Tuesday 19th March 2002
Aero 8
Graham Bell drives the 21st Century Morgan
Discussion
I guess you don't like it them Thom.
Westover Sports Cars let me out in their demonstrator a couple of months back and I though it was a good car. It looks stunningly different from anything else on the road and it really shifts. The chassis was very inspiring. It's quirky, but will be desirable to many people.
Westover Sports Cars let me out in their demonstrator a couple of months back and I though it was a good car. It looks stunningly different from anything else on the road and it really shifts. The chassis was very inspiring. It's quirky, but will be desirable to many people.
I'm trying to like it, but every time I click on a picture I have yet another "... well guess I could ignore that... " thought. It's certainly an updated look to the classic british roadster, but in this case updated may not be better? I will have to defer to Ted's driving impression on this as that, ultimately, is the proper way to form an opinion on a sports car...
ErnestM
(from the States, no dictionary required
)
ErnestM
(from the States, no dictionary required
)
Ted, my opinion is only based on the styling of the car; I don't intend to criticize at all the engineering efforts that have been put into it.
You praise the Aero8 for its ride/handling quality in order to "save" it from its appalling look; I understand very well, but you can't buy a car purely on its technical capabilities, can you? (of course unless you are a Porkerphile)
You praise the Aero8 for its ride/handling quality in order to "save" it from its appalling look; I understand very well, but you can't buy a car purely on its technical capabilities, can you? (of course unless you are a Porkerphile)
Styling is always going to be a subjective issue. Following on from PetrolTed’s comments a few weeks back about lack of adventure in car design, seems that if you do produce something adventurous you get slagged off by people saying it looks odd, while if you produce something ‘safe’ you get slagged off by people saying it’s bland.
The dilemma Morgan faced was the need to produce a modern car, yet at the same time without losing the traditional Morgan identity. Personally I think the Aero 8 does the job rather well. Always quite like the front end styling from the first photo I saw, though wasn’t sure about the back. Still aren’t, but it is one of those cars that tend to look better in real life than it does in photos, and having looked at it and thought about it it’s difficult to see how they could have updated their traditional roadster styling any other way. Well at least that’s my opinion, though of course you’re free to disagree.
Regarding the ergonomics, have to say I disagree about them being crap. Sure, they’re not perfect, but the Aero 8’s driving position’s better than in some mass produced front-wheel drive tin boxes I’ve driven, and there’s no nasty pedal offset like in a Ferrari F355.
At the end of the day though, as with everything, you have to choose what suits you - always assuming you can actually afford it…
The dilemma Morgan faced was the need to produce a modern car, yet at the same time without losing the traditional Morgan identity. Personally I think the Aero 8 does the job rather well. Always quite like the front end styling from the first photo I saw, though wasn’t sure about the back. Still aren’t, but it is one of those cars that tend to look better in real life than it does in photos, and having looked at it and thought about it it’s difficult to see how they could have updated their traditional roadster styling any other way. Well at least that’s my opinion, though of course you’re free to disagree.
Regarding the ergonomics, have to say I disagree about them being crap. Sure, they’re not perfect, but the Aero 8’s driving position’s better than in some mass produced front-wheel drive tin boxes I’ve driven, and there’s no nasty pedal offset like in a Ferrari F355.
At the end of the day though, as with everything, you have to choose what suits you - always assuming you can actually afford it…
I dont know why, I really cant explain it but that car just looks right. It took me a while to get over the headlights but now that I have I see all sorts of styling cues. It takes a bit obviously from the historical marque, a bit from the Excalibur and in parts its almost a bit Noble-esque. Top work Morgan I say for daring to be different.
If I had the money, and could wait, I'd have one without question.
Matt.
If I had the money, and could wait, I'd have one without question.
Matt.
quote:
Regarding the ergonomics, have to say I disagree about them being crap. Sure, they’re not perfect, but the Aero 8’s driving position’s better than in some mass produced front-wheel drive tin boxes I’ve driven, and there’s no nasty pedal offset like in a Ferrari F355.
Go on then, tell me I'm wrong about the radio.
I had a really good look at the first one over 2 years ago and hoped they would sort the interior out before production. They haven't.
They are completely (and frantically) reworking the roof as well.
Still not convinced about the lights, but after attending a lecture in Derby last wednesday given by Chris Lawrence I found that the engineering and thought that went into the car are nothing short of brilliant (IMHO). It was developed pretty much back to back with the BMW Z8 at BMW's proving ground (as BMW had let Morgan use it after they got the engine deal!) and by all acounts the BMW boffins were facinated by good old fashioned british engineering that wasn't controlled by a computer. Morgan apparently had the option of using the traction control from the BMW ECU but found that the car went better with just a hydratrak LSD - and was better in the wet than the Z8. Apparently many miffed and confused BMW engineers!!!
Anyway enough rambling - nice car - just can't afford one.
>> Edited by woody on Wednesday 20th March 19:41
Anyway enough rambling - nice car - just can't afford one.
>> Edited by woody on Wednesday 20th March 19:41
Dear ZERTEC,
You're wrong about the radio.
OK,it is tucked away under the dash, but it's not that difficult to get to, though admittedly it's not really something I'd want to do on the move.
Anyway, once you've got a decent radio station selected what would you need to fiddle with it for?
Never bothered with it myself - just listened to that exhaust note instead. Brummm....
You're wrong about the radio.
OK,it is tucked away under the dash, but it's not that difficult to get to, though admittedly it's not really something I'd want to do on the move.
Anyway, once you've got a decent radio station selected what would you need to fiddle with it for?
Never bothered with it myself - just listened to that exhaust note instead. Brummm....
Dear ZERTEC,
You're wrong about the radio.
OK,it is tucked away under the dash, but it's not that difficult to get to, though admittedly it's not really something I'd want to do on the move.
Anyway, once you've got a decent radio station selected what would you need to fiddle with it for?
Never bothered with it myself - just listened to that exhaust note instead. Brummm....
You're wrong about the radio.
OK,it is tucked away under the dash, but it's not that difficult to get to, though admittedly it's not really something I'd want to do on the move.
Anyway, once you've got a decent radio station selected what would you need to fiddle with it for?
Never bothered with it myself - just listened to that exhaust note instead. Brummm....
quote:
Dear ZERTEC,
You're wrong about the radio.
OK,it is tucked away under the dash, but it's not that difficult to get to, though admittedly it's not really something I'd want to do on the move.
Anyway, once you've got a decent radio station selected what would you need to fiddle with it for?
Never bothered with it myself - just listened to that exhaust note instead. Brummm....
The point I was making was not about listening to the radio but what a ridiculous place to put it (confirmed by you).
There are lots of other options including running a ribbon cable from a floating face plate to the head unit if space is the problem. Myself I would just rearrange the dash (wouldn't take much effort).
Hi zertec,
Be honest - if you did rearrange that traditional style machined aluminium dash with its tradtional style cream faced dials and stuck a large black modern radio in the middle it wouldn't so look good would it?
OK, so maybe it is style over practicality, but then you could say that about the whole car. But let's face it - you don't buy sports cars for practicality anyway do you?
Be honest - if you did rearrange that traditional style machined aluminium dash with its tradtional style cream faced dials and stuck a large black modern radio in the middle it wouldn't so look good would it?
OK, so maybe it is style over practicality, but then you could say that about the whole car. But let's face it - you don't buy sports cars for practicality anyway do you?
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