Daily Aeromax for a 6'4 driver? Possible?

[AJSG]

Saw an Aero Coupe ;-) at Goodwood on Friday, the first I have seen in the flesh, and I must say it looks superb.

All cars I have ever owned need to be able to commute as well as doing all other things. Ignoring its on-road capabilities does anyone here run their Aeromax as a daily commuter. Speedbumps etc etc...

I didn't get a chance to sit in one as it was simpy raining too hard and there were too many people at the stand to gain the salespeople's attention. Can a 6'4 person fit in one?? More importantly can one enter and exit that car with some grace...or would I need to perform a tuck-n-roll to get out?

Thanks in advance.

Andrew.

Edited by AJSG on Wednesday 4th July 11:53

[NAC]

Andrew, I have an aeromax but really use it for pleasure, I carnt see any reason why you couldn't use it as your daily runner,however with regards to getting in and out of the car at 6ft 4 I can see a bit of a problem unless you are very athletic ...

[Boshly]

AJSG said:

Saw an aeromax at Goodwood on Friday, the first I have seen in the flesh, and I must say it looks superb.

All cars I have ever owned need to be able to commute as well as doing all other things. Ignoring its on-road capabilities does anyone here run their Aeromax as a daily commuter. Speedbumps etc etc...

I didn't get a chance to sit in one as it was simpy raining too hard and there were too many people at the stand to gain the salespeople's attention. Can a 6'4 person fit in one?? More importantly can one enter and exit that car with some grace...or would I need to perform a tuck-n-roll to get out?

Thanks in advance.

Andrew.

I doubt you saw an Aeromax at Goodwood unless it was in a car park? Certainly doubt it was on the stand? I am presuming (and I know the penalty for presuming incorrectly ) it was an Aero Coupe? The fixed head version of The Aero Supersports?

This is now great value at £99k compared to the £130k for the targa Supersport BUT it has two things the Aeromax doesn't that impede on cabin space. The Aero SS and Couple seats are different and wider (nicer IMHO but take up more space) and the SS/Coupe has the repositioned fuel tank behind the driver (upright as opposed to flat and under the 'boot' area) and thus again impedes into the cabin space. My suggestion is to try one! Or go and find an Aeromax for sale - though wont be easy to find a nice one and interior 'lugagge' space considerably better in the Coupe.

As for everyday practicality - I know one Aero S4 being used as an everyday car and it is standing up well. INgress and egress is a tad cumbersome but driveability and reliability (main items) should be fine.

[tonys]

AJSG said:

Saw an aeromax at Goodwood on Friday, the first I have seen in the flesh, and I must say it looks superb.

All cars I have ever owned need to be able to commute as well as doing all other things. Ignoring its on-road capabilities does anyone here run their Aeromax as a daily commuter. Speedbumps etc etc...

I didn't get a chance to sit in one as it was simpy raining too hard and there were too many people at the stand to gain the salespeople's attention. Can a 6'4 person fit in one?? More importantly can one enter and exit that car with some grace...or would I need to perform a tuck-n-roll to get out?

Thanks in advance.

Andrew.

As has already been alluded to, the car on the stand (certainly when I was there) was a white Aero coupe. I did try it for size and found it fine, but then I'm not 6'4", so that doesn't really help . However, there was also an Aeromax parked alongside the road that returned to the Moving Motor Show stand when I was there.

[mr_tony]

I have an Aeromax, and it gets used. Not as a daily - I have other cars for station duty etc, but the Aeromax would be usable day to day.

You would have to ask about using an Aeromax as a daily, it will take it mechanically - Aeros are remarkably resillient and reliable, but the market won't like and Aeromax with mega mileage for resale - after all they only made 100.

The Aeromax was designed (like all Morgans these days) to provide room for a taller person - Charles is not a short chap after all. I'm 6'2'' and find that I have headroom to spare. Getting in and out is fine - it's just a wide sill.

As others have said, the new coupe does lose a little cabin space to the Aeromax given the new fuel tank position, but it's perfectly possible to use. I have speed bumps near my house that are pretty large and it's not an issue to cross them in the 'max.

