Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Three Wheeler & Super 3 Prospective owner - advice

I'm thinking of taking the plunge on an M3W and have some questions. I've been through this forum a bit to look for information, but the search function isn't the best and there doesn't appear to be a definitive "buyers guide".

I'm buying the car as a toy (my Wife and I will have another two cars) for use on nice days, however I'll make sure it's used regularly and not sat around for months. I've had a couple of Porsches, a VX220 and three different Aston Martins, but looking for something that emphasises fun over speed. Fortunately I live fairly close to Richard Thorne, so going to have a good look soon to see if I get on with the car. I might hire one from them for the day to get a good idea if I can live with it beyond a test drive.

I've found a list of recommended work here:
http://www.talkmorgan.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/600099/buying-a-used-m3w#Post600099

Is there an advantage to buying a more recent car over an earlier example which has had this stuff done? What I'm not sure about is how easy it is to check if that work has been done pre-purchase? Richard Thorne say all their cars have had the neccesary recalls and mods done, if I buy from a known dealer like that should I just take their word for it? I'm only going to consider cars from specialists, I'm not brave enough to buy a Morgan privately or from a generic dealer.

Sadly I don't have a garage so the car would live outside under a cover (where it will stay if it is raining). I have seen threads from other members on here who keep their cars outside, so I presume that isn't crazy. Or am I wrong to think that?

I'm not a skilled mechanic and the furthest I've gone with working on my own cars is changing spark plugs or airflow meters, so I'd be relying on professionals for maintanance. I currently run a 12 year old V12 Aston Martin though, so I'm no stranger to spending money on my cars. Are there any recommended places in the Berkshire area?

The link you have found lists most of the recommended mods and upgrades which apply to pre 2014 cars, post 2014 cars have most of the upgrades from their initial build.

There is no advantage in buying a newer car car over an earlier car providing the major upgrades have been undertaken on the early car, with the exception of the Centa compensator they are easy to spot on the car. There are plenty of owners in the Berkshire area to give advice and of those two keep their cars outdoors. Take a look at Bell and Covills offerings as well, they also do servicing and maintenance.

You say you are only going to buy a car from a Morgan dealer, but this car http://www.talkmorgan.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/602389/m3w-for-sale#Post602389 is well looked after with all the up grades in North London.

With admittedly not being a skilled mechanic and buying a car not under warranty I would want to live within walking distance of an accredited Morgan Dealership.

Yes, I was going to check out Bell And Covills too, they aren't too far from me either and I definitely want to look at a good few cars before making a decision.
You joke about being withing walking distance of a Morgan Dealership, but as it happens Richard Thorne really are very close - I literally could walk it if fancied a good bit of fresh air! They aren't an accredited dealership any more, but as i understand it that's just because they dropped the franchise to save paying a subscription to the factory.

With my intended use of the car dealing with some reliability issues wont bother me too much. I'm not expecting it to have Toyota levels of reliability, or even Aston Martin levels of reliability, but I figure in 40 years I'm less likely to regret buying a M3W which gives me trouble than I am to regret not buying one when I had the chance.

Either that or I'll sit in one for the first time, hate it and bin the whole idea.

Buy one it is not an Aston but it is so addictive

The cars that are sorted and used are generally reliable. I have done over 6000 miles this year in my 2013 car with no issues, I am aware of two others, a 2013 and 2017, with greater mileages than mine this year also with no issues.

Go with a 2014+ car, which would have all of the recommended upgrades from the factory. I would be a bit hesitant to keep it outside though, I get quite a bit of rust on my suspension/frame even here in California and my car sits in a garage...

Just a note about leaving it outside. Mine stayed outside for a bit admittedly not undercover and the foxes ate the HT leads !

It makes you wonder what they put in the HT leads to make them attractive to foxes.

More seriously, don't dismiss a good used and updated older M3W, there are some good ones about and they have usually been used, not sat in a garage for most of their life. The fact that a car may be a post 2014 one doesn't mean it will be a better buy and will be fully sorted, not at all.

Interesting, never realised RTCC had dropped from the official dealer list (see https://www.morgan-motor.com/dealerships/ )...

I recommend the Peter Dron book on M3Ws. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Morgan-Wheeler-back-future/dp/1845847636

Also not so sure about having an open top car under a cover ie not in a garage. I did keep my Caterham 7 for about a year under a cover but of course that had a hood. The tonneau under a cover should work OK but not sure the damp would do much good to the car... of course in the S of France or Florida it might be a different story! I would consider paying RTCC to garage it!