Arlo,
I'll own up to using the term "appliance" and I applied it with my tongue
firmly planted in my cheek. To me, something that works all the time and
needs little or no attention, is an appliance. There's no negative
connotation; in fact, it can be considered as a compliment.
We own an 1987 Old Custom Cruiser; bought it brand new. It now has 220 000
km on the odometer and the only "major" work it has had is a new upper
manifold gasket, a new water pump, block heater and a set of brakes (having
the car repainted because GM had forgotten how was a major job but not a
mechanical necessity). It's the work horse that gets us to and from "the
city" and across the continent. Not really. In that respect it is like the
refrigerator that you plug in the day you buy it and unplug it 20 years
later to replace it with a new one. But would I trust it at -40? Sure
would.
I have nothing against a Miata; I'd love to have one. It certainly helped
turn the tide against the disappearance of roadsters.
Come to think of it, there are few sports cars I would refuse.
Chuck Vandergraaf
Pinawa, MB
> ----------
> From: Arlo J. Levisen[SMTP:alevisen@gdhscats.org]
> Reply To: Arlo J. Levisen
> Sent: February 17, 1999 9:01 AM
> To: Morgan Mailing List
> Subject: Responding
>
> DFL'ers:
>
> I have been reading the comments about the Morgan being a real car, etc.
> I have both a Miata and a Morgan and I think it a bit harsh to refer to
> the Miata simply as an "appliance".
>
> First of all, the Miata has by itself brought close to a half-million
> more people into the "roadster world" than there were in 1990. As well,
> today there is quite am impressive choice of traditional
> two-seat/rear-wheel drive/soft top automobiles to pick from world-wide.
> Such was simply not true prior to the Miata proving to manufacturers
> that a market still existed for these cars. The Morgans certainly
> weren't getting that job done!
>
> I would also suggest that the ownership of a Miata or another similar,
> modern sports car might get a person thinking seriously about purchasing
> a Morgan as a further step down a great path to take. I can tell you my
> ownership of Fiats and Datsuns and Triumphs and Spitfires and MGs, etc.
> was not exactly tripping my trigger in that direction.
>
> My wife and I both enjoy each of these cars as they fit different bills
> at different times and we would only encourage anyone to own either.
> They both will get you where you want to go without question. I would
> say, however, that if you opt for a Morgan, being an "old car nut" would
> help a lot - I don't care what year the Morgan is! Maybe the '98's and
> '99's are more refined, I don't know.
>
> Later,
>
> Arlo Levisen, Revillo, South Dakota '87 Plus 8
>
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