Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Three Wheeler & Super 3 Finally drove one at Brighton in Scotsdale, AZ!

So after posting here for a month...I finally drove a M3W at Brighton Motors in Scotsdale, AZ.

Their "official" demo car was out of the shop as Shane had driven it to a Morgan meet today, but Eric in sales and Shane (owner) were nice enough to arrange to have a customer loan his car out for my test drive (Black and Mulberry car with custom stripes - a beautiful car, and I'd like to thank the owner for his generosity if he's a TMer!) - I promise I was gentle

My impressions...

The torque is amazing - the ability to spin the rear wheel at will - from a stop - or even in first gear in motion is a unique experience in this day of traction control...

I was driving on pristine Scotsdale roads, so I had no experience of the bump steer that so many complain about - but I have no doubt that it exists. The car was a joy between 30mph and 55mph, but my confidence in the car drops precipitously at speed. There is no doubt that this is a car for cruising at moderate/low speeds, around town or in back country roads. The M3W was more fun at 45mph than my 997 is at 110mph. Anyone who complains about the car's poor handling at speed totally misses the point of what this car is about...frankly the car is a touch scary above 70mph. If you plan on spending a fair amount of time over 55mph this is not the car for you.

The roar of the S&S X-wedge is sublime, and is surely one of the highlights of driving this car, you certainly don't miss having a stereo! There is so much torque on hand, that shifting is a bit optional, I did my entire ride around town in second and third. I agree with other who recommend keeping the revs up over 3000 - which is really easy to do.

However...the entire drivetrain makes some very interesting sounds, and those sounds do not inspire confidence...There was some clunking when shifting. There were also various rattles and groans that really detract from the driving experience and give the impression, dare I say it, that this is more of a kit car than a finely engineered machine. I noticed some bevel box whine - but it was quite tolerable. I plan on driving the demo car tomorrow, and according to Shane, it has a pronounced bevel box whine that will need to be serviced, I look forward to the comparison.

Fit and finish were fine, though the speedometer position and indicator stalk position on LHD cars take some getting used to. In the loaner car I drove, the shift knob had come loose and needed to be tightened. Morgan really needs to move to a knob that screws directly to the shaft, and abandon the fiddly set screws. In addition, the cheapo steering wheel is a TOTAL letdown an upgrade to a Simmonds or Moto-lita is the first change I would make.

The car really makes a statement. On my 30 minute drive, no less than 3 people rolled down their windows at stoplights to ask me about the car - that has never happened to me before.

In the end, I love the car, but the drivetrain needs work. I wonder if things won't be better in a few years once the factory gets around to fettling this important issue, it's a bit of a letdown in what is otherwise a sublime car.

And that's the rub, at around $51,000 USD, this is an expensive toy. At $35,000 I imagine I could overlook the drivetrain issues... I'm hoping that the demo I drive tomorrow is better, but as I'm located three states away, I worry that I won't have access to knowledgeable mechanics who can tweek the car if it goes awry...that's a worry.

Lets see what tomorrow's drive brings...

Cheers!

Sounds like a fun drive and I really hope that you enjoy the demo car!

at $35K, I would be in line tomorrow, at 51K, Ill be waiting till I can find some second hands down the road. Certainly an expensive toy

Guys, guys, just remember that the true cost of the car is what you lose when you sell, not what it costs in the first place, and whilst s/h cars over here are now selling for less than the new price, I'm guessing that int he States, there will be a premium for quite a few years, so tie your $51000 up in a bit of fun for a year or two, and if it still looks nice when you come to sell, and it will, you should at least get your money back, maybe with a bit of profit - who knows?

As far as speed is concerned, I regularly cruise mine at 4000rpm in 5th on motorways, dual carriageways and good open main roads, but I wouldn't advise a new driver to do that, work up to it. I have to say that I have been driving Caterham Sevens regularly for over 20 years, and there is a bit of similarity, but you don't get bump steer with a Caterham!

Paul you do make a good point...

I have been wondering what the depreciation on a M3W in the US would be - I suspect it will be similar to the Caterham market as they are both niche vehicles. In the US a "new" Caterham will run you around $55-60k and a 3-4 year old car will sell for around $35k...not too bad for a few years of fun - I agree!

It's possible that taking a used M3W to auction in the U.S. could generate similar prices, though I doubt there is profit to be made...

As an aside - Brighton has a sweet Austin Healey 100-4 on their lot which is really tempting me at a similar price. Now there's a car that has some appreciation potential!

I am friends with a number of Caterham owners, and I've driven their cars, and they are great! These guys will take drives through the hill country in Texas a few times a year. When I told them I'm looking at a M3W and hoped to join them for a drive soon, they kindly suggested that there's no way I would be able to keep up! And I have do doubt that they're right! I'll still take a Caterham at speed any day over a M3W.

I'm going to drive the demo car today - lets see how it goes!

So....

I drove the M3W again today for a longer period of time, about 40 minutes. I do think that a fair amount of my initial misgivings were due to my unfamiliarity with the car. On the longer drive, I learned to really baby the clutch, and that really allowed the drivetrain to settle down and gain a fair amount of composure. I think my earlier reports posted above were much more due to driver error/inexperience than anything else. That turn radius is a bit of a bitch though...isn't it!

The bug has bitten hard...I think I'm hooked. Now that Paul has reminded me that the car probably has a fair amount of value on the used market , my last qualm has fallen.

Many thanks to all TMers for their advice.

Cheers!

Sounds like another one is sold

Great news Crowbar, I know you won't regret it. These little cars do need learning, and the more you drive them the better you are with them.

perhaps it is a bit much to think about a small uplift in price when sold, but the fun you'll get will far outweigh any small loss after a year or two [or three]

I can confirm that a M3W will not keep up with an averagely well driven Caterham, even one of the lower powered engines, but you will be having just as much fun, and talking to more people. I have very rarely had anybody chatting at traffic lights when driving a Caterham, but in the Mog it just happens all the time, you cannot be shy in this car!

BTW, drove the car with the "noisy" bevel box today...it really is a touch annoying, my sympathies to those who are dealing with this problem - I'm thinking of delaying my build date till that problem gets sorted by the factory (or really - by the supplier of the bevel boxes).

Does anyone know how may M3W's the factory has built to date?

Crowbar
Don't worry too much about the bevel box, Crowbar. If you drove an early one, the later versions are a lot better, and they quieten down more after the first 500 miles or so too.
Notlob