Aero 8 versions

Aero 8 versions

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propaganda

Original Poster:

407 posts

254 months

Tuesday 11th April 2006
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As an ex Maserati 4200 owner I find myself strangely drawn to the Aero 8 - I note a few other ex Maser owners here too. I am just beginning to look at the Aero. What are the different versions available? I note there seem to be some varaitions in rear treatment, and I gather there are some differences in the soft-top also. Any tips on what I should be looking at? Anyone using it as a daily driver or are they all weekend cars? Any pitfalls?

mr_tony

6,339 posts

276 months

Tuesday 11th April 2006
quotequote all
Mine is a weekend car, though there are people using them every day out there. You certainly could - mine has been incredibly reliable over the time I've owned it - only cost so far this year (exclusing upgrades and fixing dings) is 5 quid for a headlight bulb and the cost of an MOT. Service is cheap by the sounds of things, looking forward to one of those later in the year.

There are 3 versions of the Aero, though having said that they are all pretty much individual cars - it's likely that whatever you get will ahve been personalised to some degree.

Various options / prices

Sports Exhaust circa 1500 quid
Momo wheel (100 quid upwards)
Quick shift gear linkage (circa 500 quid)
Alloy gearknob (50 upwards)
Tonneau Cover (550 + vat)
Car Cover (outdoor) - 300 quid
Also various things can be done to the engines - the factory can uprate them to 300bhp ish, as can other tuners eg Ray West etc

Hood comes in version 1 and 2 forms. Don't know what the advantage of a V2 is though - I know it sits higher up behind you and as such I went for a Series 1 hood - don't think it's so watertight, not that that bothers me much as I don't really take it out in the rain!

perhaps one of the other owners can enlighten us.

Depreciation is very slight too - a welcome relief if you're a Maserati Owner!

HAving owned a 3200 I thought I knew about being the centre of attention - with an Aero it's different league - you'll get photographed wherever you go, and people will just randomly start shouting at you - all positive too Most of the uneducated think it's a roller or a bentley - and those who know cars but who don't know about morgans assume it's a kit....(Grr!)







>> Edited by mr_tony on Tuesday 11th April 16:45

propaganda

Original Poster:

407 posts

254 months

Tuesday 11th April 2006
quotequote all
mr_tony said:
Service is cheap by the sounds of things, looking forward to one of those later in the year.

Depreciation is very slight too - a welcome relief if you're a Maserati Owner!


there is a god after all

mas3200

131 posts

246 months

Wednesday 12th April 2006
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I had a 3200 as well, and since getting the morgan, running it seems v cheap.
insurance is a third of that of the mazza, it's more reliable, cheaper to service, rarer and miles more noticed.
It's tonnes better to drive as well. I use mine as a weekend car mostly - don't know if I'd use it to commute - it's very noisy now (there's no point in having a radio) and the roof leaks around the windows.

nutta29

234 posts

225 months

Friday 14th April 2006
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the V2 hood is much better, with it being easier to put up. The latest aero has had a front end treatment as well - the lights have been straightened out, so it doesn't look so crossed eyed! it looks much better now! the rear bootlid is slightly larger than aero Mk1, as to comply with US federal regs.! The cockpit is much neater now than aero Mk1. There isnt much change from cockpit of aero mk2 and 3, but it is slighlty more refined. If i was you, i'd go for a brand new aero, if it is within budget, as they are vastly improved, and they do look very good.

check out: www.morgan-motors-cars.com/index.htm

Melvyn Rutter, been in the Morgan business for 30 years. Seriously good

mr_tony

6,339 posts

276 months

Tuesday 18th April 2006
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nutta29 said:
the V2 hood is much better, with it being easier to put up. The latest aero has had a front end treatment as well - the lights have been straightened out, so it doesn't look so crossed eyed! it looks much better now! the rear bootlid is slightly larger than aero Mk1, as to comply with US federal regs.! The cockpit is much neater now than aero Mk1. There isnt much change from cockpit of aero mk2 and 3, but it is slighlty more refined. If i was you, i'd go for a brand new aero, if it is within budget, as they are vastly improved, and they do look very good.

check out: www.morgan-motors-cars.com/index.htm

Melvyn Rutter, been in the Morgan business for 30 years. Seriously good


Adam Rutter - any relation to Melvyn by any chance?

Seriously though - the new front end of the aero isn't really something I'm that fussed about - think it doesn't look as streamlines as the original face - still each to his own etc.

