When I ordered my Aero 8 three years ago I wondered about having the automatic gearbox. It had rave reviews at the time, and still does, but having had 3 traditional Plus 8s in the past (only one at a time I should add) I just felt that a manual box was the only way to stay in touch with a sports car. I took delivery of my manual Aero 8 and loved it but I kept coming across reviews of the BMW ZF 6 speed auto box, by people who clearly knew what they were talking about, which were packed with superlatives. I also read that c.80% of Aeromax/Aero 8/Aero SS cars were built with auto gear boxes. Had I made the wrong decision?

When I decided last year to sell my Aero 8 and order the new Plus 8 the gearbox question reared its challenging head. So I test drove an SS with an auto box and it was indeed the best automatic box I have ever experienced - but it was still an automatic. And having driven it I also felt that the new Plus 8 was an outright sports car and should have a manual box. So that's what I ordered.

My build start date was week 19 (w/c 7 May) so I rang last week to see how the build was going. "Not started" I was told. Evidently because they have run out of manual "tubs" as most people are ordering manual boxes.

So, change the exterior and people (so far) seem to prefer the manual box over the auto. Seems to have caught the factory by surprise and shows how difficult it is to anticipate customer preference. Quite a puzzle.

I gather my build will start on Wednesday so that'll be good!

David

If I was ordering a plus 8 I would go manual too - for me it's a Sunday morning car - an aero is a touring car more (both can obviously do both - that's just where I would judge their relative strengths)...

On another note Just saw the aero coupe advertised in C&SC at 83k, then realized it's sans vat. Phew...

What colour and spec have you chosen?

While you retain arm/leg co-ordination, stick with a stick.
Plenty of time for an auto when you start wetting the bed.

Sometimes, when buying an extra car one does not really need, making allowance so that "you can drive it as well dear, it has an auto box" helps maintain essential marital harmony. Of course, she is yet to actually get behind the wheel...

Well David there always has to be an odd ball, and with respect to what the previous replies here are i would certainly go Auto !!!! i aint 50 yet and consider myself young at heart, but after years of sticky stick shifts ( thats American int it) and the way Autos have advanced i would choose Auto every time. the one thing i am sure of is the Automotive industry has never Married a big motor to a Manual gearbox that is smooth, but one thing is for sure they have come along way with the Auto since early Borg-Warner days, LET ALL THE BULLETS FLY, i am wearing a helmet

I drove the car last week and I must say that I think the auto box is absolutely fantastic and with the tiptronic it is the best of both worlds -- you can drive it like a manual or an auto. I was much better than I thought it would be.. I would definitely order the autobox if I managed to win the lottery!!!!!

Cheers!

I'm not ready for an auto, so manual gets my vote

I have had the pleasure of driving both versions of the Plus 8 and both auto and manual boxes are great. However from a standing start, the power delivery in the manual box is instantaneous - there is no lag that you get with the auto box. This is perhaps why the car can be a bit twitchy.

Dixon-Smith always reckoned that the auto version of the Aero 8 was quicker than the original manual box. Personally I thought the auto box improved the driving experience of the Aeromax, but the Plus 8 is a much different car despite having similar tubs. Enjoy the Plus 8 whether it's manual or auto!

For my everyday car (a BMW 6-series) I chose an auto box without hesitation. But I would not want my Aero 8 (S1) with an auto box. To me, it is a question mark whether the Aero 8 is a genuine Grand Tourer or a Sunday car. I would not consider taking the S1 e.g. to the French Riviera from Scotland, though I some would. It would be extremely uncomfortable at a steady 80 mph, especially in the rain, and certainly worse than the GT competition, including my 6-series. I would assume that a similar reasoning would also apply to the new Plus 8 (cf. Chris Harris video). To me, the S1 and the Plus 8 are more like great Sunday cars than GTs and I do find it more involving to use a manual box.

But of course later versions of the Aero 8 (especially Aeromax, SS and now Coupe) might be more suited to the GT role and so better suited to a more relaxed auto box driving style.

Horses for courses?