There have been quite a few points well made here but also IMHO quite a few utopia type rhetorical wishes and suggestions. I do know for a fact, and as has been quoted by Asbojohn, that this topic has been discussed with and by MMC people; and I'm sure all the constructive stuff will at least be taken on board. However you must not lose sight of how difficult it is to make a profit (1) in the automotive world and (2) in this niche market in particular.
I quoted two similar companies in my only post above, Noble and TVR. Both who have effectively gone bust. Noble in a reincarnation producing £250k cars at the rate of 10/20 a year.
Who else is there similar to Morgan? The only one I can come up with is Arial of whom I know very little. Ginetta, with all it's up and downs produces a nice little car that I would suggest is in no way any better than any of our Morgans. Tesla? A different niche and different backing. Wiessman? They're struggling and look at their price point. Get a grip guys, this is the real world.
Now of course ths doesn't mean things can't and shouldn't improve but let's be realistic, and expectations of BMW type quality are ludicrous.
I also must take issue with this analogy (which was previously similarly used with but shoes):
I think frequently when you have a special product like a morgan that is quite different from other automotive offerings both in production numbers as well as how they are produced it is easy to make the excuse or proclamations that other standards of car manufacturing (regardless of the number produced or the item's price point), don't apply to them. Or even that despite the premium paid for craftsmanship that the product should be tolerated as a work in progress or something that is frequently requiring tinkering by either the dealer or the owner themselves.
Sadly I think this is flawed logic as I think we would agree and expect a $10,000 custom made suit from a fine tailor to be of far superior build quality than that of a $500 one at the local department store that was mass produced by a factory of cheap labor and machines in china.
That comparison is Skoda vs Pagani. And I and MMC directors have visited the Pagani factory as some of you know, and it's a completely different ball game.
What we have here, is a $500 mass produced suit vs a $500 'custom made' one. It's nowhere near the same analogy is it?
Buy your mass produced, walk away, it doesn't quite fit perfectly for most, everyone else is wearing one but it does the job and has a finite life. Buy your custom,
at the same price point very few have the same style, it fits like a glove, but hey it may have a thread loose here or there or a stitch line that isn't perfectly straight (I need your help for this analogy Frank
) but it will last significantly longer.
Or of course, you could go €10,000 and buy a Pagani, Bugatti or a LaFerrari.
Oh and my final throw away comment, McLaren MPC12 anyone???
Guys (and gals?) I'm not saying we mustn't or shouldn't raise these issues nor should MMC stick their heads in the sand, but don't expect miracles or worse the impossible. This is the real world and [I]some[/] of what you wish for is quite honestly impossible! If we are not careful, we will end up with no choice. Actually I'll rephrase that, if there weren't people like a few on here, who accept that this is NOT a BMW then we would end up with no choices.
Cheers
Andy
PS - Philip, a couple of cheap shots there
