2004 Morgan Aero 8 New Car Buyer's Guide

What's New for the 2004 Morgan Aero 8?
For the first time in more than 50 years, British sports car maker Morgan introduces a new model. The 2004 Morgan Aero 8 replaces the Morgan Plus 8, moving solidly into the 21st Century with a BMW V8 engine, a four-wheel-independent suspension, 18-inch wheels, an aluminum chassis and body panels, and a more comfortable cabin. Loyalists need not worry: Morgan still uses wood in the Aero 8’s construction.

Advantages of the 2004 Morgan Aero 8:

• Ultra exclusivity
• BMW V8 engine

Objections to the 2004 Morgan Aero 8:

• No stability or traction control
• Limited cargo space
• Manual convertible top
• Cross-eyed headlamps

Editor's Advice:
With the demise of the classic Morgan Plus 8 at the end of 2004, a new car arrives in the U.S. to take its place. Priced close to $100,000 and available to just 100 American customers each year, the new Morgan Aero 8 is a far more advanced machine than the ancient Plus 8. Rather than employ a lackluster V8 derived from a 1960s Buick engine, as the Morgan Plus 8 did, the 2004 Morgan Aero 8 is powered by a stout 4.4-liter V8 engine sourced from BMW. This engine employs BMW’s Double VANOS Valvetronic technology to generate 325bhp at 6,100 rpm and 330 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,600 rpm. A six-speed manual transmission transfers the power to the Morgan Aero 8’s rear wheels, getting the 2,500-pound British roadster to 60 mph in about 4.9 seconds and allowing this aerodynamically challenged sports car to achieve a 160 mph top speed. Variable ratio rack-and-pinion steering guides 18-inch alloy wheels wearing Pirelli 245/45 performance tires. A fully independent double wishbone suspension is equipped with Eibach springs and Koni shocks, and the Morgan Aero 8 is brought to a stop by AP Racing 350mm front and 332mm rear ventilated disc antilock brakes. A limited slip rear differential and tire pressure sensors also come standard. Replacing the Plus 8’s steel frame is an aluminum alloy chassis, but the traditional ash wood body shell remains – aluminum body panels are attached to this advanced application of timber in modern auto production. Wood is also applied to the cabin, which is wider in the U.S.-specification Aero 8 than models sold in Europe and other parts of the world. A manual convertible top or an available hardtop covers the leather-upholstered interior of the Morgan Aero 8. Styling recalls the Plus 8 in terms of character and proportion, but it’s clear that this is a more modern interpretation of the classic English roadster. In case you’re wondering, Volkswagen supplies those odd-looking headlights – they’re the same units found on the New Beetle. Morgan says that 70 buyers plunked down deposits for the 2004 Morgan Aero 8 after the car’s U.S. debut at the Los Angeles International Auto Show, leaving just 30 examples for sale until next year. Contact Isis Motors in San Francisco if you need to park a Morgan Aero 8 in your garage.