Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Three Wheeler & Super 3 Morgan Threewheeler - Mine is almost ready...

Well gents, in the interests of fair play and even- handedness, I took yet another M3W test drive today at a well established dealer
I still remain to be convinced. Poor finish, the drive train link to the gear box was about as smooth as an earthquake and I don't expect pop rivets on a car retailing at that price.
Still, if Champagne Charlie finished the Gumball who am I to demur!
Wish you all well but I still wouldn't touch one with a barge pole

regards as always
G
PS my only excuse is, having read the blurb in the latest "Miscellany" about the Oak Racing Morgan, I'm wondering how much worse things can get. Credibility? I don't think so.

Haters gunna' hate

Gerwyn,
I think you need a cold bath to cool down!!! Why does"Champagne" Charlie upset you so???? You'll compromise your recovery from surgery if you're not careful!!!!! Just accept that a lot of people like the M3W - it's not for you but it is a personal choice, not one for stress induced heart failure!!!!

Best of luck with the knee - the pain killers will help!!!!

Cheers!

Thanks Robbie, On reflection I think I now have got to accept that the fact that the concept of the re-introduced M£W is a brilliant bit of marketing ( and I do- unreservedly) far outweights my own reservations about build quality, enough R & D etc
I suspect that what is really getting to me is the qhole feeling that the way the cars are coming on strem is abit knee jerk. I'm not jus referring to the M3W here but the whole 'saga' of what happened with the Aeros, the introduction of the 'Sport' range across the different models and now the Plus 8

To me it smacks too much of 'well, we've got a few of those left let's see how we can use them'

Ok I know that this is nothing new for Morgan in historical terms but in this case I do think it has led to serious quality issues which will hurt the company in the long term

I hope I'm wrong
regards
G

I can see what G. is getting at, but I tend to think that all of that, is a result of MMC being a small company, and reacting to market conditions rather being proactive.

The M3W is a classic case, Apparently CM didn't want a 3 wheeler at all, but was persuaded by the 'younger' members of the company, and as a result has been more than a little surprised by the take up. I think it just happens to be the right time for this sort of car, I hate to say it, but more luck than judgement. Maybe it's the same with the other models, I don't know much about them.

As far as the three wheeler development is concerned, I understand that the R&D boys [whoever they are] are working 'flat out' to reduce the weight, to comply with relevant three wheeler legislation, and I guess in doing so will more properly develop the car.

In the meantime, I believe that customers know what they are getting, by and large, but want the car now, not in a years time. Sounds OK to me!

I suspect Paul, that the real boss pushed the Three Wheeler through....the profit margins on it must be far better than the other models.

Indeed Paul. The M3W is certainly not a car that will appeal to everybody, but it certainly broadens the spectrum of potential Morgan buyers - which has to be a good thing. The french Morgan dealer told me that as well as buyers from Morgan's natural constituency, more than half of the orders they have taken for the 3 wheeler have come from a new and different clientèle - many of whom are younger than the traditional Morgan buyer, and many who are motorcycle enthusiast buying a fun car for the first time.

As to the pricing - the large number of orders show that the price is not dissuading customers; ergo it isn't wrong. Remember that in small volume production the development costs par unit in the very nature of things are going to be higher. I don't find the price excessive for what is a hand built, low volume sports car, nor do I agree that the quality is unsatisfactory for this segment of the market.

IMHO MMC are to be applauded for having the courage to produce this vehicle, and in so doing have created jobs and export volume, and contrary to Gerwyn's assertion that the model will cause Morgan long term damage; I would suggest it will help to secure Morgan's success into the future.

Personally I think Morgan has to be careful with this "new clientele". I count myself amongst this group, and once the initial excitement wore off, I've been left feeling a bit ignored. Sure, all these positive press reports are great. But personally, I haven't heard a thing from my dealer or MMC since placing my order six months ago. Nothing. Not even a thank you for the deposit. Do you think I'll get a card at Christmas? Or will the first contact be when my car is scheduled to be built in 2013?

Of course, I've come to realise that Morgan are "different". I've even enjoyed finding out a bit more about the brand (through my own effort, I might add). But still, this new clientele comes with different expectations. We're prepared to wait. We're prepared to pay. But we need to be managed, and to be made to feel special. At the moment I feel like MMC doesn't even know I exist.

Phew, been wanting to get that off my chest for a while...

Interestingly, I have heard a lot of talk about the new YOUNG Morgan buyers, though I am not sure how young, young is, it seems to me that youngsters, say those in their 30's at least, and even early 40's will not be able to afford the car, they have too many other commitments, the only people with the spare cash for a toy are those, like myself whose mortgages are paid off, children long ago flown and who want a bit of fun out of life before the grim reaper makes a call.

I have to agree about the car introducing new members into the Morgan flock, certainly from my own personal experience, I can see this happening. I have never had a Morgan before, although have always had a hankering from a young age, but went down the old MG route for the first 25 years instead, then from 1985 discovered Caterham Sevens, and have had one in my garage ever since [different ones over the years], but there is something about minimilist motoring, especially in this day and age of vehicle sophistication, and you really can't get more minimal tha an M3W, not even a Caterham Seven. The fact that Morgan are doing it, certainly trumps the likes of Triking and Grinnal and the rest, no matter how good they are, and I understand that Triking in particular, are very good, as G has already stated.

Luckily, making a fair profit isn't illegal, nor is it a dirty word, or shouldn't be at least, it makes the world go around. To be honest, if they had priced the M3W at more than £30k, I could not have justified buying one, either to my wife or, just as importantly, myself, so they hit the price point dead on. I suspect many other new buyers feel the same, [and, by the way, why aren't they all on TM?]

I wondered the same thing of the "young" Morgan buyers as I cant imagine many "young people" I myself being included can afford the entrance fee. If I were to get a M3W at this point it would have to be my only car as that is all that I could justify at this point in my life as far as expenditures.

I currently instead am driving a Mazda Miata as its within the pricepoint of the truly "young buyers". If i had the option to buy a M3W I would immediately. I dont fault Morgan for the pricepoint they are selling the M3W at, but only to say it really does eliminate much of the "young" crowd.

My only hope is to be able to pick up a used one on the market in the next couple of years while I am still single and without children.