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

Hello again,
A new member so please forgive if these questions have been addressed before, but I want to get opinions on the manual plus four gearbox, especially with regard to the ratios. It seems to me just way off and ideally needs tighten up quite a bit. I mean second gear to 80mph seems a little to high a ratio and makes the car a little less fun than it could be.
I have been lucky enough to spend a few weeks over Christmas touring a plus four Cx manual and I’m basically in love with it, I’ve driven many sports cars and the Morgan just makes me smile… but with one niggle, the gearbox ratios! why are they so so out of wack?
. it seems like it’s basically a 3 gear car .. with 4th an overdrive… I’m not sure why 5th and 6th are even there. in 2 weeks we almost never used them and probably drove 1500 miles. The ratios seem so so out of tune with the car and my main question is why ? Was it because that’s the gearbox Morgan could get easily? Or for another reason ? And next question is there a CX gearbox diff mod or new gearbox that addresses this… I mean look at the ratios of MX5 or 911 manuals … perfect… I just don’t understand why Morgan would slightly crimp the plus four with this gearbox…. When it’s such a perfectly balance car for B roads.
Anyway would love to know if there’s a diff Mod of a new gearbox to address this,
Thanks

I also have a Plus Four with manual gearbox.
You're absolutely right, the ratio is very long. I only use gears 1 to 5, 6th gear is only needed on the highway.
However, thanks to the high-torque turbo engine, I don't find the gear ratios a problem, you only use the first 5 gears, no problem for me.
I previously had Plus 4 and Plus 8, which also only had 5 gears.
So go for the manual gearbox if you prefer manual gearbox, otherwise go for the automatic gearbox.

The auto is a far better car IMHO. The manual box ratios are set I believe for reducing emissions. Krazy Horse were talking about supplying different ratios, but I don't know if they do.

I also have a manual Plus Four and would agree.

I went for the manual for driver engagement. Yes, I get the auto thing, my other 3 vehicles are all autos & they virtually drive themselves. they're super easy but boring. I tried the auto & didn't like the set up, changing down by 1,2 or 3 gears when you squeeze the throttle. in the manual I'll let the torque do the work or decide which gear & I feel i've got more control. (paddle shift? .. can't be bothered). yes the ratios are weird, i've just got used to it over time.(done 16k in 1 ¾ years). clutch feels heavy but i've found it perfect .. never stalled it. 1st gear is great in slow, stop start traffic - leave it in 1st never jerky. very torquey engine & very flexible but not much happens over 4 ½ k revs. 6th is for 60mph plus. I do give it some stick, the quicker times of the auto don't bother me but the extra torque the auto gives would be nice. my car is a march 22 & pre traction control, I just didn't like the auto deciding gears for me in damp conditions. id say, if you like to push on, on the twisty stuff go manual. if you like to potter about .. auto. as a side note my other car is a BMW 128Ti, same engine & power but auto. (Aisin not ZF) & the gearbox works really well .. never constantly swapping gears. ....... long test drives on both country lanes & tea time traffic. Enjoy.

further re ratios. roughly... I change into 3rd at 30mph, 4th at 40, 5th at 50, 6th at 60. roughly 10mph higher than 'normal' .

As above the torque of the car does mean you get use to the long ratios but i agree it would be a great combo if you could zip thought the gears a bit more. I am currently looking into if the final ratio of the diff can be changed by installing an LSD. ill keep you posted if its possible.

the engine is made to be used with an automatic gearbox
the flywheel on the manual is way to heavy (like on all modern cars, except GT-Porsches and a few more specials)

realy: get the automatic, I only have a manual because I had to buy a LM62 'out of the showroom'

I"m a pre-CX owner so don't drive a CX, but can't the auto box be used manually like a sequential gear box? If the gear stick is pushed to the left can it then be used sequentially, so in essence giving you manual control of the gear changing?

You would have the benefits of the auto box gearing but be able to drive it manually?

Just thought.

I tried the manual and the auto box before buying, and went for the auto as the ratios were just so much better. I drive it all the time in sport mode, using only the paddles.

I prefer to think of the car as 'clutchless' rather than 'automatic'!!