Hello Blake,
For what it is worth, I am right there with you on this. I've previously tried posting what were, IMHO, pretty well balanced views on the quality vs price issues, together with this weekend some more humorous, tongue in cheek versions. At the generous end of the response spectrum there is little support on TM for this view, at the more controlling end of the spectrum and you will guided and cajoled away from anything that may rock the boat with MMC. No matter what, you will definitely be swimming against a fairly strong tide.
Now, it has been very clearly pointed out to me recently that this is a discussion forum, and that we are each free to express our points of view. Further, that from time to time others views may differ based on background experience or life's path, and that this is all par for the course, provided we remain within the rules. I took a sabbatical from posting recently whilst I got my head around the alternate option, which was to delete my account.
So I will say right here and now, that I really enjoy this forum. It
is like "popping into your local pub" to meet up with the clientele, some of who may be good friends, and others with whom you perhaps wouldn't normally associate with. The TM forum is an excellent (free) resource provided by Simon to Morgan owners, offering a myriad of services including inter alia support, technical exchange, fraternity, humour and banter. It is, in the world of fora, perceived to be a "nice site", and I concur with this.
Nonetheless, IMHO, I believe that debate and discussion of some of the more difficult aspects of Morgan ownership is healthy,
and if taken in the spirit I believe it is generally intended, which is to say aimed towards the overall improvement of the marque to the benefit of both owner and to the reputation of MMC as a whole, then it is a potentially invaluable asset to Morgan, should they wish to listen.
So, getting back on thread to the quality vs cost argument Blake. IMHO your comparison to BMW and the like is entirely valid. You clearly have accepted that Morgans are not built on hyper expensive robotic assembly lines, but are marketed as being hand build with love by skilled craftsmen using all the finest materials to deliver a high quality product to a discerning customer. Similarly, I fully accept that any complex piece of machinery which is assembled by hand has the potential to have human error faults. However, adequate multi stage quality control and commissioning testing should be capable of eliminating a very significant proportion of these; I'm not naive enough to say ALL. The dealer PDI process combined with sympathetic ongoing support from the dealers and factory should be all that is needed to address a small number of "snagging issues". It is all a matter of what the manufacturer deems to be an appropriate level of service and quality acceptable to supply to their customers. IMHO, this is the nub of the issue for most owners who have posted problems on TM.
Now, I suggest that your observation of the level of debris (steel/aluminium cuttings, wood shavings, cable trimmings, etc., etc.) is symptomatic of the build standards currently embraced by MMC. I toured the factory last year and was surprised that,
on that day, nowhere did I see a vacuum cleaner to remove this type of detritus from the vehicles on the production line. Cars were littered with bits of production debris and the workers were tucking and glueing leather, fitting carpets and seats, regardless. Incidentally, when I took the carpets and tool shelf out of my 2005 Plus last year when I bought it, it still had similar debris accumulations.
I can hear the Morganites, in particular the "Three Musketeers" (our Moderators
) sighing as they read this, as they pen the "is this all you've got to moan about" reply. But, I also observed one of the skilled craftsmen drilling holes in the passenger seat backrest of a new Plus 8 to attach a seatbelt guide, whilst chatting to a colleague. He got it wrong and tried again, twice! Hmmm, that'll be alright, it's only a seat belt guide.
Whilst I accept that the first example is in real terms trivial, but it is symptomatic of attitudes. In Blake's case, and in my own experience, it doesn't bathe the dealers PDI process in glory either. Also, one could argue that even the second example may not be front line safety. However, on the day the seatbelt is called into action I would prefer to be confident it would remain where it should and not pull out of its mounting in the region around my beloved passengers neck because of a bodged fitting.
Now I love my Morgan, don't take me wrong. I delivers a very special, period experience that the BMW M car, 911, Boxster, Audi RS, Caterham/Westfield, etc. varietals I have run cannot. I also accept that I've not dabbled in the elite and rarified Ferrari, Lamborghini, etc. arena that may have small volume issues at a much higher price threshold.
But, none of this should cloud reasonable judgement that there are two ways of achieving a quality product. For mass production in the current day it has to be via intense R&D, economies of scale, international low labour cost build bases, state-of-the-art robotic construction and delivery scheduling, and with highly controlled dealer networks, etc., etc. For the low volume, hand crafted product that was Morgan, there is ultimately no substitute for the family business with passion for the quality of your product. When you start to spread your wings and grow, then if the family passion is to be evident in the finished product, then either all your staff have to grow with you and with your value sets fully embedded, or you need to implement adequate quality controls commensurate with your values and the expectations of your customer base... and by this I mean beyond the "rose tinted specs" lost causes that perhaps wouldn't have anything but a Morgan, or have enough cash sloshing around to not be bothered.
Discuss...
There... MHO in the debate posted.
Incoming
P.S. Not intended to be WW3 Simon, one finger typed following Cineman's post whilst you were all posting
