Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Three Wheeler & Super 3 A 3 Wheel Adventure

Good Evening,

I small introduction before I ask too much advice. My name is Tom and I am now living up in West Yorkshire near Huddersfield and am a surgical trainee. I've recently moved from Norwich where I studied and spent my junior doctor years and have an adventure on my mind. I am a bit of a petrol head (I won't bore you all now) but after 3 years of comfy 4x4 I am feeling the need for a daily adventure.

I originally planned to go racing in Austin A35's but the job is taking over more and more and I cannot commit to the racing weekends. So the idea is to commit myself to driving a 3 Wheeler daily. This is insane I know, my friends think I am barmy, but, well, marriage and kids aren't a long way off, the roads around here are spectacular and why not live a little. I intend to write about the experience as well. I went to Oakmere Morgan a few weeks ago (who were excellent and have provided a lot of advice) to test drive one and not only fitted (6'2'') but had one of the most fun driving experiences for a very long time. I love pre-war cars but obviously they are not a reliable daily so this gives me all the feeling with hopefully more usability. The running costs are going to be favourable compared to other British alternatives (friends at Nicholas Mee AM won't let me buy a V8 as they don't want to give me the service bills!)

Right, before I bore you all by writing an essay, my first bit of advice is what year to buy. The choice is a modified Mk1 or a brand new 2014 model. The price difference is about £5k and this isn't money I can happily throw away so all advice is welcome. The main things is, I do need more reliability, consultants don't take fondly to being stranded at the side of the road and not turning up for theatre. The heated seats sound a good option too on the new ones, immobiliser I'm not to sure about, especially if it makes no difference to insurance.

I not only plan to use it daily but for the Le Man pilgrimage, a trip to the south of France and maybe the mountains in Czech republic.

Feel free to give me any abuse or advice, it will all be appreciated.

Many Thanks,

Tom

Welcome Tom

I like your attitude

Not sure what to answer on which to buy... A "sorted" older car might be more of a known quantity than a brand new one. In the end some decent breakdown insurance will be the only peace of mind I think.

Will it be your only car? Just wondering what you will do if it snows... The rear wheel doesn't follow the tracks made by other cars....

I hope you go for it, looking forward to reading about it

Welcome to the forum Tom! I'll not give you any advice about new or old as I don't own one but drive them most weeks at the factory....so my views might be rather skewed. There's a lot of information on here for you to pick up on the various issues that have cropped up.
They are huge fun and an interesting challenge for every day use in all weathers....but then I know guys who use a motorbike all year round to commute on. As V says....could be interesting in the snow....but then so is my Roadster and my main car, so I've bought a cheap narrow tyred Panda for such events!

Tom, I think this is a great plan and I hope to meet you and your m3w soon. I too am young and hope to start using the m3w more as they become more reliable but at the moment, in the words of fed-ex: " if I definately needs to get there", I am in the polo.
I was in the exact same predicament as you and opted fpr an early car and got all the upgrades done. Financially it has not been worthwhile even though a considerable amount of work has been done by morgan free of charge and under warranty. However I have learned a great deal about the car and enjoyed (most of the time) learning how to fix it.



However I would be concerned about safety and the rain amd at night. I have spun out into a ditch even at low speed 20mph in the rain on a challenging bend. I have had idiot start over taking coming right into me. I have had skmeone hit the central reservation of the motorway at over 80 mph because they or others were distracted by me. This is fine 2 or 3 times a week in the afternoon or weekend, but people drive differently at rush hour.

In terms of reliability I beleive it is possible to be a doctor amd use the car. If you know how to fix the car's main problems yourself and carry spares.
Some prpblems can be solved after 30 mins more driving (rectifier) whereas some need to be fixed there and then on the side of the road. (cam belt 40mins)
I would go for a car with at least 3000 miles on the clock. Hand made cars have teething problems and follow a bath-tub component failure model.
Make sure the alternator is sound. Check that the voltmeter is always at 14.4v when lights are off and engine running. Go for a centra drive compensator.
Get spares.

I can recommend Oakmere. I recently bought my 4/4 from them. I had been looking at 3 wheelers but I do mainly long road trips for my kicks and went for greater reliability in the end. I may add a three wheeler into the collection next year once the 2014 model has been 'tested'.

Do it..!

Life should be full of memories, not dreams.

Don't listen to the safety nannies, drive it with purpose & if it breaks down get if fixed and get back in it..

Go for a 2014 and get a full warranty.

Waterproofs, electric vests and a hankie to stop the dribbles from smiling too much..

Also, the experience is so exhilarating I find it hard to concentrate on something boring after driving. I also get tired if I use it every day for more than an hour.

@charles: same experience with me. And I thought I might be to old for this type of vehicle!

Tom

If your commute is short say 30 mins go for it, if longer maybe not. Its not much fun in the rain & dark at 4 degC, so consider carefully. It may be better if your route is mostly on illuminated roads which get gritted as priority but that means loads of traffic.
Go for a new car, carry spares & know how to fit them. I have no experience of the heated seats nor electically heated clothes. I do know from experience that you feel mighty cold after 2 hours driving at 3 to 6C even with multiple layers,full bike gear& 3 pairs of socks.

Tim

Hi Tom,

My take on your question.

Over the summer this year I have commuted to work regularly in my M3W ( sometimes twice a week , sometimes once depending on lots of work related factors ). My commute is a 60 miles round trip involving 4 junctions on a busy stretch of the M6 taking about 45 mins each way.
In daylight I feel completely safe and really enjoy myself , arriving at the office feeling invigorated - extra oxygen rammed into my smiling mouth ? . When there is less traffic about the motorway gives you a chance to really open it up and see the power available at higher speeds in a way you cant on A roads and the opportunity to hear the engine purr away at cruise speeds.

However driving on a busy motorway in the dusk / dark is a completely difference experience. I have done it a few times and do not enjoy it at all - I have little confidence of my visibility to other drivers. I have fitted extra reflectors and even brighter headlamps , but am still nervous. My colour choice of black was probably not helpful in this respect but I stand by that choice.
So my preference is not to commute in the M3W in the dark - I have a Citreon for that !