Auto or Manual ??

[Cribby]

Hello,

I am interested in purchasing a new Jeep Unlimited 4dr 4x4. My question is what is better, the automatic or manual transmission ? I've driven cars for the past 9 years that were all manual transmissions and I love it but this will be my first Jeep so it is a totally different vehicle than my previous vehicles. I will be using it for some daily road use but also for some nice trail riding. Can you do some mild to serious off-roading in a manual transmission 4x4 Jeep ? Is it harder to drive and manuvure trails and climbing with a manual ? Any help or information would be appreciated.

Thanks,

James

[bubblehead]

I have used both. A stick is a little trickier depending on how serious your trail is.

[NMJeeper]

Seems like everybody is switching to Auto's in the rock crawling and even the serious trail guys. But if you do a poll here you'll find that people are still sticking to the old wives tail of Sticks. I did a bunch of opinion searching and found sticks slightly better MAYBE on Sand and Mud. Otherwise go with an auto.

[Caribic-TJ]

I would get the auto, have it in my '98 TJ Sahara and it is great on & off road.The Wranglers in our club with manual are not better off road, and with an auto you can concentrate better on other things. In some situations, a manual could be better, but overall, the auto is the better choice. And don't forget the better resale value. Get the tow package, it comes with better axle and gear ratio.
Have fun with your new Wrangler!
Martin:coolsun:
www.offroad-pirates.com
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'98 TJ Sahara auto, 2" lift, 32x10.50 Super Swamper TSL Radial, Ramsey winch, KC lights.

[bubblehead]

Depending on your abilities and what you are comfortable with, My club has a mix of both, and we mainly are on the Rocks. 4+ trails

[TheJeepGuy]

My friend has a manual TJ and while he swears by it, he stalls on even the easiest of trails IMO... I don't see why people stick with old technology like sticks- it would be like saying don't give me AC but don't give me a discount either.

[muddyjeep]

it's all in personal preference. the autos are real nice. 2 of my 3 jeeps are auto's. real nice, real easy to use and fairly relaxing both on and off the road.

i have driven a fair number of sticks too... both cars and jeeps. my CJ is a 3-speed stick... i have a few friends with 5-speed wranglers... and now working at the dealership i have gotten to play with the new 6-speed JKs.

if you can work a stick and do the whole two-footed dance on 3 pedal, you'll be fine... for a little extra help you can easily fab up a thumb-trottle for just a few bucks. that will really help on the hills and rocks.

for every 10 people that will sware by auto's, there will be 10 people that sware by sticks. they both have pro's and con's. it just boils down to what YOU are comfortable with and what YOU want out of your rig.

[Gryphon]

My CJ7 is a manual trans. I like manuals, but the newer automatics are so much better than the older generations (the stuff I grew up with: TH350s, C6's, 727 TorqueFlights) and don't suck nearly as much power.

Most newer Jeeps sold are autos.

They are easier to drive too. That goes if you are on the highway, in town or in the rocks. Manuals are trickier, clutches blow out and burn up often in the rough stuff, and humans only have two feet...it takes three to run a stick in the rough (or a hand throttle!)

Autos are much easier to power-brake, manuals do better burn-outs.

All an opinion. Get what you like and don't look back.

[.:Matt:.]

My CJ7 is a manual trans. I like manuals, but the newer automatics are so much better than the older generations (the stuff I grew up with: TH350s, C6's, 727 TorqueFlights) and don't suck nearly as much power.

Most newer Jeeps sold are autos.

They are easier to drive too. That goes if you are on the highway, in town or in the rocks. Manuals are trickier, clutches blow out and burn up often in the rough stuff, and humans only have two feet...it takes three to run a stick in the rough (or a hand throttle!)

Autos are much easier to power-brake, manuals do better burn-outs.

All an opinion. Get what you like and don't look back.


x2

get what you feel you'd like. personally i like manuals. its all i drive, what i learned on. on the trail it adds challenge. but yeah burning clutches isnt fun to keep from stalling on hills.

personally, when i get a TJ, ill get an automatic. now-days its not just creature comfort, but there are trails that you dont need the extra challenge. its right in front of ya. plus, pun intended,

they rock!

-matt

[73CJunk5]

Like most of the guys have said here, it's all your personal preference and driving style. There have been numerous times I wished mine was an automatic and just as many when I was glad it was a stick.

To be perfectly honest, I wish mine was an auto now. The wimpy little 232 doesn't have much in the way of balls and requires a lot of fancy shifting on the trails. I've had a 304 Jeep and I'm building a 401 for this one as we speak. With the V-8 power and the 3-spd, you can just throw it in second and torque your way out of just about anything, but that's not really much option with the current setup.

There's my $0.02. I expect change. :)

[scrambler013]

Agreed, it is personal. But here is my 2 cents. I have a manual JK Unlimited with 4.10's and untill I put bigger tires on it, first gear was useless on the street. Off road, it was nice, but for dd it stunk. Now that I put 305/70R16's on it, I have use of first and it still runs great on the trails. I have only done easy stuff since I am getting used to wheeling a Limo compared to my old YJ but I wouldn't go to an auto for anything. Just my opinoin.

Scrambler

[Jeepis]

Seems like everybody is switching to Auto's in the rock crawling and even the serious trail guys. But if you do a poll here you'll find that people are still sticking to the old wives tail of Sticks. I did a bunch of opinion searching and found sticks slightly better MAYBE on Sand and Mud. Otherwise go with an auto.

I've found the exact opposite to be true. I prefer auto on sand and mud, and a manual on the rocks. W/a manual in soft dry sand going uphill, you lose all power between shifts, whereas w/an auto you can just stand on it.

I've owned manual and auto Jeeps, and my current one is an auto. Both have their merits.

[gyoe]

I have auto in my JK, I love it. A friend of mine has a 6spd manual in his JK, and I think that it's pointless. It's like driving an auto with an extra pedal. Thats my opinion.

[EXTREMEG]

like shifting but on the trail i like the auto.