Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Three Wheeler & Super 3 Am I biting off more than I should chew?

The plan is this Saturday I take a train to Exeter to see the chaps at Berrybrook Morgan to collect a new to me 2012 three wheeler. Never had any Morgan before. Then to drive it back with my teenage daughter in the passenger seat home on the Hampshire Surrey borders. Now the forecast does not look great and it is about 150 miles which normally I would do on the motorways. Is this overly ambitious as a first drive? The alternative would be to either delay for better weather or trailer it here.

We have motorcyle rain suits, crash helmets and gloves available. Whilst not period, I also have goggles as an alternative to helmets too. Happy to take down to use as needed but if not needed does a M3W have any storage space for this if not used? Our car has a boot rack.

Is it fair to expect the car to mechanically make this trip in potential rain without issue? When searching the net you tend to find more negative stories than positive ones! Fully mechanically minded but would prefer not to have to start tinkering with the car before I even got it home!

All opinions wlecome!

In the wet helmets and motorcycle gear are the way to go. Rain should not increase the likelihood of any mechanical issues. I have driven my M3W over 30,000 miles some in monsoon like rain, whilst I wouldn't call it pleasurable it is doable.

If you do drive it in heavy rain, remove the seat squabs afterwards to dry as they will have likely got wet both top and bottom, also extend the seatbelts and hook over wing mirrors to dry.

Personally I would try and avoid the motorways as best you can...

A) because if its heavy rain, spray makes YOUR visibility less to other drivers....

B) the normal trough's and humps in the surface caused by HGV's makes the M3W a bit skittish.....and the occasional river running across the carriageway a bit scary at 60/70mph....(and if you drop below 60 then your in HGV territory...)

Helmets are difficult to store especially when 2 up....

No additional mechanical problems should occur due to rain, especially when its just been collected from a dealer who one would hope had checked the car over first?

I would take the A303 rather than M5 M4 although its nearly a motorway You could stop off at the Haynes Motor Museum for a break. Maybe a bit of M3 or A30 at the end depending on where you ending up...
I suspect the A30 etc would be too slow, and you dont want to be sightseeing on a delivery journey!
Ensure you have a recovery service just in case and of course a backup battery for your phone(s) - that is just being an eeyoye but good for Murphys Law avoidance. Keep a small towel or cloth in the car for wiping your helmet visor / goggles / aeroscreens / windscreen. Golf brolly in case you get stuck in a jam somewhere (will fit in the passenger footwell). Ear plugs maybe. Agree a hand signal protocol with your passenger. Enjoy (and welcome!).

I have driven many miles on both motorways and A roads, in good and bad weather.
In general for long distances I prefer motorway driving.
Driving defensively and keeping up with the main traffic flow I feel safer on motorways than A roads where just about anything can happen at any time.
The main thing is do what feels safe for you !

On any road while moving MOST rain just goes over the top - its when you slow down you really get wet and can be painful without a helmet.
AWAYS wear goggles - you do not want an insect hit at any speed.
On long trips I always wear gauntlet gloves - the wind shooting up your right sleeve ( which will probably be exposed) becomes annoying after a while.

I'm not an M3W person but I will make one observation if I may, it being that Calum he of lovely pictures, many miles and Portugal Hill Climb fame got caught out in the wet on a busy Scottish highway when the rear wheel let go and he was a passenger after that fortunately he was uninjured but the car was a rebuild job.

Go safely and enjoy the journey and adventures.

I have zero M3W experience. I did pick up the new to me and restored 86 +8 in February 2002 with a 300 mile plus trip North ahead of me and where cold and rain were guaranteed... I had never driven a Morgan until that day..!

When I asked Kevin (the restorer) about fitting the hood, he suggested something along the lines that it was not the done thing..! Oh well in at the deep end..However as a m/cyclist I was well prepared, thermals, wax jacket and woolly bunnet..

Given Kevin`s quality of work I reckoned that this Morgan would be turned as good if not better out better than if it was supplied new from MMC. I would hope that your supplying dealer should well know any and all of the usual Morgan foibles, and insured as best they can that your "new" M3W will provide you with many a happy mile..

I agree, the main concern to me when driving in heavy rain is rear wheel aquaplaning. It's hard to explain unless you've experienced it but basically you are just a passenger when it occurs. A newish rear tyre with good water shifting properties will help but not eliminate the problem.

Having said that, my first trip in my 2012 car was 170 miles from the New Forest (where the seller lived) to my home in Leicestershire. It did stay dry and I had Mrs Bunny in a support car but in the event it was a trouble-free trip.

Another vote for using the A30/A303.

It is so much more intersting than the M5/M4 route, plenty of places to stop and shelter, nicer things to see (assuming they are visible!) and an altogether more relaxed feel the trip.

We all wish you many safe and happy miles in your new MTW.

As it will be your first drive ( apart from any test drives) then avoid the motorways. A/B roads will let you familiarise yourself anD adapt to the car. You will enjoy the driving more. GOOD wet weather gear is a must. Helmet and visor or goggles.
Make the journey as enjoyable as you can ( weather dependant) with comfort breaks.
When I drove home from Allon White after picking up my car there I went on a scenic route home to West Wales. Turned it into an 8 hour cross country trip with a couple of short stops. A 4/4 not an M3W though and weather was good.