T-Series What Would You Pay For A New China Built TF?

[jlaird]

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[PAUL161]

Well, at least one thing's certain, the copyright to MG will actually be owned by the Chinese, instead of being just blatantly copied!

Sorry for sounding nationalistic, and I'm not even partially British, but my MGC was made in Abingdon, and I can't really see shelling out that kind of money for a Chinese-made car. Too many unknowns.

And regarding the Oklahoma MG plant, a snowball in heck has a better chance! They'd be wise to buy an old Ford or GM ex-SUV plant, now that those two have finally gotten the memo that gas is above $3/gallon.

Regarding the Oklahoma proposed site, of which I know a fair amount about, knowing the actual property and it's location, the land was never purchased. The Chinese gave the people of Oklahoma a lot of false hope. Even though they shouldn't have, many people were hoping for jobs to open up in an area that certainly needs it. You don't talk about Chinese made products to a lot of Oklahoma residents anymore. Doesn't make for good conversation. Well, it never did, really, it's just worse now.

 

[PAUL161]

A retro MGB and MGB-GT would be very cool. Imagine that classic old design with modern drivetrain and a factory warranty! I just don't know how they'd do the bumpers. The classic (and most desirable) MGBs are, debatably, the CB cars. However, I think if they could do a modern offering along the theme of the RV8 the RB version would suffice. :laugh:

Shawn

Can be done! Morgan did it! These are new and can be bought in right or left drive. But, be ready to shell out big bucks!

 

[eschneider]

A retro MGB and MGB-GT would be very cool. Imagine that classic old design with modern drivetrain and a factory warranty! I just don't know how they'd do the bumpers. The classic (and most desirable) MGBs are, debatably, the CB cars. However, I think if they could do a modern offering along the theme of the RV8 the RB version would suffice. :laugh:

Shawn

Can be done! Morgan did it! These are new and can be bought in right or left drive. But, be ready to shell out big bucks!

Actually;

Morgan pulled the traditional cars from the American market, but the trad sales in non-US markets are carrying the company.

The Aero 8, while an unprecendented level of performance for Morgan, has suffered severe reliability issues. Last I heard, there had been fewer than 500 built since its inception (2002?) and the factory still had a standing recall offer to all owners.

The investment in the Aero 8 and the "Life Car" has bankrupted the company. FWIW, the old factory has been sold, although a new one is supposed to open soon.

With regard to bumpers, the bumperettes in your trad-car picture are optional euro market items that are illegal in the states. (although some did install them anyway) The US got safety bumpers with hydraulic 5 mph shock mounting.

I think Ferrari is now the only traditional name that has been granted safety standards exemption. I could be wrong.

 

[PAUL161]

So, what is the future of the New Morgans in the states? Does the future look on the dim side? Will the US regulations be an excessive cost factor for the company as it has been in the past for some other European manufactures? I remember many years ago the French Citroen, one of the smoothest riding cars and most unique suspension system, air over oil, ever built, was pulled from the American market for a similar reason.

 

[eschneider]

So, what is the future of the New Morgans in the states? Does the future look on the dim side? Will the US regulations be an excessive cost factor for the company as it has been in the past for some other European manufactures?

Candidly, MMC got fed up with the american market. Lots of sqabbling, dealers who didn't pay their bills, arguments over warranty issues..... The US market is only going to get the Aero 8 because it's failing everywhere else. Six (seven?) of the nine US dealers have bailed.

As for the fate of MMC, they (with Charles Morgan, grand-son of HFS) have denounced their bread-and-butter traditional cars as "amateurish and kit-car-like" and have decided to pursue the high-end market with the Aero and the Life car. They are still producing the traditional cars, but only because it's the only thing they're doing that's generating income.

MMC has decided to compete in the $150-$200k league. That means they're butting heads with Lambos, Ferrari, and Porsches. I think that's a tougher crowd than they are accustomed.

Editorials aside, they may not have a choice anyway. I haven't been following the story about the European and American automobile standards merging? US safety standards would not bode well for wood-framed Morgans if the European Market adopted our requirements.