Lightsphere, yep, that was the one, I virtually swapped my Plus 8 with an early Aero as the owner needed the narrower sills of the Plus 8 due to knee problems. I remember driving home thinking, wow, what a car the Aero was, I fell in love instantly.
It is indeed difficult to compare the Musgrove Plus 8 I had with my Caterham, they do things differently but both are entertaining. On pure performance alone, the Caterham makes even a tuned Plus 8's performance laughable. With inboard front suspension and a 265bhp Minister built Duratec engine, it feels so powerful and agile, it's like a surgeons scalpel the way it scythes through traffic on a track day. The car performes way beyond my abilities.
The Plus 8 on the other hand took a lot more input to make it quick. You really had to concentrate to drive it quickly, it just wasn't anywhere near as predictable and controllable as the 7.
But then again, that's not what a Plus 8's really about. The 7 is great for a fast blat but to be honest, it's a pain to use on our bumpy and crowded roads and as its so extreme, you end up leaving it in the garage a lot of times where a Plus 8 would have been taken out.
The Plus 8 was a joy to own as it was so simple, you could really get to know the car and maintenance and upkeep was a joy. It was full of character and you got enjoyment in driving at normal road speeds. As a classic, it's eminently useable, whether that's to go for a Sunday drive, trip out to a restaurant in the evening, or a European driving holiday and it's that overall userbility that really appeals. Plus I love the look and the V8 burble is hard to beat.
Coincidently, I noticed that one of my old threads has been resurrected and my old Musgrove Plus 8 has just been sold. Hope the new owner is enjoying her, she was a great car.
