Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Plus Four, Supersport & Plus Six (CX & CXV Generation Vehicles) Patiently waiting for Plus Four in California

Greetings from the California High Desert! I have had a deposit down on a new Plus Four for almost 2 years now - just a small amount that has me 3rd in line. I got word that there will only be automatic gearbox versions of the car offered here in the US for at least the first year and that the 6-speed may never be offered. Hopefully when the first dealer demonstrator arrives this summer I will be able to drive it and decide that it’s fine. I’ve owned Audis and BMWs with dual clutch automatics but they were used as freeway commuter vehicles in Los Angeles and the Morgan will live with us out in the Joshua Tree area and I just think I’ll miss rowing my own gears - especially on small rural desert roads.

For those of you who’ve driven both - what say you? Will I regret buying the automatic? Will I regret even more NOT ordering one?

Thanks for any input!

You’ll be very happy with the auto- I drove both before opting for the auto and,after 28000Kms am very glad I did
Cheers!

Others may know better but the manual gear box is said to be way too long so the auto should provide more fun.

I'm not an auto-box fan, but that 8 speed is sweet and it can be driven in "manual" mode.

I dont have driven with the manual box has i have the auto box in my plus four . I dont think it is a dual clutch auto box , audi and volkswagen made them but i am not sure for bmw.
After more than two years of ownership i have discovered a function of the auto box i dindt knew. When your are in sport mode the box change also the gear automatically altough i tought i had to use
the paddles at the wheel to go up or down . If you touch a paddle the box stay in the same gear but when you keep the right paddle 2 seconds it goes back in auto. The same between sport and sport plus.
In sport plus if you touch the paddle the box goes in sport mode . When you keep the right paddle on for two seconds the box goes back in sport plus. When the ground is wet or slippery i dont stay in D mode.
I you push too hard on the accelerator in D mode the box suddenly lower the gear when you dont expect it. And with the torque of 40 m/kg at 1200 tr/min the car dont keep his line. This can be dangerous if someone his coming in your direction.

As Thierry writes, it is not a dual clutch gearbox and thus cannot coast in neutral automatically, as I can in my Audi. One cannot even select neutral above about 2 mph. However, it is 8 speed and exceptionally good. It also gives better performance and gas miles.

I should add if the engine can t start the car can t be towed . There is a sort of metal tool designed to unlock the rear wheel from the auto box . But you have to find a hole under the car to do that.

For me it is impossible to do without lifting the car. There is also under the dashboard a button underseer to be able to use the handbrake when running ( if you drive very sportively).

I have driven both and I would choose the autobox over the manual on the Plus Four. As said earlier, the manual box ratios are too long for sporty driving and the auto feels much sportier, despite the lack of clutch pedal, and is also 1/2 a second quicker to 60mph and gives better mpg.
I am a manual box diehard, but in this instance I am prepared to admit the 8 speed ZF box is a better choice. You need to have driven both to realise why but don't worry, you will not be disappointed.
The Plus Six may be a different story though. but it is unlikely that we will ever find out as Morgan have no plans for a manual Plus Six anytime soon (AFAIK).

Hi Prop Man ... greetings from DC, where I am also waiting patiently for 2 years since making a deposit
I hope you are correct and we see some movement this summer on the delivery for the USA front!

I’ve been told the demonstrators are due to arrive in August and that orders placed soon after will be delivered 1st quarter 2024.
I’m still not thrilled that the manual trans won’t be available, but most think the automatic is superior so I’m leaning toward ordering the automatic.