I didn’t think I wanted to. I thought it would spoil my feelings for my own ride. But I did it.
I took a turn behind the wheel of marauderman’s supercharged MM.
I had concerns going in. Maybe the car would be made into a brutal beast that would be barely drivable. Feathering lightly into the gas would result in the car lunging forward abruptly. Backing off the gas would result in an over-correction and slam the front end back to Earth. It would lurch back and forth like that until one of two choices were made: Stop or go-like-a-bat-out-of-hell.
The departure point for my inaugural supercharged piloting experience was the parking lot of the restaurant we held our monthly meet. Not exactly the appropriate place for a blistering launch. I gave it very little gas and edged it out of the parking lot.
In the trim that marauderman has his Marauder, it is not loud. It does not make whining-turbine like noises at all. An even low burble doesn’t give away the fact that there is about 450HP being pushed out the back wheels.
We pulled out onto the main road and approached the first place the road straightened out. Everyone knew what was next. My wife, in the passenger seat, was pensive, readjusting her handholds looking for optimum bracing. A glance in the rearview revealed a somewhat expectant look on marauderman’s face. He knew what was to come next.
Pushing the gas pedal slowly, rather than stomping it and removing 5,000 miles of tread, the power came on like opening the valve of a fire hydrant. Smooth, even, and manageable power pushed the car forward. I couldn’t help it. I giggled like a blushing schoolgirl. An upcoming curve forced me to back out long before I had gotten to WOT.
There was another pleasant surprise. Marauderman has Baer brakes. The car slowed much more rapidly and authoritatively than stock. This was cause for another giggle.
My wife took a turn behind the wheel. On her first couple of runs, she did like I did: Started cautiously and worked her way up. I watched the road rush past on the first and second launches then I watched her face. On her last run, which was aggressive compared to her previous ones, I saw the foot fall and the color drain from her face. After a very positive shift, she back out and the color returned along with a huge smile.
There was nothing unpleasant to report at all. It was very well mannered and predictable. Instead of being a Marauder that sacrificed it’s manners for power, it was simply more of a Marauder.
Originally Posted by Ross
Waiting for WOT...
you kept leading on, and on, but no tire shredding, pulverizing the rear gears, flat out 0 to 140 mph punch. 
it was entertaining. 
Thanks for the narration. 
Supercharged Ride
