Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Plus Four, Supersport & Plus Six (CX & CXV Generation Vehicles) Any thoughts?

I disagree Richard!

I have driven the manual BMW M135i... basically the same engine, and it was hugely more fun and enjoyable to drive that the M140i auto.

It's not about shifting fast enough. It was about the driver/machine 'interface'. That is what a 'manual' box gives.

Thankfully however, we are all different! :>)

You want to have the correct gear "looking ahead"; just give the paddle a couple of flaps and go. I use it on occasions for passing, when I want to play, and when I want to control downhill speed without using the brakes all the time. I have no idea how the PlusSix is set up but on the Jag I have it set so that if I use the paddles in drive it goes manual, by holding + for about 3 seconds it changes back to auto, and if I haven't used the paddles for several minutes it goes back to auto. Of course I can always turn the selector to Sport Mode and then it is fixed in manual.

It takes a bit of getting used to the paddles and it would probably be easier with a stick "Sportmatic" system, a sort of clutchless manual.

- I'd like that option, so I'll ask about it tomorrow....

The ZF6 on the Coupe is similar.

If you just pull the handle back it is in lazy fully auto mode.

Back and to the left and it is in sport fully auto mode. Early change up and higher rev band as well as cruise in 5th not 6th in many cases.

When you start to manually change it leaves you to change up and down unless you force it by coming to halt without changing down etc. This is how I mostly drive it as it is the best fun and you are more in charge of the balance as other outline. Not as complete as a manual but then you can flip it to lazy mode when the road is stuffed with tin tops.

The S2 manual is definately the more wild and fun when the roads are clear enough and safe to go for a blast.

Interesting about manual vs auto. I have always, always been a manual man. But over the years as cars have got faster I really believe that auto is the way.

But why?

Power, torque and legislation.

All sports cars, super cars and hyper cars, as we all know, are getting faster.

I remember the day many many years ago taking delivery of my first Ferrari - the F40, now I thought at the time that nothing would come close to the sheer shov that car delivered. Today many can match it, but very few if any can match the thrill of the thing.

But that power comes with a heavy clutch. Rewarding yes.

Then many years later I was lucky enough to have a Carrera GT, perhaps the most rewarding manual car on Earth. But a pig to move around the drive, garage etc. Carbon clutch, light, but hard work.

Manual automated gearboxes. Had a few from Italy again, burnt clutches, jerky etc.

Then PDK.

911 TURBO S - this is the point where I realised so much torque and power would simply overwhelm the average driver. They are so quick with so much power that really the PDK was sensible and rewarding.

Morgan find themselves needing to deliver a more modern sports car. I have now driven my Plus 6 to 9/10ths and only come away thinking “fuck me” the only car that will give this a run for its money is a modern super car.

So the legislation bit, unlike a manual you can programme an auto to behave and get you through all the bullshit legislation.

Biggest bonus for me? My wife loves it. Oh and to get my fix on a manual, 3 is the magic number!

Personally, I found using 'paddles' very intuitive... it took 'seconds' to learn.

Same brain pattern... thinking of changing up or down, pull the right or left paddle.

Good fun... makes the most of an 'auto'... but still not as 'satisfying' as 'stirring the pudding' whilst tap dancing!

Depends how fast you can stir and tap I guess

With the Plus 6 in Manual and maybe Sport Mode you can still have the driver interface with paddle's, assuming you don't want to have auto changes at the redline. TBH in a straight line on open road I found I was just going through the motions with the paddle's rather than using them to any effect, and leaving this very light car in Drive, as others have suggested, would be just as effective. The fun would start on the twisty bits though especially given the auto blip when commanding down changes, which simply couldn't be replicated as quickly with your feet.

I've had a bike with an auto 'blipper' for clutchless changes going down the box. Milton Keynes roundabouts made you feel like Rossi..

Know what you mean SBM..Francis Rossi once he cut off his pony tail was reborn.

All together now..."Pictures of matchstick men and you....."

That is a great endorsement for the Plus Six, thanks for your opinion of the latest model always good to have feedback from the real world.