Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Buying old or new

The factory is a magic place to visit and everyone there I have spoken to is fully committed to the MMC cause. I love visiting!

But somehow this doesn't translate into consistently good customer service. Maybe this is simply because there are not enough people involved, but getting parts via dealers can be ridiculously slow. I've had a few poor experiences of this over the years where things can take "weeks" to appear. It was particularly noticeable when I was waiting for the over-rider kit for Mr Bumble, and some parts came quickly but others took "ages" to appear. A similar experience with the chassis record which took weeks and then wasn't accurate.

The bulkhead ordered by BHM for the roadster rebuild they have recently completed took six months to arrive. Most business organisations would listen to customer & dealer feedback and set process in place to deal with the issues, but somehow, MMC just seem to carry on as they always have.........
It's take it or leave it, and most of us just shrug and take it!

At the risk of tempting fate, I have been lucky with both my cars. The Roadster was just 3 years old when I bought it. The first owner after Gill's had a big issue with MMC about bump steer, resulting in upgraded stub axles (at his own expense), but since I've had it - over seven years, the only issue I've had has been the slight coolant leak from the joint between the long stainless pipe under the exhaust manifold on the nearside and the rubber hose at the bulkhead. This was caused by the stainless pipe being manufactured out-of-round, but eventually I sealed it.
My only other irritation with the Roadster was that the holes in the wooden floor for the seats had been drilled in the wrong place and then left - that's not good enough in a car of this value when new, for the cost of two pieces of wood.

Mr Bumble was over a year old when I bought him, but well sorted with 12,000 miles on the clock. The tacho was U/S but that was quickly sorted, and I had a slight cough which I eventually traced to a loose connection on the engine. My only other irritation was that the doors and bonnets are particularly bad at chafing. I've sorted this over time, and it's probably a measure of handbuilt, but my Roadster doors don't chafe on the body tub at all.

As noted above, the mirrors are rubbish but as discussed previously are E marked and there is probably no alternative. Aftermarket stainless mirrors are excellent. Don't get me started on the ARP4 mirrors..............

I wonder how representative of purchasers TMers are? How many owners never experience problems? I have had a think about reliability issues with my own cars from early Riley, MG's, Triumph, Lotus and then thirty years of Morgans and I can't think of anything other than that time when the current one cut out and my brain didn't identify the relay quickly enough. The first 76 4/4 was a bit shaky but I rebuilt it and it had had hard racing use before I owned it, but apart from a dodgy light switch once (easily mended) none of them have let me down. Things wear out of course but that isn't what people are talking about. The current 89 Plus Four has no corrosion visible, the leather is strong thick and supple and I have been very pleased with it. Frankly I am put off a little from a new car but, I would still love to order one.

From my short ownership experience of a new Morgan it seems the cars may need a 1500 mile shake down before they reach a state where all the foibles and QA issues are addressed. Perhaps that accounts for the low mileage one with less than 1500 often coming up for sale after 1 to 2 years? The original owners don't get past this point.
I wonder if I could get a job putting 1500 miles on all new Morgans?