Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Three Wheeler & Super 3 Leaving the fold

I agree

Basic engineering skills should have set alarm bells ringing. The customer never gets to hear of the dispute between factory and dealer and the customer gets fobbed off. Understand your position Matty, Good luck

Hi M3W owners,
I have a question I was invited to a forum at the factory in 2013 regarding faults with the threewheeler.
Three people who have answered this thread were at that meeting none of which still have a m3w,is there anyone else who was at that meeting still owns a threewheeler besides myself and my pal?
Second question why is it that when I have in the past critised the factory citing my experiences I was told that people were fed up of my expressing my opinion regarding the incompetence of some people at the factory but it seems ok for the favoured few on this forum to make the same comments without a back lash.?
David

Matty,
This sad state of affairs will reflect more so on the M.M.C., than its dealerships. Thank you for sharing your experience with us all.
As I see it the issues with the M3W, Aero and other deviants from the basic early designs may be due to the fact that Morgan has attempted to redesign the tried and tested "trads" without the rigours of full testing that a well equipped design team would engage. Expecting to do this on a shoestring budget has backfired.
From your post I gather your patience has been tested to destruction and I can fully understand that you have washed your hands of the M.M.C.
I would not presume to try and persuade you to hold on down the 4/4 option.
What I would do however is to mention the low mileage 4/4 I purchased second hand. I have added 40,000 miles to this machine which I confess to being absolutely delighted with, and have full confidence in. I plan to add another 3000 miles or so in June tripping down to Italy.
I admit to being a hands on tinkerer, bodger, grease monkey, whatever you call it, getting up close and personal to the nether regions of the 4/4.
She is worth it.

To answer your first question, there is yourself and Calum from Scotland that I can recall by name. Having looked at the list I think that's it..

I have no idea what you mean by your second question, and so I can't answer.

It's interesting to note that I know of another M3W that changed to a 4/4 and has since changed that, but now owns a Honda powered three wheeler.

This is just a snapshot in time of the 1,500+ cars built to date. It's hard to see the bigger picture of ownership when you don't have the full picture.

You are absolutly right Roger. Local dealer has been great through my whole journey and I bought the 3W privately. They were very helpful from day one.
They are persevering with Morgan but I want to get her sold spring/ early summer.
Thanks for all the comments. If I had a bigger garage a four wheeler may have been an option.
However I am just so fed up with the Morgan ethos. Everything is a secret with them. I have lost count of the times I and other have heard " yes we will fix it but dont tell anyone else we did it under warranty" or we will cough up half the money if you keep it under your hat.
I have a huge amount of sympathy for the dealers and if I am honest for Morgan too. The 3 W has been an experience for all concerned.
Their biggest problem has been a lack research regards known component failure( compensators, s and s issues), quality control of subcontrators and materials( chassis) and in some cases penny pinching( bevel boxes).
Funnily enough I have spoken to Krazy Horse and am waiting for an indicitive price for a trade in against an Indian Springfield.
However selling privately to an enthusiast would be my favoured option.
On the plus side for those hanging n there. The S and S definitly improves with age and she definitely loosens up after 12 to 15k.
I have thoroughly enjoyed the cut and thrust of TM

I will keep in touch and let you know what new toy/ adventure lays ahead

Morning David , I was at the meeting in 2013 and my car has just been sold on my behalf by Krazy Horse to Tim W , he is picking it up today .

At that meeting we were told much the same things as people were told at the more recent meeting . ie the people in charge were aware of the issues and everything would soon be improved ....

I understand your second question and remember the criticism you got . Several of us also got similar reactions from the bump steer deniers ! These people seem to have largely gone quiet now .

As Matty mentioned there are some really helpful and communicative people at the factory . There are also some who are not and sadly some who fall into the incompetent category .

One of my favourite experiences in M3W ownership was receiving the letter explaining that no chassis had ever failed in everyday use .....

Anyway , my car with just over 15000 miles on it is now well sorted with all the upgrades and hopefully Tim will have many happy miles in it as I did . I don't think there is any car that is as much fun to drive .

Thanks HJP I don't feel quite as alone with my Morgan experience.The only way that things will change is that we committed owners band together and write to the new chairman detailing the problem's that we have in an attempt to help the company improve.
. David

Matt, sorry to hear that you've reached the tipping point on M3W ownership but can completely understand. As Steve says, I very much still have mine and do intend to keep it for a very long time. I do think that part of the problem is the apparent inconsistency in the customer service so anyone who gets what they see as below par service will feel it as personal which makes the experience all the more painful.

Something that is worth bearing in mind is that while there is a seemingly low percentage of the owners at that meeting in January 2014 that still have their three wheelers, do remember that for almost all owners the car is very much a discretionary purchase, basically a toy, even for those of us who definitely did not buy it out of a "pocket money" fund and as such is likely to be changed after two or three years whether it is a Morgan, a Porsche, a Caterham etc. From what I can see, a fair number of the four wheeled Morgan owners active on this forum are now on their second or third Morgan since that meeting and then there are all the other toys that have been bought and sold in the meantime.

Matty , I replied to David's post before your last post popped up .
I agree wholeheartedly with your comments about the Morgan ethos , public denials and whispered deals not allowed to be mentioned and no paperwork explaining what has been done . I think this is what made me more fed up than anything else .

I do feel sorry for the dealers who are often stuck in the middle and sometimes expected to sort things at a loss .

Mike , I also agree with your comments , as to whether they've got a grip on things now , it seems very unlikely to me , there are some deeply ingrained problems with the "Morgan ethos " that Matty mentions . For 3 years we've been told things are going to improve .

Matty - I will miss seeing Mr Toad racing through Bradfield Southend.

If I have a double garage I might have been interested in your M3W.

Good Luck in the future.