Regarding the V2 hood - anyone got any pics of it? I'd be interested to see what the changes are over the MK1.

nutta29

234 posts

225 months

Tuesday 18th April 2006
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yeh, am the son of!

yeh, you're deffo right about the Mk1 looking more streamlined though.

mr_tony

6,339 posts

276 months

Tuesday 18th April 2006
quotequote all
Adam - ahve you driven the new Aero yet?
Be very interested to see how it drives compared to my MK I

propaganda

Original Poster:

407 posts

254 months

Tuesday 18th April 2006
quotequote all
What do people feel about the changes in the new aero? I have yet to see a decent photo of the car, I don't much care for the dark green metallic on the web site as it seems to lose the lines of the car. Headlights probably ok (never tought they were that bad), rear trunk - I think I prefer the early profile. Interior I definitely prefer the original dash as I am not keen the look of an after market radio on a 60k car, at least the original aero acknowledged this and tried to hide it a bit. Prefer the original wheels, new ones a bit fussy. Wider cabin sounds good as the original is a little tight.

I think I will try and arrange a factory visit. Is this easy to do?

mr_tony

6,339 posts

276 months

Tuesday 18th April 2006
quotequote all
Your nearest dealer can organise a factory tour for you, give em a call and explain you're thinking of going for an Aero.

I like the new dash - know what you meanabotu the radio - but the series 1 dash on mine only goes 3/4 of the way across, and the glovebox is actualyl a bespoke mulberry leather case! Rather cool - but it would be nice to ahve a lockable glovebox all the same!

nutta29

234 posts

225 months

Wednesday 19th April 2006
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mr_tony
3640 posts
53 months Yesterday (16:07)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Adam - ahve you driven the new Aero yet?
Be very interested to see how it drives compared to my MK I




Unfortunately ive only ever driven a MK2 Aero around a carpark!! so havnt driven latest aero im afraid. Insurance Co. won't allow it, actually, neither will my dad!!

Although, i have driven the Roadster V6 a few times on long trips, and its performance is absolutely amazing :-)


mr_tony

6,339 posts

276 months

Wednesday 19th April 2006
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bet you're gutted mate!
Still the v6 is a fantastic piece of kit - it's certainly damn quick!

nutta29

234 posts

225 months

Wednesday 19th April 2006
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yeh, i would love to have driven our aero. But we've sold it now :-(
Still, the V6 is bloody quick. The official stats on the Aero suggest 0-60 in 4.4 sec, and on the V6 its circa 4.6 sec!!! I don't think the insurance co. have quite cottoned onto this yet!

mr_tony

6,339 posts

276 months

Wednesday 19th April 2006
quotequote all
The insurance cost will be down to the cost of bits for the Aero not just the speed I guess

nutta29

234 posts

225 months

Thursday 20th April 2006
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yeh, i think they look at the value of the car, not just its performance stats! Otherwise i wouldnt have had the opportunity to drive V6.

Aero8

371 posts

291 months

Friday 21st April 2006
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If you're thinking of a Mk1 Aero, I may be selling mine shortly. Its one of the last Mk1s, car no 292. It was registered Jan 05, first owner, 1300 miles, sports exhaust, short shift, totally as new and original, dry miles only, Rolls Royce pewter and moss green, green hood with green piped parchment interior. I can give you more details if you send me an email to gharman@teknica.co.uk or call on 07733111772. I'm only selling because I'm financing a flat and then I'll be buying another...

Glenn

>> Edited by Aero8 on Friday 21st April 14:14

mas3200

131 posts

246 months

Friday 21st April 2006
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I keep getting asked how many aeros have been produced. If there is a number 292 on the mark 1, there are a lot more around than I thought. Does anyone know the total produced?

Aero8

371 posts

291 months

Sunday 23rd April 2006
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Not alot more than 292! Mine was built at the end of 2004, I think there maybe another 10-20 built in 2005. About 25% have been written off though.....

>> Edited by Aero8 on Sunday 23 April 15:08

>> Edited by Aero8 on Sunday 23 April 19:23

mas3200

131 posts

246 months

Monday 24th April 2006
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Can't believe that many have been written off, but I suppose I know 1st hand how tail happy these cars can be.
I did a track day yesterday at Anglesey which is a very tight twisty circuit. I had 1 : 1 tuition in the morning which was really useful. The instructor was also a race engineer for touring car teams, and helped me with tyre pressures etc. After each time we went out, he checked the pressures as they were cooling over 15 mins or so. He recommended that they were filled to 24psi when cold - made quite a difference.
Anyway, I had 3 decent spins - 1 because the instructor said i should take abbots in 2nd without realising how much low down torque there is (and my inexperience), and the other 2 because I pushed a little too soon on cold tyres.
No damage done, and the car felt fantastic. After overtaking a 993RS and a 996GT3 on the straight, the organisers reckoned it was the quickest car on the straights (just a shame about my skills through the corners!)

I reckon anyone who buys a car like this, which can be a handful, should go ASAP to spend a day with Don Palmer at Bruntingthorpe. It helped me so much and was great fun. It'll also help the aero's mortality rating which sounds terrible!

mr_tony

6,339 posts

276 months

Tuesday 25th April 2006
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All good advice I think - I'm very keen to get the car out with a decent intstructor - having done 5 or so lessons in carerhams a year or so back the basics are there - but the Aero is a lot less forgiving than a caterham if you get it wrong!