So I think the answer is - try sitting in one - get to the Factory (great experience in itself) and get a test drive. If you like the car, then you'll make it work - it's certainly possible in my view...

[AJSG]

NAC said:

Andrew, I have an aeromax but really use it for pleasure, I carnt see any reason why you couldn't use it as your daily runner,however with regards to getting in and out of the car at 6ft 4 I can see a bit of a problem unless you are very athletic ...

That's the thing that concerns me, I had a very bad accident in 2004 and half my pelvis/femur has been rebuilt. So some days I get stuck even in my current car, and that is a GT style so not too low.

[AJSG]

Boshly said:

As for everyday practicality - I know one Aero S4 being used as an everyday car and it is standing up well. INgress and egress is a tad cumbersome but driveability and reliability (main items) should be fine.

Thank you, what about speed bumps etc? No issues with heating? How about aircon?

[AJSG]

tonys said:

was a white Aero coupe.

yes yes yes...it was an Aero Coupe and I don't know my Morgans! Learning...slowly, but learning...

[mr_tony]

Since the S4 with the revised interior the aircon and heating improved significantly with additional centre vents.

It is still aircon though - not climate but it does cold and hot both well when you need them.

[Boshly]

AJSG said:

That's the thing that concerns me, I had a very bad accident in 2004 and half my pelvis/femur has been rebuilt. So some days I get stuck even in my current car, and that is a GT style so not too low.

There is a technique to getting in and out. At first it seems a bit weird and difficult but you get used to it eventually. I have hip issues and need two replacements , and as such the biggest issue for me is pulling my trailing leg up and in with most of me in the car, as the aperture is quite small. My method is to get the first leg in then the body then the other leg.

But then I've seen others get in by crawling forwards virtually towards the passenger seat then falling back into the seat.

You must try and see, but whilst I'm only 5' 10" I'm not exactly lithe (19 stone) and can still manage it.

[AJSG]

Boshly said:

There is a technique to getting in and out.

Thanks for that, I've kindly offered to have a look at the factory but they only have a Supersport on the 12th. Taking my 4yr old as well so let's see what he has to say about it!

I've always had 4 seaters or 2+2 so its going to be a very big decision!

[ukshooter]

I have used mine as a daily driver for over 3 years. Lots of miles, always in excess of 20k a year in it.

I feel it will be a more reeliable car using it all the time than having a garage queen.

Of course stuff wears out, pads, discs, tyres etc but the engine and gearbox is pretty bullet proof.

German electrics! Can be problematic. I would guess that on the whole elctrical issues have now been cleared so would't expect them to be a problem now.

I have had 3 back surgeries. Ingress and egress can sometimes be a problem. You have to find a solution that suits you. Unfortunately, with the series 4, the aeromax and all subsequent variants, Morgan changed how far the door opens and its hold open point. The doors do not hold open as wide as the series 1,2 and 3 cars and that has been the issue for me getting in and out.

I am working on a fix for this as it was one mod that the factory did on the series 4 that couldn't be changed (I had the pedal position and the seat rejigged to match what I had on the series 3).

Speed bumps CAN be an issue. The 4.8 equipped cars have a very exposed drain plug (on the X5 that the engine came from, ground clearance was not an issue but on a Morgan it can be). I have had to replace the sump more times than the fingers on one hand! And not from running bumps at speed but some are a poor design or bigger than they should be and even trying to roll over them, the exposed plug can rub. If it does, it can damage the thread of the sump and you need to get another. The local council have remodelled the bumps near my house after putting a flea in their ear!

Oh, and if anyone moans about depreciation, I have had far more enjoyment out of 70,000 miles and I bet the cost per mile on depreciation is probably better. A 10,000 mile Aero has probably depreciated circa £10,000
So £1 per mile. My car stands me in at a few pence short of £80k. I have not seen any Aero on the market for £10,000. Even if a 70,000 mile Series 4 was only worth £30,000 it is still only 50p per mile depreciation.

Anyway, to sum up, if you find you can fit comfortably, don't be afraid to use it everyday. I use a 1985 Mondial Cabriolet when I need 2 extra seats! Now I've got the electrics sorted on that, it works well as a regular driver too!

