Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Aero 8, 2012< Plus 8, SuperSports, Coupe & Aeromax Thoughts on the S3 - from an S1 owner

Before I got the aero I used to have an 1959 Jaguar xk150 and would read and hear about the relative merits of the xk120 over the xk140 and the xk150. But the overall conclusion was they were all bloody good cars for the day.

I had someone moan at me once that my car had the wrong rear lights fitted only for him to find me an hour later at a show with the factory records and tell me what week it was made as they had run out of lights and used those off the xk140.

I see a similar theme developing here and in 30 years time someone will be trying to second guess why the factory used a different door handle.

Looking at the photograph posted from the weekend what I see is some very classy machinery, its just a pity that they are not appreciated enough. But then again that may spoil the appeal.

Hi Rich

I concur with your 'form over function' comments on the look of the S1 compared to S2 or S3, and thus have chosen 'function over form' in buying my S2. Oh and side-pipes and I also like the original lights for much the same reason AND that they were what people talked about so much. Especially now they are xenon

However, I must pick you up on the hood, whilst I accept that the S1 does pack away lower, I an 5'10" always use my rear view mirror with no obstruction of view whatsover, even though the rvm is too low on the windscreen in my opinion as it sometimes obscures my view of the front offside wing.

BtG

I am wearing orthopeadic shoes then boshly!

When incorrectly stowed*, the S1 roof obsucres the rear view completely - meaning that bobbing up and down is the only way to see out the back. It didn't bother me that much on the basis that I was therefore ddetermined (for reasons of safetly) not to have to worry about being overtaken.

since learning the black art of packing the original S1 hood though, the visibility is second to none. Good to hear that the S2/3 doesn't obsure vision - have to say from the outside it looks like it must be a close run thing though - but obviously morgan have done their sums right in this regard

HAv eto say I still prefer the S1 look with the hood down, but it's a personal thing, and the convenience of being able to raise / lower the hood so fast is a real bonus for general usage..

*(ie the way I was doing it for at least a year after buying because nobody had pointed out how to stow the roof - least of all the factory manual which is useless in this regard despite the pictures - which show very little!)

I was also interested by this comment but Andy beat me to the post.

Rich, we're similar in height and yet I found the S1 I drove suffered from worse rear vision (with the top down) than the S3 (which truth be told made me do the 'merecat' as you perfectly named it! ). All I can assume is that the S1 I drove had one of the revised roofs and the seats were lower (iirc MMC changed the S1 roof very quickly and there are numerous revisions (3-4 on the S1 again iirc)).

This then moves onto John's comment which a very valid one - the S1 and early-S2 were really works in progress. I do not mean the cars were unfinished or lacking anything, because they are excellent vehicles, but rather because MMC kept changing the trim and certain minor aspects of the car (for the main this ended when the S2 entered full production).

For instance, as I stated above - I believe there are 3 or 4 versions of the original hood (each one made to make the hood easier to use, more water tight and afford less wind buffeting). Another example is the door panels - find 2 S1s and I'd be surprised if the door trim was the same. Again, I am not sure of the revisions but I have seen at least 3 versions - each allowing more or less elbow room (this was then addressed with the S2 and the 6" extra cabin width). The third example will throw people like John's 'light-bulb-guy' really off - the one-offs!

Take a look at Boshly's car and he has small air vents on the door (he is especially proud of these and always polishing them). I believe his car is one of the few to have these - perhaps the only one?

What does this all mean? Nothing other than MMC have the desire to refine and make their vehicles the best they can be. As with all change, some will be an improvement and some will be less effective. To my mind all the Aero 8s are great cars and the minor differences only endears me to all of them.

In a perfect world I'd have an S1, GTN, S2 and S3 in the garage (oh and a 100th Anniversary ...I'm still hoping!) but as I, and I'm sure most of us!, can't justify or afford that, we end up with the car that speaks most to us at the time of purchase. As a daily driver, the S3 is hard to beat. As a racer for the road, the S1 would be the choice. As a rare and wonderful track tool, the GTN is where to put your money. And the S2 is a nice blend of 1 and 3.

All great and all share the same core value - passion for motoring and sense of occasion.

hi Simon!

you're bang on the money with the roof observation - the S1 has indeed had at LEAST 3 different roof styles created for it.

the original roof, (the one still on my car) will (with careful usef of magic) stow very neatly foldded in on itself - creating a completely flat rear deck behind the seats. Even with no tonneau it looks neat.

This roff, despite being cosmetically great, is less than practical to put up and ddown, requiring a couple of minutes fiddling.

Additionally, it doesn't necessarily fit very snugly - and can leak, it can be more or less hassle dependding on the individdual car and the exact fit of the hood.

Dealers offered owners a free upgrade to the Mk II hood where requested. This is a concertina hood that stacks ont eh rear deck.

Issues with this hood were also prevalent it seems that lead to the Mk II hood being made available - which is the style seen on the SII I believe, then an evolution of this (I guess?) for the S3.

The general nature of S1's means that they are pretty bespoke items - I've seen various door layouts with and without window switches, and various trims. Thats part of the fun of owning an Aero though - the individual nature of it as a one off creation of the Malvern Factory

In terms of S1 / S3 - the S3 is certainly more livable day to day and has the power, the sound, and the overall togetherness that makes the car the serious proposition it should be for Aston / Ferrari buyers.

The S1 was never realistically competing in that market - it was up against the TVR Tamora and the Marcos. The Morgan is better put together than either, but doesn't have the consistent finish that the S3 has. On the other hand the stripped out racer for the road feeling, low loud and unfitered makes it an electric proposition for a weekend car

May I ask, what is the magic of folding the S1 hood flat? I've owned my Aero for 6 months now and still can't manage it.

Folding the hood on the series 1: i was shown by mr tony - its magic and so when i tried it - i didnt have the magic. I have now reverted to my shoddy way of arranging the hood so it looks about right. Mind you when i do it shoddily i can see over it and when its done magically i cant see. A moral in this somewhere...?

Magicians never prosper?

We need some pics.... when I get time or... Rich??

I can oblige - possibly this weekend. The mr_tony guid to folding down the roof on an S1 so it looks cool and you don't ahve to 'do a meercat' to see out the back.

Biggest advantage of the correct way of doing things, is that you don't get a slab of 2x4 flapping around your head at an indicated 140mph (Happened to me on an autobahn in germany - it focusses your mind somewhat I can say!).

Best solution are the staps (allon and white I think) or a tonneau more elegant, but takes up bootspace. I currently wedge mine once it's folded down with a bag behind the drivers headrest.