Hope things are well with all.Noticed Kin posted good weather tommorow for many on the site, a day to go (Mogging)?Some have asked to compare cars so lets start with this.I am curios as to how the new Maserati coupe drives, beautiful car.
Since I replaced the BMW Z8 with the Aero I will start there. The Z8 like the morgan has power to burn when dropping the clutch.The Z8 was a great looking car, much more dynamic in metal than pictures, so simular to the Aero that way.Nothing prepared me for the Aero in aluminum,stunning.
The Z8 was never a car I was overly confortable in pushing hard, the tail always felt a little loose even with electronic nannies.This comment comes from 90-100 mph track type conditions, not 65-75mph generic curves when just out driving.The aero is the car, out of three I still have, that commands my respect most,mostly because of the power to weight ratio. In fact the aero feels quicker than both my Audi r8 and C4s which has the factory horsepwer kit getting it to 385bhp.The z8 also felt quick in this regard, yet when the road mags tested the different cars, not a lot of difference performance wise in 0-60 runs.
Fit and finish on the Morgan and the Z8 are about the same, limited production cars with handbuilt qualities,some quirks here and there.The Audi and Porsche are about the same fit and finish, the Jag would finish last here, mainly do to the materials used in the end of the Ford ownership lifecycle.
The Morgan drives more like a hardened sports car than the Z8 which to me feels very simular in driving characteristics to the girlfriend's XKR which is a 2008 portfolio edition.The Z8 might drive a tad harder than the XKR, but not much.The Aero is a firmer ride with a more direct steering feel, but the Aero's steering feel is not like anything I have ever driven.To me its like you get used to the long bonnet,point it at the right of your target and it reacts quickly with precision and you power out of the corner.In some ways like carting,precise.
Porsches drive like a rear engined car, and it is amazing how electronics have changed how Porsche guys drive their cars.You can always feel the electronics when driving hard, yet you would need to do crazy things to lose it in a corner, power on all through the corner.In the Audi you feel Andretti/Shuey/Mansel/Hamilton like, easily the best handling car I have ever owned.The Audi is a Jeckyl/Hyde type car, can feel very soft but push it after you have changed the suspension settings and its like a race car. The Audi is the only car that I feel you could give another 100bhp and not get overwhelmed, its that good.
Little things before I tell you why I think the Morgan might be the most special car.The Porsche with the short shift from the factory, if a manual trans has been built better than this,I have not driven it, much better than the Audi's longer throw gated shifter.The z8 grabbed attention as does the Audi and Morgan, all about equal,yet the Morgan creates a lot of smiles,I think its about the unknown brand here in the states.The XKR gets more attention than the C4s, the new Jags are few and far between here in the states,brand has been through a lot so slow sales.Most would buy an SL here same price category,girlfriend fell in love with the XKR lines.I can relate to that I like her lines over a few others I have dated...Most folks think the XKR is an Aston and are suprised it is a Jag.
I have driven the Morgan 1000 miles now.The driving position is one that I needed to get used to,staight up 9-3 position on the wheel.Once in and your motoring you forget the driving position is different from other more generic cars.The fun facter kicks in, the point and shoot steering around curves,brings a smile,the side pipes sing and your enjoying the sensations.To me the Aero has been about the "motoring experience", the sensations you feel in your soul if you really like to take drives, just to drive.The Aero makes you want to find new routes with scenary to take your drives...You could buy more expensive vehicles, great performance,luxury, yet you might not come away with the feeling/sensations I am trying to describe.
The Aero 8 is like nothing else I have driven.The Aero is different from the Porsche/Audi/BMW experiences I have had and it reminds me of a review I read about Frank Sinatra late in his career when he was still touring.The review said somthing to the effect of/Is Sinatra the same singer he was forty years ago, not really, he's about 3/5ths.But that still makes him twice as good as the other singers out there.The review went on to talk about a fine antique how a person might value it more than somthing built today, even if there was better build quality, more convenience...
The Morgan's build quality takes a backseat to nobody if I compare the different brands I own, yet it brings the feeling of that valued antique.Facter in the fun,and this machine is a keeper.Porshe's will come and go/new models and they are special, the Audi, the it car of the moment/great investment while getting some use, long term???not sure yet. Jag's a great every day car, they come and go...Z8 sold, some regrets, but made a nice profit after 9000 miles.
Hope I have not bored folks, hopefully this post brings new conversation with some new found friends.
Ps/ ITS RAINING HERE for two days, enjoy your nice weather!
