Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Another "Why Do they Do it"

I was thinking and reminding myself how enormous the steps forward in build and finish quality have been in the last 10-15 years across all car makes. It doesn't seem that long ago that major manufacturers were turning out awful workmanship that we just accepted at the time. All the Skoda jokes come to mind and how things have changed. A few years ago it was common practice for new cars to have drip trays in showrooms! In a way we've all been spoiled by buying later product that has benefitted from the introduction of better technologies to reduce errors in build and the introduction of processes such as the Toyota Production System... Morgan largely clings to old methodologies and practices from a past era so we shouldn't be surprised if some 'non standard' finishes creep in. Its not part of the appeal but we choose to live with it.

Agree here too with DaveW & Peter.

Mike Hughes is right that you can have a lot of trouble free fun with old classic cars but I think you hit the point on the head that to be in that position you mostly need to have been involved with the restoration so that you know how it's been put together.

Apart from being nuts about Morgans all my life as much as there are many classic cars out there that I would like to have owned going for a modern Morgan was best for me because in the little free time I have available I can go and jump in it and drive it.

I think also, that like many of the people on here we all grew with our first cars being built in the 1970's or earlier so if you bought a car the only way you could afford to keep it on the road was to do it yourself. I learnt a lot from that about the basics of cars but a stream of company cars that were more modern has meant that my knowledge has never moved forward. Now they're so complicated everything gets done at the garage. Apart from routine maintenance the servicing and any repairs to my Morgan is going to be dealt with by somebody who has the knowledge as I haven't.

Our youngest son, aged 24, loves cars but despite my best efforts still hasn't got it in his head about the importance of checking things regularly such as tyres etc let alone opening the bonnet!

Exactly....especially in China. Morgan is selling at a luxury price point. They have to deliver the quality associated with the price point.
Enter Williams...

So basically, what you are saying is that the factory have to get an external party to check the quality before it gets shipped to more discerning customers. So if you are chinese, you get a wel built car, the rest of us, just have to accept second best. Strange old world.

Or you buy a car from Willims...

Not sure the rest of the dealers would be happy with that, or perhaps Williams are seeking world domination and eventually a take over of the MMC.

Ain't this often the way ? It certainly was with TVR. When the Griffith first came out, it looked fab, sounded like thunder & went like poop off a chrome shovel, yet...it wasn't that expensive, so buyers were quite forgiving that they smelled of glue & when bits fell off & so on. When TVR tried to go up market, the cars were getting to be BMW M3 money and more; customers weren't so happy to put up with the foibles. Ditto the experience of Lotus in the 70's with the Elite & Eclat compared to the sevens and Elans that went before.

If Williams can put them together correctly , why can't MMC ?

They employ young, competent and experienced people, trust them to do a good job and never let them forget where all the money comes from.....the Customer.

I don't see many parallels with MMC.

But you're still the only Morgan identified one