Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Aero 8, 2012< Plus 8, SuperSports, Coupe & Aeromax Morgan Aero Supercharger

Yes the argument Alistair puts is logical, but having owned a variety of what would be described as fast cars in my life of driving and a couple on the extreme end I would put forward this observation.

1. Virtually any car pushed to or beyond its limits will become interesting or will bite back if pushed too far, at what point and speed this occurs will depend on a host of variables, suspension, tyres, setup, weight and power output.

2. I like many when younger went for more powerful cars and as roads became more congested found that I was unable to drive or push them as much and certainly not safely if I had any consideration for others. This lead me to doing track days, and a few sprints. At this point I found out that I had never really experienced the limits of the car I owned at that time until I was off the road and on a track. I truly never experienced the limits of any of the cars as they were mine and I know I always held back as I could not and did not want to smash them up.

3. I own a 3.7 Roadster and is probably pushing about 300bhp with the sports exhaust. Would I chip it if available for more power to 330bhp, probably not, and certainly not if I continued to used it for road use only. If I hill climb it in the future then it would still be a no, the benefit would have little impact on time and it would become even more intractable when what you need is to keep traction to maximum cornering and exiting from corners. If I was going to race it on tracks then it would be a combination of power, and brakes and weight in balance that would be needed to be successful and in harmony.

4. I and a fellow TMer hill climb a 30 year old 125bhp MR2, you may laugh but it has shown me that power is not everything, too much and it will bite you. Controlling it is critical, smoothness and knowing how well the car will go round a corner, and brake is most important, this will enable the driver to get the most out of a car and maximise speed.

So in summary I own a 3.7 Roadster which is pretty quick when push and it has lots of torque which can be used when provoked, but needs caution or the rear end will soon break away. On the road for general driving it can be driven lazily and comfortably so for me a good compromise. I suspect an Aero in standard form will be much the same but with a better chassis and suspension and should be more forgiving. Would either benefit from more power for general road use, I doubt it, I suspect that both cars with more power would edge towards being unpredictable and awkward to drive, it would be a different matter if they were primarily going to be raced or used on tracks.

The lack of electronics in controlling traction and stability means the chassis has to be far more communicative. The AERO is very capable of smoking if you wish but it is also hugely effective and putting the power down. In my view there are a number of reasons for this:
1) Slippy diff
2) No ARB = more roll = more weight transfer to the outer rear tyre
3) Throttle action is far more linear/analogue - logic dicates that much torque will over come limited traction on a light car**; secondly the power-band of the V8 is broad.
4) The overall chassis/suspension is engineered above the power delivered.

From my personal experience I found a 320ps 3-series racecar far easier to balance on the throttle than a 220ps 3-series. The former allowed the rear-end to be more proactive in dialing out any (mis-judged) understeer. Without that extra 100ps a reduction in throttle opening was required.

**If Morgan does install a turbocharged engine it may have to have a custom map in order to shape the torque curve and prevent excessive low rev torque

Despite my comments about never having too much power I totally agree with this Graham. When a car has enough power to make it move you can rag it and have just as much fun. Fiat have traditionally made great engines and cars for this. Perhaps an expression of the Italian use of them.

I remember taking a brand new Fiat Punto (320km on it when collected) from Naples airport and ragging the bits off it around the road to Amalfi. Even the locals were not able to overtake me.

Famous phrases from my life.

The fastest car is a rental car.
Don't worry its a company car.
Crush that carpet, the pedal is metal.

Excessive power just means giving the pedal more respect.
You never do something that you can't get out of - or you do and suffer the result. You have only yourself to blame unless you hurt others then you have to live with it and deserve to.

I love the chassis of the aero. I love the V8. I would dearly love to have an Aero with more power because the current S2 and Coupe are fantastic.

Porsche have made MILLIONS doing a standard model, a GT3, a GT3RS and most importantly a GT2. Often called the widowmaker. So the GT2 is overpowered. Yet people buy it.

I agree with many of the comments re overpowering cars on public roads. I understand the comments w.r.t. overpowered bikes, contact patch remains king.

I figure the Aero chassis is worth another 140bhp before it becomes out of order. It needs the right rubber, conditions, attitude and Mk.1 human noodle on the end of the pedal.

I ordered my E63 AMG estate with the 575bhp engine. It is mental. Yet I don't often see my traction/stability control light on. I have however swapped the rear rubber to the new Dunlop Maxx Race rubber to help it. Until it is warm it just needs to be treated with respect. Once warm it is fantastic.

You have to balance it from the Mk.1 noodle right the way to the other elements on the road surface and around. Otherwise it is a just a confused moment with petrol being burnt.