Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Three Wheeler & Super 3 Running Cost

I've spent thousands on my 2012 M3W. Most have been to fix that which should not have been an issue like the bump steer, rear sprocket, compensator, etc. All worthy candidates for total warranty compensation, but not. I'm on my sixth set of front tires. I admit, freely, that I drive this car hard. Third rear tire. I do not want to add up everything as it would defeat the purpose of having this toy. It is not an investment or a collectible. I bought it to drive.

Feel free to invest in cars on their future resale value or collect cars for the joy of the acquisition but I get no kick from either.

If I added everything up on my rides, then I would have to come clean with the wife when and if she ever asked so, nevertheless I never do.

This sounds so familiar, a friend of mine has a second home down on the Lake Of The Ozarks in southern Missouri. We go down there with them 5 or 6 times a summer season. He has a 42' Sonic with twin BBC motors putting out 660hp each. The first time we went out on the lake with them he went to fill it up. He had 1/4 in one tank and 1/2 in the other. When said and done it was $750 to fill it up.

This is easily a 70 mph boat and filling it up I thought, OH BOY, here we go. So he throttles up and we hit about 35 mph and then he slows it back down on rpms and we cruise at around 38 mph.

It's an older Sonic with full overnight sleeping quarters, galley, and standup head.

We kid about his $300k boat that's worth around $50k. I don't know how many transmissions he's replaced, outdrives, motor rebuilds, new interior, new paint scheme plus the $150k floating deck and floating lift to get the boat out of the water.

So he's not really happy about the cost, but he's happy that he gets to get out on the water and have some fun time.

You guys have it right, smiles per miles!

If you think that's expensive have you costed out the wife and kids?

No..do not even go there!!

In my case you could add the plural ...wifes!

Again, what makes you smile? What gives you joy? I do not disparage my children when I say this but this ball of fabricated metal and misjoined parts has given me more joy than many other things in life!

I taught my oldest to drive stick in this. It was a hoot. She is a kick ass driver.

You make your choice and live with it!

One kid could just about be traded for the down payment on a Veyron.

My costing were only for the upgrades on my earley 2012 Mtw On top of these Iv just had to have a replacement rear break cylinder and fuel sender I didn't include any fuel costs I'm not complaining I get the biggest smile when I'm out in her ( Margot)and don't think any thing comes close as regards mad fun

My biggest expense so far is shipping the car from wherever it breaks to the dealer to fix it. I'm probably a little over $0.50 per mile at 9000 miles not counting depreciation. I still hope that it will eventually be somewhat reliable. My problems so far:

Permanently on yellow warning light due to sensor wires touching engine cooling fins. Wires were moved but the light is back on now.

Stripped timing pinion requiring engine to be shipped back to S&S for repair at 7500 miles. So far so good at 9000 miles.

Cracked both brooklands exhausts at 5500 miles. Got them replaced at 7500 miles. They are cracked again at 9000 miles. Car is getting shipped back to dealer next week to repair them again and add the additional mounting points which will hopefully fix the problem for a while.

Aluminum rear sprocket was worn and replaced with steel sprocket at 9000 miles.

Bevel box was noisy but seems quieter now or my hearing is worse. I wear earplugs on the highway now. It used to be noisy between 60mph and 70 mph. Now you need to go about 80 mph before you hear the deafening whine. Below 70 mph it seems quiet enough now. I'm hoping that it quiets down at 80mph as it gets more 80mph miles on it.