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

Has anyone got a new Aero 8 that would like to comment on how it is?

I picked mine up yesterday and I've covered 200 miles in it today. I previously had an Aero 8 S3.

Here are my observations so far;

1. The ride is much more composed than the S3. The car rides bumps/pot holes in the road far better than the S3. The ride is smoother and the handling, particularly on twisty roads, has really advanced.

2. The cockpit is tighter than the S3. I put this down to two modifications, one, the seats are not able to move as far back due to the positioning of the fuel tank (I think this applies from the S4 onwards). The fitted doors narrow the cockpit slightly.

3. I like the hood. I know some think this it a retrograde step but hood off the lines of the car look fantastic and it stows away in a separate section behind the seats. The removable frames will in my view help to make this one of the most water tight Morgans.

4. Wind noise at speed is up on the S3. I put that down to no lining inside the hood. BUT......it's a Morgan.....what else you gonna do......listen to the radio!!!

5. I wanted the rear sports exhaust but was not able to have it without the sports pack (red brake calipers, black rear diffuser). I didn't want these so I have the standard exhaust. It's far too quiet. I looking to have a sports exhaust retro fitted so that I can hear the V8 (that's why you buy an Aero isn't it!!).

6. The fit out in the cabin is a real step up on quality compared to the S3.

7. The remote central locking and cruise control actually work! :-)

8. I was dubious about the new dashboard but it looks great, well laid out and everything to hand. I like the painted dashboard and I didn't think I would.

9. The manual with the new Aero 8 is on a par with other major car manufacturers. Again another step up on quality.

10. The short shift gear box (mine is a manual) is brilliant. It just fits in the hand and with small movements your up and down with ease. Love it :-)

In my view Morgan have taken the old Aero, and all that was good about it, and just made it better whilst shedding some of the things that were not so good (mainly quality issues). Time will tell as I drive the car more but early signs are this is positive evolution.

That's great to hear Rob - and a fine colour scheme you've picked :-)

Just out of interest Rob what was the time-frame between you being given a 'final' build start date and you actually taking delivery? My car will have been in build (allegedly) 7 weeks come Monday but still no definitive indication as to when I'll get my grubby paws on it. Going down to the factory on Monday to see it in what I hope will be the final throes of production but on the basis that I've been waiting since March '15 when I paid my deposit and I've been advised of 6 different build dates in the interim I'm trying not to get too excited.
Can also ask who you placed your insurance with and at what sort of level of premium. I now have three quotes ranging between £272 (!!!!) and £4k but probably settling for the £900 mid-range....
Cheers....

Hi there,

Once I was given a final build start date (like you this changed many times) I was told to expect 8 weeks to delivery at best, 10 weeks to be safe. It was around 10 weeks in reality. Whilst the dealer took delivery of the car, there were a couple of issues, mainly around the Parrot system that they needed the factory to help with and so they hung onto my car for a further week whilst things were tested. This wasn't an issue for me as I'd rather have the car sorted given the time I'd waited since deposit.

The issue with the Parrot mind is on going (DAB loses all radio stations). The solution being touted from the factory is that they will install external aerials!! In my view this is a no go as you buy an Aero for the flowing lines. To interrupt that with an aerial fitting would destroy this. I therefore explained to the dealer that I'd happily take the aerial parts but delay having it fitted, on the off chance I ever sell the vehicle and someone else wanted it.

I placed my insurance with Headley (Morgan Insurance Consultants). I insured my last Aero through them and found them to be good. A number of people have recommended Gott and Wynn (I think that's the right spelling) however I've contacted them twice in the past and they never get back in contact - which says a lot about service in my book (I'm sure there will be many leaping to their defence, however that was my experience). £900 is about right and roughly what I've paid (limited mileage, garaged, tracker).

I hope the above helps. The wait really is worth the wait. The step up in quality is plain to see and feel in the ride.

ah: my 2c:

I understand the factory have been thinking about where to put DAB aerials for most of this year - if not longer.

