Max Heim wrote:
> That's a very provocative statement. Are you suggesting that
> MG owners are tight with money? Obsessive collectors of
> junky vehicles? Or just too smart to waste the price of a car
> on a gimmicky add-on? And if you dislike all MGs except As,
> and have a problem with their owners besides, why are you
> on this list? Besides to discuss F1, of course... Oh, and
> excuse me if I'm mistaken, but I was under the impression
> you were in your twenties -- what other eras (besides the
> "modern" era) are you familiar with?
First, the reference was "modern-era MGs" meaning in this case MGBs and
Midgets. It was not a reference to the age of the owners. This is not an
age-biased discussion, I'm equally critisizing most MG owners.
Secondly, yes most MGB/Midget owners ARE cheap. These cars are by no means
necessary items now, or ever. They are luxuries. If you want to be a
tightwad go buy a Hyundai with a 10 year warranty, or for period comparison
how about a little Datsun sedan or a Fiat 500? The problem arises from the
fact that MGBs and Midgets were very popular mass produced sports cars of
the 60s and 70s. They were concieved to be the cheapest form of top down
motoring available, equitable today to a three cylinder Geo Metro
convertible. Through the years they became cheap classics, perfect for the
beginner or great to buy one more and soon have a whole fleet, or just to be
nostalgic as someone had one when they were younger.
The vast majority of MGB/Midget owners do not have thier MGBs restored
properly by a reputable restoration shop for $25k. This is where the matter
is complicated again. If an MGB was worth $25k after restoration, at least
the cost could be justified. So what happens? Mediocre cars are purchased,
half-assed repairs done, using bodged parts in an effort to achieve a nice
car worth more than what one has put into it. This is the same reason
MGB/Midget owners are so keen on used parts, CHEAP -- CHEAPER -- CHEAPEST!
Am I qualified to make these remarks? Absolutely. As an enthusiast I see
this mentality in MGB/Midget owners (and amongst the Triumph Spitfire ranks
as well). As the former employee of a medium sized British car parts
supplier and shop, I dealt with this for the better part of 6 years (mostly
through the sale of parts). As a former employee of another British car
shop, I once again whitnessed this attitude of cheapness. I'm done working
to serve your cheapness.
Do you know how many people buy used seat belts for their cars? We used to
have people sign a waiver of liability if they planned to ever drive the car
stating that the seatbelts and their mechanisms were over 20 years old and
due to fail. There are people who want to buy used brake lines! Hey but
at least those people are buying parts...
In the quest for the cheapest part, some people seem to have no qualms of
compiling a list of parts they need then calling every supplier they can
find in Hemmings... having the supplier spend their time pricing each item
on their long list, then only to have the potential customer hang up and
never to call again. Shopping around is fine, but do not waste people's
time... if you have no intention of buying say so and at least make sure you
have part numbers! I'll still dislike you for it, because you're being
cheap to get a part that is virtually the same and probably coming from
either one or two major suppliers (if you're in the USA).
I'm not dissing the drop-ship suppliers out there, that is how some of your
favourite suppliers can afford to offer parts at a 30% discount -- they do
not have a large stock on hand, they just call their wholesale rep at Moss
Motors and run down their order list and boom you have your parts in a few
days. Don't expect a supplier who maintains an extensive inventory of new,
NOS, remanufactured, and used parts to be able to match the prices of a
drop-ship supplier; so don't even bother calling them or me.
Some of you may have caught my note on the autojumble list, and I encourage
those suppliers who applauded me to speak up, but I will no longer be kind
and give the list members first crack at parts I'm selling. You people are
too cheap and not serious enough to purchase, and I have a nice little
blacklist now of people who waste my time... you do not deserve parts. So
now I am strictly eBaying my parts. Little hassle, and I have a legally
binding contract between me (the seller) and the top bidder. Those people
who are too cheap, will either not bid or will be outbid by those willing to
spend the money... the way it should be.
Now the question is bound to come up, and I see that it has, why am I still
on the list? Well because sometimes there is still content I am interested
in, and I do not mind helping out when I can either. Who was it that needed
to figure what make/model the mystery Lucas distributor fit? I typed in the
part number into my Lucas number database, and two minutes later I had the
answer for that person. Rather than having 10 list members guess what it
could fit. There are still list member's posts I enjoy reading as well,
also.
I've just noted Charley Robinson's comment about "riding" rather than
"driving"; well from the B's I have driven, I didn't like them much... the
experiences with MGB owners through work didn't help much either to make me
want to drive an MGB and be associated with that type of person.
Is the mentality I describe thoughout this message less present in the
Triumph community (sans Spitfires, and those Triumphs up to the TR7). Yes,
very much so.
To be fair, I should say the majority of the problem lies even more so with
the post BMC / Leyland merger cars. The guys with early MGBs and Midgets
are more willing to spend the money to make thier cars right, with less
concern for cost and more concern for quality and service. But there are
still those owners of early cars that want a used aluminium hood in good
condition, with good tartan red paint and expect it to match their car... oh
and for $100 too!
Is this a problem mostly in the United States? Yes, but I'm sure there are
folks overseas with similar stories but in less frequency.
I have been writing a whole series of essays on this topic, and will
continue to write them, and post them one day... but for now you'll have to
deal with this *short* reply.
> Nothing personal, but you must expect to defend yourself if you make
cracks
> like that on an MG list. Humph.
I have no problem defending myself, but I will not defend the behaviour and
mentality of the greater portion of the list(s). I have no problem openly
making everyone aware of this, even though you all know it, but refuse to
acknowledge that everything I have said is true. Think of it as
enlightenment through the usage of a big copper knockoff hammer which I'm
shamelessly hitting the list with. Those of you with thick heads, well the
hammer won't mar your skull (in other words - you won't get this entire
message anyway, or will be quick to flame me!).
I look forward to all replying in the morning to all the messages that will
flood my inbox now!
Kai
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