For anyone who has ever contemplated selling their Plus 8, or other Trad Morgan to get an Aero 8, here's my honest impression of the two cars 6 weeks into Aero ownership.
As some of you may know, I've recently gone from a 1988 Plus 8 with quite a lot of decent upgrades to a fairly well cared for Series 1 Aero, so this comparison is based on those two specific cars and may not be relevant to later models.
One of the most important factors of car ownership for me is how they make you feel. Although I admire many cars, very few make me REALLY want to own them. Whilst I really liked the look of the Plus 8 from a classic car point of view, the Aero excited me more just by its sheer presence. Just standing next to a Series 1 made me want to buy one, the lines are classic yet modern somehow and they manage to combine both the promise of supercar performance as well as pride in owning a genuine classic that you want to pamper.
I know it's a personal thing but the Aero Series 1 is an achingly beautiful car to look at and the profile seems to be more admired now than when it was new.
So, how do they compare as far as driving is concerned? Well, without doubt the Aero is in a different league in terms of capability, comfort, ride quality and long distance touring ability. Its modern suspension and drive train make it far more like a modern Aston or a Jag to drive than a 60's designed classic. It is also an excellent driver’s car, rewarding a good driver and giving lots of feedback and involvement. It seems to handle much better than the Plus 8 and is far more sure footed through the corners.
But perhaps that's only half the story. To be fair to the Plus 8, although the ride quality was and always will be poor compared to the Aero, the handling was actually very good and pretty predictable. I somehow felt more confident that I could drive the Plus 8 to the extreme and always felt in control. The Aero does everything at a much higher speed and I feel less confident that I can take it to the limit of its handling, but maybe I'm just not that used to it yet.
Another key factor to ownership for many is the ability to tinker! The Plus 8 is perfect for this as everything is simple and there’s no job that a competent DIY mechanic couldn’t attempt with ease. I slept sound in the knowledge that if anything were to go wrong with my Plus 8, I could either fix it myself or if it needed professional care, it wouldn’t break the bank.
The Aero is the polar opposite and even really simple things like wheel removal are a nightmare. The centre lock nuts seize on and due to the flat ally underside, it is not recommended that a normal jack is used to lift the car. In addition to this, some parts are very expensive and labour intensive to fit, so service and maintenance costs are much higher than a Trad Morgan and need to be taken into account.
I’m not confident in its reliability yet. Just a day into ownership the car failed to start. I since found out (thanks to TM!) that the starter circuit fuse rating is too low and a simple upgrade to a 30amp item resolved this frequent issue. Two weeks later, I discover a cracked wheel! £700 to replace and I can’t even get the wheels off myself. So we’ll see how the reliability in general pans out but at the moment, that’s my biggest concern.
Having said that, the BMW engine and gearbox are an unbeatable combination in an Aero and by all accounts fairly bullet proof..
Despite having owned E Types, Cobra’s, JPE Caterhams, Lotus Esprits etc, nothing attracts attention like the Aero does and that was a real surprise. Most people acknowledge the fact that it’s a Morgan but people of all ages seem to admire the lines and that never happened in the Plus 8, quite strange really.
So the Aero is a great driver’s car, it’s quick, handles well and is very capable, stunning to look at and won’t fatigue you and your passenger on a long run like a Plus 8 might. It is without doubt a highly underrated car waiting to be discovered by many. But it’s a car that needs professional care and needs to be treated like a modern sophisticated niche car rather than a traditional classic. I love my Aero but it worries me.....
The Plus 8 is a different car altogether and whilst it can’t hold a candle to the performance and ride quality of an Aero, it’s probably an easier car to live with in the long term. Horses for courses as they say!
Do I miss my Plus 8? Yes.
Do I regret selling it? Possibly
Would I swap the Aero for one again? Not at the moment..
Last edited by Culminator; 23/08/11 04:30 PM.
