Morgan Aero 8 (00-10) - Review

Review by Ben Wall on
Last Updated: 24 April 2009
For sheer character and charm, few cars can match the Morgan Aero 8. It may be hand built and with a traditional look, but the Morgan is a thoroughly modern sports car that uses an aluminium chassis while power comes from a BMW V8 engine. This gives it a 0-62mph time of less than five seconds and it feels even faster from behind the wheel. The original model had an unfortunate cross-eyed appearance, but a revised model, introduced in 2006, was a huge improvement. Designed and built in Britain it has a uniqueness few similarly priced cars can match and there are more dealers around than you'd think. However, that doesn't stop it being expensive to buy and run.
4 out of 5

Other Morgan reviews

4 out of 5

Summary

New price range:

£55,698 - £74,529

Used price range:

£35,390 - £51,300

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Effortless style, superb performance, BMW engine and gearbox, unique hand built cabin

Limited practicality and safety features, expensive to buy and run

For sheer character and charm, few cars can match the Morgan Aero 8. It may be hand built and with a traditional look, but the Morgan is a thoroughly modern sports car that uses an aluminium chassis while power comes from a BMW V8 engine. This gives it a 0-62mph time of less than five seconds and it feels even faster from behind the wheel. The original model had an unfortunate cross-eyed appearance, but a revised model, introduced in 2006, was a huge improvement. Designed and built in Britain it has a uniqueness few similarly priced cars can match and there are more dealers around than you'd think. However, that doesn't stop it being expensive to buy and run.

Driving & Performance

  • Performance

    5 out of 5

    "The original engine choice in the Morgan Aero 8 was a 4.4-litre V8 that's borrowed from BMW. With..."

  • Handling

    4.5 out of 5

    "It may look like an old-fashioned sports car, but the Aero 8 is not intimidating to drive with..."

Comfort

  • Comfort

    3 out of 5

    "The Aero 8 is a two-seater sports car that's designed to be fun to drive, so it's little surprise..."

  • Practicality

    2 out of 5

    "Few two-seater sports cars are especially practical and the Aero 8 certainly proves that. In the..."

  • Equipment

    4 out of 5

    "There's plenty of scope to personalise your Aero 8 but considering the price, the Morgan isn't..."

  • Behind the wheel

    4 out of 5

    "The driving position in the Aero 8 is quite odd. Although the seat adjusts a fair amount and there's..."

Costs

  • Running costs

    2.5 out of 5

    "Like all big V8s the engine can drink fuel at an alarming rate when you're really enjoying yourself."

  • Green credentials

    2 out of 5

    "The Aero 8 is a polluting model, although it's not excessive given the performance offered. The..."

Safety & Reliability

  • Safety

    3 out of 5

    "The bonded aluminium chassis is very strong in collision, but there are no airbags, traction..."

  • Reliability

    4 out of 5

    "The Morgan is hand built at the firms factory in Malvern to very high standards. The engine and..."

Buying & Selling

  • Buying new

    2 out of 5

    "Morgans have traditionally had waiting lists of anything up to seven years. That’s been cut..."

  • Buying used

    2.5 out of 5

    "They hold their price well, but we managed to find a couple of three-year-old examples with low..."

  • Selling

    2.5 out of 5

    "This isn't the kind of car people buy on a whim. They tend to be British sports car enthusiasts so..."