Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Three Wheeler & Super 3 First Time M3W Buyer: Advise?

I have been looking at M3W for several years. I almost bought a '12 base model last year but decided to wait. I am likely in a position to get one next month and have a few choices. I am interested in your thoughts.

I will not drive it daily but I don't want a garage queen either. I will drive it 10 to 20 miles per month in Jacksonville, FL. Traffic is not heavy. We are hot but I doubt I will drive often in the heat of summer due to heat and PM thundershowers.

I don't regard this as an investment but I want something that will hold it's value.

I will likely do most of the maintenance myself. I have worked on Britsh cars, MGs and Triumphs, for 40 years. I am not a mechanic but I can get most jobs done.

Options today include

2012 Base with shark's mouth and a few upgrades (1000 miles)
2013 Base (7000 miles)
2014 Brooklands (Stainless Steel and likely my favourite but pricey)
2020 Heritage. (beautiful car but pricey)

The dealer are being great. I'd just like to a hear more voices given this will be my first Morgan.

If you have time, input on financing and insurance would be nice. I ma prepared to put 40% to 50% down regardless of choice.

Thank you!

Hello and welcome,

I would read this guide if you haven't already:

https://www.mtwc.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Final-150.pdf

Morgans tend to choose their owners rather than other way round, sitting in the various options and driving them will tell you which one you want!!!! TM is full of advise and opinion the best way to search is to Google your question such as: M3W Insurance and you will most likely be taken to the relevant thread.

Good Luck.

Hello Kent, welcome to the forum 😀

There is a very useful buyers guide available in the Morgan 3 Wheeler Club website, link below;

https://www.mtwc.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Final-150.pdf

Oops, looks like Britmog, just beat me to it 🤓

If it was me, I would go with the later model rather than an earlier one as they had a number of issues (which can be fixed but with a later model shouldn’t arise in the first place). I had a 2013, which was very unreliable and not good at all. I sold it when I moved abroad and then bought a 2017 one, when I returned. That has proved much more reliable and I have done almost 18,000 miles in it. If you have the readies, I would suggest going for the 2020 model.

in your heat make sure you get one with the urban cooling fan. But as already mentioned the guide will be invaluable. There are several important upgrades on the newer vs older models.

The past couple of years I attended some conferences out on Amelia Island near you

I had a 2013 M3W with most of the upgrades.
I gave her away as less reliable than I expected.
In any case I would prefer a 10.000miles car to a garage queen where nothing had been sorted.

Welcome to TM! As a new-ish owner of a 2013 M3W..... I say go with the 2014 or the 2020. Time and money can fix *most* of the 2012 and 2013 car problems... but why bother if the later cars are not a huge step up financially?

Also - how many M3Ws have you viewed and driven? The more the better, honestly. Lots of members here are more than welcome to show their car to people thinking about taking the plunge to three wheels. Any M3W owners in the Jacksonville area?

On insurance, I called around to a bunch of carriers and got quotes. By far the cheapest was Farmers Insurance. Many of the carriers flat out refused to insure an M3W because it is not in their database.

I'm in the U.S. with a limited mileage insurance policy (<7500/yr) from Hagerty which is very reasonable, but then I have 6 cars insured through them which would have a positive effect on my rates.

I got exhibition insurance from my carrier. A couple of caveats. Less than 5,000 miles a year and must be garaged. Only costs $ 285 a year. Quite a deal.