Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Simmonds Hood

Just a thought but if as I believe is the case hoods are made to fit a particular car and one has asked for the hood not to be supplied the factory will quite probably not have made one. And if they haven't made one they can't give it to you.

This has no relevance to any of the other arguements though.

Simon

This completely echoes my thoughts, I am on my seventh Morgan and I have taken delivery of quite a number of them direct from the factory and I have always found everyone at the factory to be more than helpful. My Series I had a multiplicity of problems which were dealt with by the factory without any problems, including fitting a completely new hood under warranty; amongst other issues.

I'm sure that if we want to get into a pi$$ing competition about cars with problems I, and I am sure most of us, can quote many examples. In my own case, a new XJ8 (new back-axle within the first 700 miles) and Mercedes CLK430 (electric gremlins that were never really completely sorted during our ownership), etc, etc, to name but two! I feel that it's the quality of response to a problem that makes the difference and from my experience MMC can't be faulted on this aspect of customer service.

With respect Mike, it seems that you want to set a trap for the company and human nature being what it is I feel that you will be the only one who is disappointed in the long run. I would get a ruling from the factory on the hood when you order your car, and then you know the situation and as uvk33n says, you can then decide whether you want to proceed on that basis or order another marque or buy a second-hand Morgan.

"1) the way Paul was treated "

Errr....some confusion posibly?

I was the cheapskate who asked where the extra four grand for the extra 200ccs and a couple of rubber strips came from - rather than the person (Chris, I think) who asked for a discount if the hood wasn't fitted.

Mind you, I would have probably asked as well...

Not at all Paul, my comments were made toward the 'take it or leave it' attitude.



I realise there are a few tangents in this discussion; however, I hadn't responded to your previous reply to mine.

Ah yes - I see, sorry.

I think perhaps I wasn't the only person to pick up on the difference between the '4's at that time, hence the better split (and increased sales?) with the introduction of the 1.6 sports model. This does seem to give the range a much more balanced feel.

Still more than happy with the choice, although I will be following the new Librands trad suspension upgrade with interest...

Paul,
Retro Style Prams

Your thoughts are spot on If you haven't seen it already, take a look at page 16 of Houston- Bowden's book " Morgan- First and Last of the Real Sports Cars" ( 2nd edition 1986, Haynes Publishing) you'll see that this has obviously been the cunning plan for a long time!
regards,

Aeroman,


Setting a trap? Not so. This thread started with me asking for experiences with Simmonds Hoods as against factory hoods. A number of people then related less than satisfactory experiences and the thread developed from there.

In my last post I accepted that I had not taken into consideration the bespoke nature of the fitting of a hood which pretty much answers my original question.

What, however, this thread has thrown up is an attitude amongst some (a few I'm sure) that a degree of shoddy service should be accepted as part of the unique Morgan experience and that complaining too much will somehow diminish the relationship between the factory and Morgan owners.

I can't see the logic. Good companies thrive on responding well to complaints and making sure that mistakes aren't repeated. The take it or leave it response to complaints that some have clearly had is totally unacceptable no matter how iconic or quirky the company.

Once again thanks to everyone who has helped me reach a few conclusions. I'll still be buying the Morgan and look forward to meeting you at future events.

Regards

Mike

Good news!

Cheers

Brian

As Aeroman has already intimated, if you have a valid complaint MMC will sort it out for you.

A common theme to posts in this forum is the grin that driving a Morgan will put on your face. If you're not prepared to accept that these cars can be a bit quirky then you're unlikely to get the pleasure from driving one that the rest of us do.

Like Paul, I couldn't see where the additional cost of a Roadster came from so I bought a Plus 4. You pays your money and takes your choice. Don't make your purchase thinking the worst of MMC. Just remember that Peter Morgan said that there are more reasons for not buying a Morgan than for buying one. What could be more honest than that?

Not sure I'd agree that the factory will sort out every complaint (not in our case anyway), but have found that having a good dealership makes all the difference in sorting out problems.

This debate has come up before, and will probably do so again. We all have personal thresholds for service & quality - and I do know that the car seem to have manipulated a huge blind spot with me. I'd not have been anything like as tolerant if a different car had developed the same faults in the same time.

And I do accept that the method of construction will always lead to 'fettling' being necessary, as things bed in. But yes - the brake pedal rubbers still drop off, and they shouldn't.

I just sometime get the impression that a little more care and attention to detail would make life easier for everyone - for us, and for the factory.

And yes, welcome to the asylum Mike!