[mr_tony]

I would add thy having sat in a superports recently, I found the driving position different to my series 4 and Aeromax as the legroom appears a little less due to the repositioned fuel tank.

At 6'4" I would be concerned with this difference, and would suggest seeking out an Aeromax r series 4 aero to test along with a SS or aero coupe.

My Other concern at 6 4 on the supersports would be the tags roof locator brackets as they are at head height for us very tall types and not something I would want to headbut during an off...

[Boshly]

mr_tony said:

I would add thy having sat in a superports recently, I found the driving position different to my series 4 and Aeromax as the legroom appears a little less due to the repositioned fuel tank.

At 6'4" I would be concerned with this difference, and would suggest seeking out an Aeromax r series 4 aero to test along with a SS or aero coupe.

My Other concern at 6 4 on the supersports would be the tags roof locator brackets as they are at head height for us very tall types and not something I would want to headbut during an off...

Rich, the series 4 has the repositioned tank same as the Supersport, the Aeromax has the same room as series 3. Pls note, not all thr tank atea was available, there was space behind the sets whih disappeared, the shrinksge is a fraction of the space that was eaten up, probsbly knly a couple of inches but it is noticeable.

Also note, the new coupe does not have any roof locator brackets as its a fixed head so that wouldn't be an issue either.

Lastly, the Aeromax, SS and coupe are actually a tad easier to get in and out of than the Aero as the curvature of the soft top Aero 8 means the door aperture is a tad smaller, the Max/SS/Coupe have an additional 'triangle in the top farthest corner (and flush fitting doors!) so have a larger aperture by about 6" . It was considerably easier for me to get in the SS than the Aero 8 and I ran the two side by side for about 6 months.

[mr_tony]

Thanks Boshers, I knew they repositioned the tank for the 4 and the max but understood it was moved again for the supersports. Maybe I am wrong there though. The SS I sat in just felt smaller than the max inside - maybe that's just psychology given the max is open all the way through.

In the end - try one, you'll buy it because you love it and worry about any minor compromises later anyway!

[Boshly]

mr_tony said:

Thanks Boshers, I knew they repositioned the tank for the 4 and the max but understood it was moved again for the supersports. Maybe I am wrong there though. The SS I sat in just felt smaller than the max inside - maybe that's just psychology given the max is open all the way through.

In the end - try one, you'll buy it because you love it and worry about any minor compromises later anyway!

[Pedant mode] they repositioned tank for S4 and SS/coupe NOT Max - so Max IS slightly bigger inside [/Pedant mode]

You weren't going mad

[XTR2Turbo]

I am 6 2 and tried the white demonstrator a few months ago but couldn't get in it to drive. Insufficient head and leg room. I could just about squeeze in as a passenger with my head at an angle. By contrast no issues with my classic 4/4 with roof up.

I can't see you being able to fit. There may be options to slim down the seat a bit but I don't know if this would be enough.

I didn't know the tank had moved so need to try an Aeromax.

[mr_tony]

As per my note to Boshly below, not sure tank has moved, but to me at least I feel like I've more room in the max. Could be the curve of the roof, seats etc and nothing to do with the tank.

SS and max are on the same chassis with same doors of course so there won't be a lot in it. However I'm 6'2" and not exactly slight and I fit comfortably.

You need to get used to the Morgan driving position though - the steering wheel is up close and personal - just the way they are....

[AJSG]

ukshooter said:

Speed bumps CAN be an issue. The 4.8 equipped cars have a very exposed drain plug (on the X5 that the engine came from, ground clearance was not an issue but on a Morgan it can be). I have had to replace the sump more times than the fingers on one hand!

This may be a really silly question, but has anyone tried to dry sump one? Know it may be a tight fit but it could be a solution. What do the racers do?

[AJSG]

Boshly said:

There is a technique to getting in and out.

Spent a bit of time in one last week and I loved it, getting in and out is far from graceful but possible.

Might get the seat lowered which will make entereing easier but exiting harder.

My son loved it but couldn't understand why it only had 8 cylinders.