My thought was to either put one inside the A pillar, or to put it inside the roof stowage section, on the front edge, on a swivel plate so that it could be stowed, or could slip past the canvas cover when needed.

... and it's going to need the best possible quality powered aerial.

That said, as I'm not having the parrot option, when mine eventually turns up I'll try using it just with a DAC player/amp, and see if I need any more radio than I can get from my phone, playing through the DAC.

Having had some weekend-long test drives, I found my phone's amp isn't powerful enough to get clear & balanced sound out of all the speakers. The DAC may put enough power into the system, without distortion, to overcome that.
If not, I'll try sophisticated ploys like, er, trying to sit lower in the car to hear the top end sound, and fitting front/rear balance control.

Will

Basic rule of thumb for insurance
1% of value

I've been told that the amp the factory has been fitting is being changed. The unit in mine doesn't boost the iphone output sufficiently to give you a decent sound.

Added to this the unit is hidden in the foot so its impossible to adjust the eq or bass. Prior to our trip to Italy I fitted a Alpine head unit in the car which links to my iphone to control the balance etc. The unit also has a remote and this has made a big difference in the sound quality.

Thanks for that Rob, much as I expected as although I was originally told six weeks from build start to delivery my dealer advised on allowing 'roughly' 8 but bearing in mind 'Morgan timescales' I had already mentally factored in another couple on top of that so on that basis I should be mobile in the next three weeks (or so)!

The Parrot unit is one of the few options boxes I didn't tick along with the hardtop and automatic transmission. Since I reckoned on this being a long-term hold I didn't want the looks and future use being sullied by out-of-date/inoperable tech (sounds like I made the right decision as it seems to be that already). Being a bit OCD something like that not working as it should would really bug me. Also another £14k of options on top of the £25k of 'extras' I've already spec'd would not have gone down well with 'er in doors....

The quote for insurance of circa £900 I actually got from Gott & Wynn on the recommendation of my dealer so that sounds about right.

Can't wait to see it in whatever state it's in at the factory on Monday... just hope the colour scheme looks as good in reality as it does in my head.

Cheers!

Hi, all,

Mine is the Ledgerwood demonstrator which i now have on permanent loan until it becomes mine at the end of the month. I spec'd it with Phil and paid a deposit before he ordered it as i figured this was the best and quickest way to get what i wanted. Unlike a lot of others, i liked the 'white' factory car so went one shade darker (closer to ivory) with green leather and dark wood (unlike the light wood in the factory car), and i love the combination.

Manual box, side exit exhausts, didn't bother with radio (rather listen to the engine note!), black and chrome steering wheel and standard S5 alloys. I will put some pictures up.

I had a dark green 2013 Aero Plus8 before, about which there is a thread on this forum page somewhere as it got a lot of comment when i sold it via Phil. The S5 is on a whole different level, though i have not driven one of the 'new chassis' Plus8's. The handling is a significant step up and the ride is improved, too.

There have been comments about it being more GT than sports car and i do agree with this to look at - but it doesn't feel like it when you drive it.

Build quality? Best yet (and i have had 5 trads, 2 M3W's and a Plus8). Love the painted dash (thought i would hate it) and everything fits as it should, including the boot.

Hood is fine once you get used to it.

Niggles? Well, passenger door lock has to be replaced as it is temperamental to say the least and tend to not release properly so sometines you can't shut the door without fiddling with a screwdriver. And the seats could do with more adjustment. But that is about it.

I love it and it is the perfect companion for my M3W Brooklands. One for the long term, i think, as i am not sure how long they will be able to keep putting the V8 into it, and having had a 3.7 Roadster, it just doesn't seem right to think of it as an Aero6, somehow.

If you are thinking about it, go for it. You won't be disappointed.

Chris

Aero8 S5
M3W Brooklands