Nice commentary on the positives and negatives. How big was the smile at the end is my question? mild, big, jaw aching ?

As far as high seats are concerned, please note Charles Neal's comments in his road test in Miscellany (the MSCC journal) "determined by homologation rules for sight lines" - in the main for forward view.

I'd missed that, thanks Graham ! For me I just don't feel comfortable in the PlusSix seats compared to my Roadster

Test drive today with KH. Unfortunately still on trade plates so Dan sat in with me for necessarily shortish drive. Longer one promised later.

Don't want to repeat too much of what has been said already. Also my views are based on stepping straight out of a one year old Roadster. Yes it steers and handles effortlessly around corners with a more wheel feedback than my Roadster, also with electric assistance. No discernable rattles and a smooth ride over bumpy roads very much unlike my Roadster. The higher seat height which I noticed immediately on sitting in one several weeks ago, is soon forgotten. Seats themselves have firmer squabs suggesting longer distances could be covered in comfort. I found the rearmost position of seatback was right for me although leaving nothing in reserve. Exiting was easier than my Roadster, but with the seat set for my average length legs, not exceptionally so. That might be a reflection on my ageing body though

Spent some time fiddling with all the auto transmission options on 8 speed box. The manual mode when selected whilst underway drops a gear or two and then will hold that gear up to the red line before changing up, or sooner when you command an upward change via flappy paddle or gearstick. Downward changes initiate auto throttle blip. A double click on downshift paddle drops two gears for quicker engine braking. The Sport mode button offers a lower gear for more immediate acceleration, it also magnifies throttle pedal position, effectively making it even more responsive. Apparently the car learns your driving syle over time and tailors shifts accordingly, presumably in plain Drive mode. In this mode kickdown works well and smoothly, and I imagine for a lot of owners using the car on the road this will be the mode of choice. The gear changes are far quicker than I could ever manage with a manual box and having eight of them gives smooth and rapid progress up to any desired speed. Performance in any mode is phenomenal although frenetic at higher revs and in manual mode.

Now the negatives for me. The engine note with standard exhaust lacks character and as already mentioned is frenetic rather than exciting at higher revs. Clearly it was never going to match the soundtrack of a V8 but suffice to say it brought a new respect for the V6 note of my Roadster, especially when booting it. There is some popping on the overrun at low revs but this is very muffled by that rear lateral silencer. Towards the end of my test I also noted an annoying note from the exhaust system when pootling along. Similar on my Roadster but for the fact it's a quieter, more pleasant, less intrusive sound.

Other observations, the audio system has flying lead jack input for sound streaming. How much would it have cost to include a pre-installed Bluetooth adaptor, although they are available for a few £'s. The very necessary digital speed readout in front of you (as Speedo numbers are tiny) cannot be seen at all with polarising sunglasses.

All this has given me an appetite to try an Aero chassied Plus 8 now though