That's it chaps. I did try. 19 months and 10,600 miles and 1 session of talkmorgan group therapy which stiffened my resolve to persist. But: a good definition of insanity is to carry on in the same old way and expect different results...so my M3W is sold but my joy with 3 wheelers persists...just not with Morgan. I wish you all many happy miles in this exceptional car! Below is my final letter to Steve Morris, CEO.
Steve Morris
Managing Director Morgan Motor Company
Dear Steve,
RE: FAREWELL MORGAN
4 June 2019
You’ll be pleased to know that this is the last letter you’ll receive from me. Like the Morgan family, I now retain only a minority share in the form of a Christopher Ward M3W watch and have divested a Plus 4 and my M3W. The watch has not missed a beat. I wish the same could be said of my Morgan 3 Wheeler.
My 2017 M3W cost more than my 2015 Plus 4 but was the most joyful car I’ve owned. It also proved to be the least reliable car I’ve owned.
To use a cricket analogy: with a long list of faults affecting my innings, I drew stumps when the MMC bowler wired my LED headlights incorrectly and refused an umpire’s appeal. Yes, even when I sent MMC written evidence from an MOT examiner that my M3W headlamps would fail an MOT, it refused to refund the labour costs of its faulty workmanship. This is not “playing the game”.
As I walk off the crease, I notice a charming Italian fielder in crisp new whites. His name is Invest Industrial and he asks why I’m leaving the pitch before being bowled out. I explain that cricket is a game based on fair play where the “customer” is treated as the most important player on the field. When this doesn’t happen - we stop - for tea!
But my innings continue: tomorrow, I collect my next 3 wheeler: hand-built with passion and competence and compared to Morgan as “half the price and twice the car”. It is sad that I’m confident this description is likely to be accurate.
Arrivederci!
Short history: I managed only 10,600 miles on my 19 month old Euro 3 M3W before giving up: during this time I experienced:
No O ring fitted to bevel box - it was missing from new
Rusting bright pack cowl - replaced
Badly scratched exhaust on new car - replaced
Drive sprocket replaced (belt alignment problems)
Cam belt tensioner pulley broke (French autoroute recovery)
Paintwork blistering around indicator stalks and rollover hoops
New wheel hub fitted (supersession part to ease belt alignment)
New battery fitted at 8125 miles
Petrol pump failure at 9224 miles (roadside recovery UK)
Second petrol pump failure at 10,600 miles (roadside recovery UK)
Factory fitted LED headlights tested at MoT station: fail
