Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Aero 8, 2012< Plus 8, SuperSports, Coupe & Aeromax Aero 8 S5 Test Drive

Aero +8 and M3W Brooklands is what i did, Peter, and i think it's the perfect combination. Like you, i was not bowled over with the S5 vs the +8 and I would rather have the two - though the sound of the Brooklands exhausts means the EV3 wouldn't get a look in here!

Miserable old toads

I'd be gutted if I had one on it's way and read this.

Horses for courses I guess but I think the new car is awesome in virtually all respects

I had one of the early aero plus 8s and number of people were were sniffy about it. Plus 8s now seem to be more in vouge. Funny how times change.
But for me the issues with the S5 are more to do with the low quality interior spec vs the high price when compared to other interesting cars available.

I had a look at all the S5's that were at Blenheim Palace today and I agree that its the inside of the car that lets it down and in particular the 1970's style carpet that someone rightly commented on. Also,the painted dash does seem a bit "cheap". It seems that there are no hardtops available yet as there is still some "additional design" work to carry out on it. When you looked at that SS for sale at £99k I know which I would go for - proceeds permitting !!The light blue colour of the Newtown demo looked the nicest to me.
T

It was a nice colour that blue

I think that the 70's interior styling is a nod to late 60's-early 70's 911's.
When we did the TM factory earlier in the year I had a drive in the factory white car with the guy who designed it.

I commented on the the door cards and carpet and it's '911 ness' and he said the inspiration came from there.
The pull handle is also hugely quicker and cheaper to make than whittling a piece of wood to do the same job. It's seat belt wrapped in leather.

The prices are high when compared to other 'interesting cars'. I think that, as with all Morgans, you either get it or you don't.

The factory have apparently done more development on the new Aero than any other car, although I'm not sure that says a lot as they've probably done next to no development work on any of the cars!!

Who'd spend £100k and not get a new 911?

When developing a new propduct, the secret of business success is to take manufacturing cost out but still give the customer a better product.
The S5 suspension is an example of getting it right. In my opinion, the S5 interior is not a good example. Time will tell.

At least 100-customers on the waiting list and no doubt there'll be more. Whilst Porkers can make great daily drivers, they are a bit too anodyne these days to be 'special' cars as they lack character. This does not stop us buying them, but it is horses for courses imho.

It's interesting to read Peter's impressions - he's had far more time in Morgans than I have.

& I had the Williams demonstrator for the weekend, and did a couple of hundred miles in it.

Yup, the air con needs recharging.
This car is chassis #5, and was built in Dec/Jan. I guess it's then sat around waiting for the dealer driveaway, and then hasn't had much call to blow cold air on short test drives + our recent "summer" weather.

The audio isn't quite *there* yet.
There's 4 speakers - two behind, and two in the doors.
Taller people (that's me!) can hear the door speakers, but not the behind ones.
Less-tall folk get the base sounds from the behind speakers, but not the mid & treble from the doors.
At the very least, it needs a front/rear balance control.

Interiors are a matter of taste.
Last week there was a car at the factory in a beautiful & different colour scheme - duck egg blue + camel leather, and non-airbag chrome steering wheel. The whole concept gave a 60's vibe, and worked.

I'd expect some owners may want to personalise their interior, to lift it from the factory spec... I guess Morgan owners are a breed more likely to do that than others.

+ I had several plays with the roof - raising and lowering, solo & with help. It's a very straightforward sequence of steps, and quite quick once you know the dance.
Yesterday at Blenheim I watched a trad owner wrangling their trunk onto its rack - I'm sure that took longer ;-)

& all the other good things that you'd expect an Aero to do?
Yes, it does those with aplomb.
70 mph is a very relaxed cruise... a couple of paddle flips unleashes serious noise & acceleration... handling & braking are far in excess of what should ever be needed on public roads.

And there's smiles, waves, jaws do drop, fingers point and heads turn as the car passes by...

I would love to be in a position to even consider owning one.

I think I could live with upspeccing the trim detail at a later date.

Very envious of those who do get to own one.