina weight and performance approaches MGB status IT WAS NOT A
>SPORTS CAR but a sedan and although not perfect it is a very pleasing car to
>drive. Its torsion bar suspension and higher centre of gravity do not
>compare to an MG. My 1977 4 door automatic 1.8 deluxe is a comfortable car
>quite capable of dealing with modern driving situations on an everyday basis
>(although it needs a ring job). There are times when a closed body, 4
>seater, automatic, with an excellent heater can be an appealing means of
>transport. You still know you are driving a British car by the torque,
>exhaust note, and the direct steering. I also have a BGT, Mini, and Midget
>Mk3 on the road but often it's the Marina we will pick drive (it's my
>wife's favorite). Different cars for different jobs?
Good gracious, I didn't realise the Marina made it to the US, how
embarrassing. In the UK it was called a Morris Marina. It was updated and
became the Ital, but was no better. At anything over 50mph they wandered
all over the road. Thankfully, I think the last disappeared from our
roads many years ago.
Maybe the US is now getting its own back by trying to sell the Cadillac
Seville in the UK. Jeremy Clarkson on Top Gear described it as a 'truly
dreadful car', although, to be fair, he did like the engine. :-)
Cheers,
Philip Raby
Editor, MG World
PO Box 163, Bicester OX6 3YS, UK
Tel: 01869 340061 Fax: 01869 340063 Mobile 0467 767361
www.chp.ltd.uk
|