Morgan Roadster 3.0 V6 2 seater 2dr Car Review - February 2012

The Morgan’s 3.0 litre V6 petrol engine produces an impressive 228 bhp at 5800 rpm, with the torque figures standing at 206 lb-ft at 4900 rpm. This translates to a top speed of 155mph, while travelling from 0-62 mph takes an impressive 4.9 seconds.

The Roadster is driving stripped down to its purest and most exciting form and although the steering is unassisted and very heavy, this is all part of the car's character and charm. Its thin tyres have a tendency to slip on road surfaces which are wet and the lack of anti-lock braking system (ABS) means drivers need to be cautious at all times.

In terms of the refinement, it scores points in some areas and loses them in others. The 3.0 litre engine and five speed manual gearbox operate smoothly and efficiently. However, the leaf-sprung solid rear axle makes the ride firm and bumps are easily felt in the cabin. Wind and road noise are present but not excessive and front visibility is good, making the drive fairly comfortable.

The Roadster’s beautiful exterior design was first seen in 1936 and it still looks stunning today. Morgans are hand-built and the attention to detail involved in this process is evident.

Inside the cabin the materials are high quality and built to last. The car comes with leather seats, a tawny ash dashboard and wood rimmed steering wheel. Additional features can be added but these will incur an additional cost and some may feel it ruins the authentic and traditional appearance of the car.

Practicality is not something associated with the Roadster but it was never designed to be practical. The Morgan has very little boot space, with the only storage space in the cabin provided by the glove compartment.

Getting comfortable can also be a difficulty as there is no height adjustment available in the driver's seat. The steering wheel also lacks reach adjustment and this means the car will not be comfortable for every type of driver.

Safety isn’t one of the Roadster’s strengths either and the car lacks safety equipment considered basic by modern standards such as airbags, stability control and traction control.

For reliability, the Morgan is one of the best in its class and should give many years of trouble free motoring. The car comes with a two-year warranty that covers unlimited miles.

The Roadster is very expensive at £40,000 especially when you consider for a similar price you could buy a Lotus Elise or an Audi TT Roadster. However, like the 4/4, its true rival is the Caterham Seven and the Roadster matches this car for raw power but fails to compete with its superior handling. This means that despite its power, it is more suited to leisurely drives than serious displays of speed.

Unfortunately, running costs are high and the car comes under the high cost road tax band K with carbon emissions of 225g/km. Fuel economy is also limited with the car achieving just 28.8mpg on the combined cycle.