Folks,
I normally live in the 3Wheeler forum, but have slipped over here to ask about 'real' life with an Aero 8. Rightly or wrongly I'm being drawn as if by some higher force to an Aero 8 and I foolishly drove a demo car at Bell & Colvill last week, just to see what they're like. It was a manual, with A/C and Side Exit Exhausts. On a sunny Saturday morning it was utterly fabulous...
... we have a few cars in the stable, but our 'posh' long distance car is a last shape SLK55 AMG, with the 430bhp 5.5 litre V8. It is very nice to drive, relatively practical (until the boot is mostly filled with the folding roof) and tolerably economic, as it can do an easy 30mpg when it runs on 4 cylinders on a run etc. However it's not exactly a looker and I am becoming worryingly subsumed by all things Morgan right now and am considering a change to the Aero.
Were I to take the plunge for an Aero 8, it's the Series 5 that I'd need, if only for the looks. I'd have to move the SLK on and one other car, meaning that the Aero would be the 'comfy' car for going places with Mrs R1NGA (who also has an S2000, so is used to a 'compact' interior, noisy roof and small boot, but also something that NEVER goes wrong - 120,000 miles and it blew a tail light bulb in 2010. That's it)
- The boot in the Aero is bigger than the SLK when the metal roof is folded, so I could probably live with that.
- The interior is a little more snug, but not hugely - the biggest difference being the proximity of the more upright windscreen in the Aero v's the SLK.
- The Aero should be at least as quick at the SLK, which is a good thing, and from the short test drive, the ride and handling of the Morgan feel pretty good to me. I know it doesn't have ESP or Traction Control, but then I drive a tweaked M3W, so not too fussed about that sort of omission to be honest.
- I tried the Aero roof up briefly and this felt like a pretty well fitting, neat roof solution. True it's a bit of a faff to put up and down, but I have a Renault Spider too and that has only a pram roof that is an arse in every way to use. Will it leak like a sieve or could you realistically leave it out overnight and not find it full of water the next day?
- I'd not use it for everyday commuting (have a Panda 4x4 for that job), but would want to be able to jump in it whenever I felt like it, without worrying about whether or not I'd make it to my destination (which is an ever-present concern with the tricycle)?
I'd need to buy secondhand too, but right now there aren't that many around and I'd need to sell at least one of the cars first, unless I could find a stash down the side of the sofa somewhere....
And what about WAF? Wife Acceptance Factor is important, as the M3W has precisely ZERO on that front right now, after 5 years of reluctant passengering and our very wet trip to Switzerland last summer in the pi55ing rain and sleet for a solid 4 days whilse in the Eiger. The fact that I am willing to sell the 3W will itself earn me credit, but this might be undone by the prospect of another Morgan, hence my question.
I've been through the forum chat thus far and can see that there is still much traditional Morgan 'attitude and behaviour' in the car, so I am going in with my eyes open, but right this minute I am convincing myself that this is fundamentally a well engineered, high tech, modern car under a trad body and touchy-feely bits. So that makes it fun, reliable, fast and utterly English and something I should buy to use as often as I want. Maybe.
Am I deluded or does my idea have some mielage would you say folks? All and any views very gratefully received!
Thank you for listening
