Talk Morgan Forums Community Welcome Forum Help and advice

I recently fulfilled a long held wish to own a Morgan, buying my first, (used) 4/4 from a Morgan dealer.
I bought what was advertised as a 2009 car, but when it required parts and I checked the vin number, it transpires it was built in 2007. Worse, when I checked the log book it also erroneously showed the year of manufacture as 2009!!!
I now realise I should have spotted that the dash layout was 2007 not 2009 but I was new to all this and took the word of the dealer.
I love the car and have already had lots of fun, but feel the dealer owes me some compensation! So far I have tried without success.
Can anyone give me some advice on what steps to take next? Has anyone else had a similar problem?

Sorry to hear your news.

What has the dealer said? I cannot explain the VIN (albeit mine was listed as a '69 when it was a '76!) but the dash may have been changed so not a concrete dating tool.

I think that's a bit of advice needed from trading standards in the first instance . But the first question should be directed at the dealer as to what he is willing to do,in writing is a good idea.
If all else fails name and shame the dealer (they don't like it up em Mr Manwaring )
Did you pay a 2007 price for a 2009 car?
The registration error may just be an old stock 2007 car not registered until 2009.
It's difficult for us on the forum to comment not knowing the full facts.
I'm sure you love your car
Dealers are (in my experience) not bothered once you have paid your monies and gone

Firstly welcome to Morgan ownership, sorry it is not as straightforward as you would have wished.

It does happen that a car can be manufactured in one year but its date of first registration is later. When was the date of first registration? This should be on the V5.

If this was 2007 , then I think you have a very good case under the Sale Of Goods Act. The dealer has misrepresented the goods offered and therefore you are entitled to something. If it was 2009 , then I think that argument might not apply.

What makes all this a bit more concerning is that there were a series of upgrades to the front suspension in 2008 that will obviously be missing on your car. I would point this out in no mean terms that you thought you were buying the upgraded model.

Is the dealer a Morgan agent? It doesn't sound like one of "the community" . This is a pretty small world and word gets around very quickly indeed. Some of the "newer" agents (in particular Stratstone) are not getting a very good reputation at all, so I do hope you have not bought from one of those.

No doubt others will be along soon to give more definitive advice.

We do rather live in a compensation culture - you love the car, does it actually make any difference when it was made?

Thanks for the replies.
Log book does show first registration was 2009, BUT, I paid TOP WACK for a 2009 car and as mentioned, if you buy a 2009 car you expect 2009 specification, NOT 2007.
I agree about manufacture and registration potentially being in different years, but there is a minimum of 18 months difference and it could be as much as 24 months which is surprising for a car that is limited in supply!
Dealer is a fully fledged Morgan dealer - all the more disappointing as they are the experts!

Mmm this is very odd.

I would also check with MMC records via the Factory all the manufacture details ...when it roll off the production line /dispatch to dealer etc.Using the chassis number.

Has the car been an unregistered demo??

Or Factory car??

As has been said check all upgrades 2007-2009.

Then its a serious factual talk to the dealer ...then if no joy Trading Standards.

Dare we ask which Dealer??

All the ones I have had dealings with have been highly reputable and I have been impressed with their integrity.

From my limited experience in Morgan-world, it would appear that buying and owning a Morgan is an emotional experience, far more that most other cars, and Morgan dealers trade on this emotional investment - some authentically and others perhaps not so. I would have to imagine that an authentic Morgan dealer and enthusiast would be honest and open about year of manufacture, model year and year of registration. This is basic information and is certainly made very clear in Porsche-world where I currently reside. My guess is that it's the damage to your Morgan owning experience that you need to repair, rather than just a cash grab?
Of course, any sale is two-way and buyers have a responsibility to check such detail. And its easy in the excitement of buying to overlook such matters.
Thanks for the thread though as it will make me a bit more wary when buying mine (and where I buy it from).
And good luck with your Morgan!

A friend of mine bought a new Land Rover, two years later the dealer tried to sell him another new one, being an x rover engineer, he had a good look at it, he found it was older than the one he owned.