Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms Aero +8 Market

Hi
I'm baffled, in February I very reluctantly placed my 2015 +8 for sale with Oakmere Morgan. This was due to us now spending 7 months of the year out of the UK and having 4 cars seemed rather excessive. In the last 12 months I had only driven the +8 190 miles hence that being the least used. I assumed that by the time I got back in June it would have sold but no.
I thought that being a very low mileage, high spec car, in fabulous condition it would sell reasonably quickly but it appears there has been no interest, hence I'm baffled.
I'd be very interested in hearing whether you think that there's no longer a market for big V8's or why you think there's been no interest.
Cheers
Worthers

I follow the classifieds quite closely. I'm assuming it's the metallic red/cream auto one with 8,800 miles ? My guess (just saying...) is that a prospective Morgan owner with £90K to burn might dig a bit deeper and go for a new/newish Plus Four (or even Plus Six) at that money, rather than a 7-year old car. Williams have a red/black manual 2013 car with 15K miles at the same price, also unsold. And although it shouldn't, the price of fuel could be acting as a deterrent for anyone who isn't addicted to a V8. Others will probably disagree.

I tend to agree with Peter; my "fully loaded" 2014 Plus 8 with 45,000 miles is worth, at retail, £70,000, or less. Given I paid £65,000 in 2014 I'm not really bothered.
The "'Green" car market is powering ahead, according to the press and whilst there will remain a rump demand for big V8s the market has probably peaked.

We haven't seen the end of the fuel price rises by any stretch of the imagination, and its unlikely they are going to ever go back to the price levels of just a few years ago. This may have a significant impact and colour future prospective buyers view of gas guzzlers. Whilst sales of new large engine cars for business use may still be around for a time, once they pass on to the second hand market for many such vehicles the prices drop like a stone due to the large running costs.

Further we may start experiencing the 1970's style (oil crisis) rejection of large engine cars repeat itself, especially as alternative fuels and smaller more powerful and more economical petrol engines will be developed to achieve the same performance levels. Add in the potential for difficulties with parts supply for more sophisticated aging electronics and reducing support from the manufacturers for older models, a recipe for potential early obsolescence.

Following the change of ownership in MMC there seemed to be a concerted effort to increase the market price of used Aero 8 cars - which I understand as a strategy as it helped with the positioning of the plus 6.

I would agree with Peter though, that this strategy has probably peaked with the £280k Aero GT, the £225k Aeromax and the £189k Coupe looking a bit topish to me. You can buy a huge amount of very capable/ desirable car(s) for that sort of money.

The recently advertised Supersport for £139k and the 2018 50th Anniversary plus 8 at Sytners advertised at £89k seems like the market is moving back down a bit.

The Sytner 50th anniversary could be considered cheap if you were a fan at £120k new!

Worthers, have you considered you may have the car placed with the wrong dealer ?

Some are much more responsive to buyers enquires, my personal experience of your chosen seller was that they lost two potential 'money in the bank' sales by lax attitude

Could it just be supply and demand? The new cx platform might appeal more at the price level? With 25 plus sixes and 35 plus fours listed on the Morgan car finder site, all at a similar price... I bet there's some real discounts to be had for a buyer.

So, so different from when I first was trying to buy a mog. New waiting list several years, used ones sold before I could drive to the advertiser's address....different days!
Nick

All very sensible stuff.

But-Nothing sounds like the side pipes singing on the Plus 8 as you go up through the gears. ( and, indeed down)

So I think I’ll stay with my gas guzzling, older, louder, ludicrously quick, not for sale machine- whilst the world becomes just a little less fun every day.

I viewed your car in person and it is lovely. Perhaps this is something that applies only to me but knowing what a Plus 8/Aero were going for prior to prices going through the roof is what would be putting me off. I've lusted after an Aero chassis Morgan and regret not putting the trigger prior to the craziness we are in now. And as others have said, it doesn't help that a CX is about the same money and can be spec'd.

Even prior to this, I passed on a few Aeros as the spec was't 100% to my liking and for a used car purchase at this price, it would have to tick all the boxes. So it could be that the car hasn't found it's buyer just yet.