Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Aero 8, 2012< Plus 8, SuperSports, Coupe & Aeromax Aero 8 series 4 user report

Hello to all!

I thought I would write an almost three year in user report on my series 4 Aero 8.When I first bought this car new with 75 miles
on the odometer I would have doubted that the aero would be the lone survivor in my garage in late 2010.All the cars I had at the purchase of the aero have been replaced with different models.

The Aero now has 6800 miles on it, two longer type trips,and
many shorter type weekend runs.The Aero has never broke down
not started or had any mechanical difficulty at all.The much
maligned tire pressure gauge has actually saved me twice, once
with a nail in the tire, the other time with a bent rim leaking air, so I actually think that the pressure gauge proved quite useful and worked as intended.

Oil consumption has been where it should be, no burning of oil... and after three changes of oil that trend continues.
Other than changing coolant I have done nothing else mechanically although on really cold(winter) nights I do keep
a tickler on the banner battery so the Aero will crank.

Build quality has been sound, driver door hinge needs a minor
adjustment as it can open into bonnet and leave marks in paint
but this is primarily caused by opening door just to far...
I would also say the quality of the leather interior is superior to some other upscale brands I have owned.

Tire wear has been great for a car of low weight high horsepower and tires look hardly worn as we approach 7000
miles.Ride quality consistent with new and no squeaks/rattles
have appeared over time.

I have almost parted with the Aero twice, once when a Ford Gt
caught my fancy/eye the other when a Ferrari California was traded at my preferred Porsche dealer but after driving both
decided to keep the Aero.If the right Ford gt came by I might
be tempted but usually after an Aero drive the urge leaves, I
wash and clean the Aero up, cover her and think about my next
drive with the Aero.

For those of us in the know the Aero 8 regardless of series or top configuration is special, very unique, and somewhat addicting. The one thing when I purchased the Aero I would not have guessed is its dependable for an exotic that has quirks that you grow in most cases to enjoy.

Hello MMM

I'm delighted your car has been so reliable and that you enjoy it so much.

You sum up well with "those of us in the know". The Aero 8 was a real bargain, witness what one needs to pay Morgan today for a similar car (SuperSport).

Cheers

Randy,

It's good to see your enjoying the aero despite all the temptation that's been put in front of you.

Nice précis Randy, keep those miles rolling

"All the cars I had at the purchase of the aero have been replaced with different models."

Though I am only in my 4th month and 2,000 miles of ownership (Aero8 S1), I can definitely understand this particular statement given the overall experience. Many other cars do (and will) feel tame in comparison.

Absolutely how I feel too! I've toyed with the idea of selling the Mog several times but a drive always cures me of those sorts of thoughts

Philippo makes a good point which is compared to the Aeromax/SS models many of our Aero 8s regardless of series seem like a bargain in price. My personal view on the Aero series is I have this car for nice weather days, an occasional special journey and
the enjoyment of a traditional driving experience,IE manual transmission/top down/small car feel...

Sometimes companies trying to advance their product lose their core demographic and I fear Morgan could be headed in that direction when I see some of the new offerings. Philrs and Selcouth, both talk about the drive...and the drive is one of the main reasons the Aero still is in the garage instead of a Ford Gt or another Porsche model...

If paddle shifts, hard tops, softer suspension settings,more weight becomes the norm for Morgan, will the core customer +4/+8/
original Aero series stay loyal...I do recognize trad roasters still in production, but the original aero concept was to build a modern trad type car...

My Aero stays in the garage because of where Morgan has been, probably not where Morgan is going.Maintaining better than average value on this type of car at least for me is always of interest...You could argue Morgans upscale strategies might help value on many of our cars so another reason to keep the aero in tip top condition...You could also argue Morgans upscale strategies might also devalue earlier Aero's and while I watch with interest Morgan's corporate direction I enjoy the series 4 Aero view it as a keeper/collectible and kind of wish there had been a series 5/6 of a modern Morgan with traditional driving characteristics.

I very much agree with this. To me, the Aero8 is similar to the Porsche 964/993 RS on several dimensions: Fairly basic/lightweight with plenty of driving feel (for some, race inspired) in a package that "they don't make like this anymore." Porsche changed direction with their GT3s (i.e. making the cars more GT-like) and it seems as if Morgan has done something similar with the current models.

Not sure if I agree with this comment Phil, the big change in the Aero Series came when the Series II came out.

The Series I was very much Chris Lawrence's view of a Morgan racer for the road with rose-jointed suspension and very little compliance in the drive-train, etc, etc.

With the Series II this was changed to a much different car and many race-spec parts were changed for both; a) ease of production and b) to make the car feel more mainstream for Porsche and other drivers new to the Aero model, when they test drove it. There was also a change in the BMW engine model as well.

Apart from the change to the 4.8 litre engine in the Series IV, all subsequent series' have a very similar 'feel' to drive and whilst both my Aero's have auto boxes rather than manual, they do not drive that much different to the Series II or III that I had. There is one important difference with the Aero SS in that this has a steering box out of the BMW 3-Series, rather than the Ford box fitted to the other Aero's and this has improved the steering dramatically.

The only other difference is anti-roll bars front and rear (an option) and this combined with the steering gives a much sharper turn-in and cuts down on the roll over-steer that really only manifests itself on the Aero's on the track.

The Aero SS will definitely be the last of the big V8 Morgan's and to me is just as much a drivers car, as any of the other Aero's (SII onwards) and as such should be celebrated as the last of an illustrious line.

The Eva GT will be a completely different car and we won't know much more about it for some time as it looks as though it will be 2012 before we are able to drive a demonstrator.

Aeroman

P.S. Nice write-up Randy, I agree the Aero's are keepers!

I remember Chris Harris saying the Aeromax's steering is very sensitive, much like a racer, which was somewhat at odds with the nature of the car as he saw it (and that the autobox was surprisingly well matched to the drivetrain). How does the SS compare?