Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Three Wheeler & Super 3 This really bothers me...

So the opinion of some who have an issue, is more valid than others who like the Car? Those who have an affinity or great fondness not tarnished by bumpsteer because they either don't have it or are happy to live with/drive around must not Post? Maybe you are saying that no one should debate or question anything you or others now post re this 'issue'?

I'm afraid you are doing just what AQM so boringly repeated ad nauseum and trying to stifle others from voicing their own thoughts and opinions that may not be in line with yours. Bad show.

Quite honestly, having owned a vehicle with an issue that bothered you so much to have gone and blindly bought another without trying one 'in the hope that' something had been done is naive indeed.

And before you berate me for criticising you, please note two things, firstly I am debating your buying two vehicles you are so critical, not the bumpsteer issue secondly, and I believe I've read this posted before, that Blakes posts always seem to attract far less criticism and argument as they always seem to be written with a fair balance containing more fact and less emotion.

And finally, before I go and have my breakfast it's interesting to read that Fat cats seem to have acknowledged MMC's (obviously valid) concern and introduced a fix to their previous design. Albeit their reaction is admirable and it would seem has improved the vehicles handling.

Gosh, well, that is certainly getting things off your chest KenK. It's a good job that we live in a free country and are all allowed to have our say. I shan't comment more than to say it's fine to knock me, but how about the other discussion points I raised?

Say what you will, but there can be no doubt that raising the issues that some of us see, has finally forced Morgan to do something about them, which in the end is what it is all about. Time will tell if their solution will work. As far as I can see, nothing short of a re-design of the wishbone pickup points and the king pin angle will overcome the problem, the rest is just masking these deficiencies.

I am enjoying my car more than ever, now that my problem has been improved, using it for short and longer journeys when the weather is appropriate, and always choosing it over more sensible transport in my garage. It's off to the dealer next week to see if something can be done to quieten down the bevel box, not only the banshee inside, but what sound like loose nuts and bolts too, although in practice I feel it is more likely to be bearings loose in their housings or somthing similar.

Interesting post KenK, particularly as you are a new member of the forum and not one of the much maligned 'old-guard!' From PM's received it seems that your views do resonate with more than a few other TM members.

My 3W, one of the very early ones, does have some bump-steer but imho is far from being dangerous and if and when Morgan does come up with a fix, then I'll have it fitted, until then I'm more than happy to drive the car as is.

On the weight issue Paul, our FW400 had a carbon body from new and with a carbon exhaust weighs in at 410 kg wet. I wasn't aware that Caterham had built production BEC's, but if they did I guess that these must have had a motorbike gearbox, so comparing them with a M3W with an MX5 gearbox (which was originally designed for a pick-up!) is not really a fair comparison, especially as the S&S lump is hardly lightweight!

In any case, having seen the photo on Blatchat of a recent Seven crash I'm quite happy that our track day car has a carbon, rather than a 'proper' chassis, just as I am also pleased that the M3W has a certain heft in its build, as I did not buy it as a track car.

We pays our money and ...

Whilst Caterham themselves did not make the lightweight Seven, there was one manufactured by James Whiting, a well known and long standing Caterham Service dealer, who has had a long involvement with the Marque going back, more or less to their early days. He designed and built a Fireblade engined, live axle car which was very, very light. The lightest production Seven would probably be just over 500kgs, still light for a traditional steel chassied and ali. clad car. I do agree about the picture of the crashed Seven though, very frightening indeed. Mostly Seven come out of these things quite well because of the triangulation and light weight. Apparently he aquaplaned and hit the reservation, though, looking at the semi slick tyres, I suspect that these were the cause.

Brian, as your Three Wheeler is an early one, am I right to suspect that it is still on Suplex dampers? If so, this could be the reason why it does what you say. My first one was on Suplex, until it went to the factory for its' first service, and they took them off and replaced them with Spax, without my knowledge or approval, and whilst there was more bumpsteer than I wanted or liked, it was livable with, which my current spax shod car is not, at least, was not, until I had the suspension modified. Now it is almost sublime. Not quite free of steering kickback, but no unwanted steering input either.

I didn't want to come back to the KenK comment, but after giving it a week, I am afraid that I am going to have to. I feel that what KenK has said is totally unjustified. It is not a "bad show". My opinion, as a paying customer, is just as valid as anyone else, and I am not stifling debate nor hectoring or bullying others who are happy with the status quo. Nor am I stopping people posting how happy they are with their cars. I have already said that not everyone is unhappy, that's fine, but I am unhappy, and what I am doing, and it appears successfully, is to draw peoples attention to a problem, if they accept it, that is fine, if not, then they, and I, will continue to bother the manufacturer until they fix it. It seems that is beginning to work now, time will tell.

There have been several snide remarks to the effect that if I am so unhappy with the car, then why did I buy another one, but, I have repeatedly said that I am more than happy with the car as a whole, just not the way that MMC have decided to productionise the front end geometry, which has basic flaws in it, whether some owners live with them or not. Further, it has taken over 2 years and a lot of forum comments for them to even acknowledge it and do something. Even now, we don't know what, and it is pretty certain they will not recall cars where owners are complaining, to fit any modified parts free.

I'm sorry to come across as a moaner and a whinger, but I am all out of sympathy for Morgan. I know that others get fed up with the same old tune, but it isn't as if there is no basis for it, and now, having taken matters into my own hands, just to find out that a fix may be around the corner, after all this time, has not made me any happier. The car is great [geometry apart], but I'm afraid my opinion of the factory is not..................... Horses for courses I fancy.

I too was not going to comment further, but I guess I've broken that intention

I have selectively quoted as these are the relevant parts to what I'm about to say. I have no issue (nor should I) with how you feel about MMC and their responses, that's your prerogative to give your opinion. The Mods will decide if that breaks any rules of not. Their ball their game.

But I do feel that you did try to stifle opinion opposing yours with your comments that I highlighted (and are there for others to make their mind about). As such my opinion was that it was "bad show" for you to do so especially with regards to what had been debated previously. It may not have been what you intended but I think it was. And my perception is my reality.

I cannot comment on the technical issues because I am neither an engineer nor a 3W owner yet. That doesn't mean I don't appreciate your opinion nor your right to have one and possibly air it (not my gaff etc), just that I have no opinion that would be of any use to anyone one way or another nor do I need to offload anything.

As for your reasons for buying another 3W well they are yours, thanks for enlightening us. Doesn't mean I agree that they are sensible. IMHO I still think it exhibits a bit of naivety. But that's my opinion.



Apology accepted