Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Aero 8, 2012< Plus 8, SuperSports, Coupe & Aeromax Noooooooo!!!!

I'm in agreement with Viper - the Aero is the one to have. I haven't owned any of these cars, but in my day to day business get to drive pretty much everything there is.

Last week we had Andy's Aero in, this week we have an AMV8 and a F430 Spider in. I'll give you one guess as to which one I'd buy if I was given the option...

Ben

Std 996 bland....I would agree...no question but very useable.

73 Rs...now you're talking. I'll keep an eye out.

My ultimate would be 993 GT2. One day.

Ben...wise choice.

Maserati is what killed my Ferrari business. The depreciation coupled with the reliability issues was too much to handle. I hate them with a passion though I'm sure they're better these days.

Guys, I think that we are all pretty much in agreement now on this thread - how boring; consturtive dissent is always interesting! Can I summarise as follows:

Porsche - reliable, some models in the fairly recent past are boring. But all well-engineered and reliable, have also produced some truly great drivers cars.

Ferrari - again some great cars, but with many foibles (at best, unreliable and fragile at worst). Current cars now built to a much higher standard, though the marque has become devalued as it has been over-merchandised, over-produced, and consequently, they have prostituted the brand. Our local taxi firm have reliably informed us that it has become the drug-dealers car.
Speaking of which I expect to hear from BtG shortly...

Maserati - this marque has been to hell and back. It has a terrible reputation for reliability, but currently producing IMHO some cars with soul that seem better put together. I can let you know more in 12-months time.

Aero 8/Aeromax - these cars have so much going for them, reliable BMW mechanicals, great individual design, a heritage (next year is the centenary year), and by gad Sir, it's British.

What we now need to have is a meeting somewhere so that we can see Viper's interesting collection of toys, and he can drive the Maserati GT and see if it confirms his worst fears.

I hope not, as whilst I don't mind depreciation too much (but would prefer none at all) , I do hate being saddled with unreliable cars.

OK, where and when do we meet?

Brian

I think that's a great summary.

Didn't mean to dis your new pride and joy...apologies.
I'm absolutely sure Maserati has come along nicely in recent years.

You will see from my collection that there is some really strange cars in there, some really quite awefull that become even worse when you actually drive them. But that's what gives cars character. Beach Buggy is a case in point.

Wow - my unfortunate buying experience has spawned a really interesting discussion.

I am yet to own an Italian car. My current Porsches are both 968s - so much older. The cabriolet is beautiful and mint in cobalt blue with linen piped blue leather - on 64,000 miles it is the best one I could find. It is rare, utterly reliable, costs nothing to run and is probably the best looking drop-top Porsche has made in recent years.

And it is completely boring. It's the fault of the engine - smooth, torquey, tractable and with all the charisma of a washing machine.

My other 968 is a heavily tuned, supercharged ClubSport, running just ubder 420bhp. It is an animal. Given its track use application, it's engine may still be rather soulless, but it is utterly effective. The handling is simply the best I have ever encountered - and this is from an ex Caterham R400 owner.

The ClubSPort stays, the cabriolet goes as, frankly for tooling around on public roads at legal speeds, I need something with a bit more character. I love everything about the Porsche except for the engine.

The 911, post 993 series, has never really appealed - and its to do with ubiquity and clumsy, bloated looks. The only exceptions to this are the GT cars - 3, 3RS and 2. But, as I prefer drop-tops for road use (adds an extra dimension to the potter down to the shops), these are not for me.

My favourite Porsche would be the one they never made - a 993 Turbo cabriolet. A 996 Turbo cabriolet still doesn't really appeal - 996s are too common, and it still looks like a bar of soap, despite the wide rear arches.

Don't trust Maseratis after my Dad's frankly appalling, and very expensive, 4200 experience.

I am sure Ferraris are equally poor - but the 355 spyder is just an itch I have always had to scratch; but I would buy the very best I could find, with no compromises, and go into it with eyes open and a decent contingency fund.

The Morgan ticked both boxes for me - reliability and style; but the after-sales service from the factory looks to be a bit rubbish...which after my Pa's experiences with Maserati, puts me off any marque.

Love the beach buggy, Viper!

Of course, if I can find a good 60's Camaro convertible, all bets could be off. Was seriously tempted by this one...awful handling, but just so, so cool. I came to my senses and realised that I live in central London, and driving something the size of an aircraft carrier around these streets is far from sensible.

One day, when I live out of the city and have a barn, I will have one of these.

http://pistonheads.com/sales/342600.htm

Just to say, despite the huge financial cost, I still love Maserati with a passion (I am probably slightly deranged). When the 3200's V8 came on song and the turbo boost kicked in at 3000 revs it felt like being strapped to a rocket. It never failed to make me break out in a huge grin.

Ok 0-60 in it is slower (significantly) than the Aero - but the torque and the midrange in a twin turbo V8 was sheer adrenaline.

I'd still say hang in there on the Aero. It will take a few weeks to sort the roof out, but push for some kind of recompense for the delay. They are a very reasonable bunch.

Personally I'd still take it, sod the seals and drive it to Monaco. After all you only live once and you can take it straight to the factory to get it done when you get back. after all they shouldn't need your car to order / make the roof anyway.

Harry - all i'd say is mk 1 hood even with good seals you don't want to drive distance on motorways with the hood up. I'd take the car or decide between later Aero and 355/360 if that's the gist of the thread. Aero mk3 -Then you'll get better hood and later engine.
ps
Yr 968 sounds interesting, always fancied one of them big 4s (but yours has been souped with a supercharger?)

Later Aeros have a way to depreciate, and I prefer the directness of the Series 1 chassis and drivetrain; so the Series II cars onwards aren't an option.

The car I wanted is a series 1, but has the later, interim hood - so with proper rubber seals, as opposed to the Mk 1 hood which doesn't really have seals atall - just a "rain lip" as found on many classic sports cars.

355 spyder is the real option as I won't be stretching to a 360 Spyder, and definitely want a convertible for road use.

Both my 968s are objectively great cars. And while the engine in the convertible is great for a four cylinder (I far prefer it to the S2000's unit, for example - the Honda engine is superb engineering, but having something that is only any fun at all above 6000rpm is tiring and pointless on public roads), it is still pretty anodyne. Effective, punchy, reliable and smooth - but not exciting.

The supercharged car is a different thing entirely. Dominated by supercharger whine and a virtually straight though exhaust with sports cat. With no sound deadening it's a brutal and mechanical noise, and not at all pretty - but the sheer pace of the thing makes it worth it.

Hmm I've driven mine through torrential rain in germay for several hours, and ok I got the odd drip but nothing terrible. (Mine has original S1 hood).

I'm sure if I cared enough, I could get the seals beefed up a bit by a workshop somewhere, but to be honest it's not an issue really for me. If it was parked outside a simple 'shower cover' would be fine to keep the water out. Iv'e got a full car cover for it too while it's in the garage - but thats to keep the dust off not to keep the water out!

From what I'm hearing the later hoods are easier to put up and down, but seem to leak more than the original. (which I still think looks nicer...) Certainly my seals are 5 years old, and I put the hood up and down just about every time I drive it.

I'll be heading down to devon in it tomorrow night into the face of some pretty bad weather and it's not bothering me thinking about it!