If the new kits have been retro fitted to new cars to allow those new cars to be sold when existing cars are off the road, then the new cars have effectively “jumped the queue”. The kits are clearly in short supply and MMC and / or the dealer have prioritised the new sale over resolving the issue for at least one of their existing customers. In any event, to then publicise this on various social media sites is insensitive to say the least. I am not sure they fully understand the level of concern and for many anger that exists around this issue. Continuing to build cars while they wait for the new parts makes perfect sense so no need to idle the factory, even though it appears it has been shut down this week anyway. I am quite sure they often have to wait for parts.[/quote]
Not meant at you personally Adrian.
They do seem to have made their bed here but is that totally fair? Their perspective is probably different. Whilst a comment on another thread about CX's being parked everywhere during a recent visit shows there is also a backlog there I would guess cashflow is king as it often is in manufacturing. If the stock sits waiting for (three) parts that need replacing the cashflow gets a spanking which needs to be understood? Also promises have been made to new owners. They are equally deprived of this years summer of CX love. I don't think it's an either/or but an all in truth? Both threads are embarrassing the factory, and should do. I was hoping that the CX replacing both the Aero and Trad meant that the time spent engineering it would have weeded out some of the old constant change issues given the company was going to be 100% reliant on it.
I for one would not take delivery of a CX at this point. Not unless I had a signed letter committing to five years/50k of no cost support on known common faults covering the suspension (droopy springs) cooling (radiator) and brakes (squeal and security) at Morgan's cost of parts and labour. £80K+ does give you the right to expect better. I got the recall on the MB's brakes about the same time and MB had replacements at most/every dealer and were saying 1-2 days for the change with priority over service business. The MB dealer knew the drill and even weeded me out as I had the Brembo brakes on mine. But that's a whole different animal with many regular recalls to deal with. I am guessing legal have placed a degree of gagging on the team. In the old days it would have been more personal and probably just as chaotic.
I am more surprised to see the comments appearing around saggy bottom having not seen it raised on here before. TM has traditionally been a great forum to share and learn. Open and honest but respectful, so it has not become a mess driving people away and descending to the level of pistonheads.
If this gaff shows me anything it's that the typical owner still cares a great deal which is probably a relief to the factory but one not to be taken advantage of as may have happened in the past. The new VC style funded, future looking, business needs to look at the design to build to sales to support model again. It seems to have spent money with the London dealer etc but has gutted the long standing resellers which we have relied on and who know the stock in the field. I am having to take a train for three and a half hours on monday morning to collect my car from service.
Realising that the factory, like most, has an annual shutdown I would have thought it good to use the time to bring in a selection of trained/certified temporary mechanics, manage them carefully, and accelerate the replacement work. Maybe they are and we are not hearing it. I am certain in this financial squeeze that a few of the staff could have been incentivised to provide hands on QA. It would have also sent out the right message. A bit more of that is needed. Whilst the "I am not at the front of the queue" stomping would have occurred the transparency would be welcome and befitting a company trading on the personal touch.
I am not a CX owner. However the Aero also had a few gremlins and both the early Series 2 and later Coupe that I have experience of had many of the same gaps in development. There was no model year as things got changed on a slightly ad-hoc basis back then. I think without TM I would have moved on to a regular brand even though I love these cars.
Everyone loves a Morgan. Even me, unless it's broken again.