Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Three Wheeler & Super 3 Picking up this week - top 5 things need to know

Dealers make their money on high commissions against low volumes. Your local dealer could have done a deal with another dealer with a build slot so they both benefited. It's a bit like buying from Amazon and expecting a local shop to welcome you with your purchase. It's not like buying a Honda!

Did you ask how much your local dealer would charge for doing PDI and (normally free) first service for you (as that would normally come out of the commission)?

It's worth trying to make peace with the local dealer, as at some point you'll likely have to deal with them. Offering to pay them to go over the car as a PDI would seem like a good gesture. I'd make sure you talk to the person in charge or owner, assuming they are not the person sitting out front.

Else I suppose you could pretend you just moved into town with your recently delivered car - purchased from your home-town dealer - and would like to strike up a relationship with the local establishment as you're sure you'll be spending lots of time and money with them :-)

Got that one ! One of the best. Have use it many times over the years. Highly recommend it if you have a classic car or two.

What happened with the dealer in Charlotte?

I think that the dealer gets some sort of fee from the factory for the PDI. It comes out of the overall purchase price cause "nothing is free" anymore. In this case, the local LA dealer is not in the money loop for the PDI.
I do know for a fact that the local LA dealer services cars whether or not they sold them. Richard Hardy had his three wheeler serviced there at the end of his cross country trip. I don't think having actual service done will be an issue.
If I were picking up the vehicle, I would treat it like a preflight inspection on the old planes I work on.
Remove the front cover and look in the oil tank.
Observe that the brake reservoir is full.
Look for anything obviously loose.
Replace the front cover.
Check tire pressure
Turn the key to the first stop and go lock to lock with the steering.
Check brake pedal and emergency brake for pressure and feel.
Turn the key to on and check all lights and horn.
Tap each exhaust on tip to make sure they are secure.
Do a final walk around
Get in, take a deep breath, fire it up and go!!

One more thing. My M3W came from factory with what amount to nearly 6 degrees of toe out. Alignment didn't get checked During the PDI and it fragged the front tires in about 1,400 miles.
A quick and inexpensive way to check toe is to get a "straight" 2 by 4 (8 ft), cut it into two 4 foot sections, center each section on a front tire, clamp them firmly to the tire and then use a tape measure to measure across the front ends and rear ends. If the number you see is the same front and rear, you have zero toe, if not, adjust accordingly.

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Bought one from them a few years ago....great people to deal with. But then decided to make my own.....a long process but very satisfactory 😋

Wonder if he ever picked it up?

Got delayed for a week or so. Spring break at the factory I guess . Should be back out next week and on the plane. Going to drive it home with backup plan. AAA...... Will give you guys an update when I have it in the garage ! Have several trips mapped out for SOCA.

It's my understanding that according to federal law, all licensed dealers have to recognize factory warranties. I think this is easy to confirm.

A problem I've heard over and over is that Morgan systematically underpays for all warranty work. Some dealers have resorted to saying, here's how much of the job was covered by the factory, now you owe us the rest. But if a dealer didn't sell you the car, they are facing being underpaid and not having made any money on the sale to help offset what Morgan will pay them.

I've also heard that the factory just got through strong-arming dealers into a new contract which, technically, would eliminate a number of them (for example, requiring small, remote dealers to carry a new demonstrator every year, even though their sales can't support that). So, there seems to be a wave of resentment. You may be getting caught up in some of that.