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Automatic vs Manual Transmission

122K views 81 replies 49 participants last post by  kjeeper10 
#1 ·
I am trying to make a decision before I order 2007 Unlimited Wrangler Rubicon. I need to know what is PRO and CON between automatic vs manual transmission.

Thank you for advising if you have answering this question.

Mark
 
#2 ·
Manual is way more fun. :D Seriously though, nothing beats using the gears to decend a steep hill, but then again, it sucks having to shift in the middle of trying to climb that hill... Gas mileage would be better with manual. More low end power with a stick. Plus it's harder to chirp the tires between first and second with an auto. ;)

If you do a lot of city driving go with the auto. If you do a lot of highway or a mix of highway and city, then I would go with the manual. Off road, a lot of it is just personal preference and how you drive. IMO

Either way you go, I'm sure you will love it. It's a Jeep!
 
#3 ·
i have a 5 speed manual. how many speeds in the 07 auto and manuals?

manuals last longer once you submerge them in water.
compression braking off road or around town is a nice to have feature.
you can go for a very long time with little to no maintenace with the stick.
aren't manuals generally shorter for more driveshaft length when lifting said jeep.


while out rock crawling i wish i had an auto for easing up rocks instead of constantly feathering the clutch.
around the city autos are a nice feature to have.
autos torque converter do add alitle more torque to things.
how much are oil and filter changes plus an occasional clutch adjustment on an auto?

i'm sure there is more of each but it's a start.
 
#4 ·
I also have manual and i live in a city. I'm used to it so i dont care much that i have to shift. As scumby says you gotta feather the clutch on trails. To be honest the 4 low is such a slow speed you dont even need to press the clutch most of the time. At least i dont. As recomendations go if you drive this thing to work and back and talk on the phone while driving I would say get an auto but if you like to have fun on your way home, manual is the way to go. You will get use to changing gears in about a week and after you wont notice it much. Anyhow keep us updated
 
#5 ·
I see a lot of answers here that I think are off base. A stick is more fun? Please! I have a stick and I know that I would be happier with an auto. Someone up there said a stick is better in water. That's crap. Test drive both and get the one you want, but the auto is the way to go, imo.

Better mileage too.
 
#6 ·
buy what you want. i don't mind my manual but you might be happier with an auto.

i have heard that manuals are less prone to damage (in water also)

amerijeeps favorite magazine (JP ;)) said they are less prone to damage. there magazine may suck in some peoples opinion but it doesn't mean they don't know a few things about jeeps.
 
#7 ·
They certainly do suck and they think we suck. Ever see the issue where they talked so badly about jeep internet forums and the people who use them? Now why do you suppose that is?

Anyway, drive your manual through water all you want.
 
#8 ·
I love driving manual, sometimes i wish i had in auto, but that is very rare..

Manuals are pretty simple when it comes to servicing, but then a new clutch and labor are atleast $500...

It all depends on what you like...
 
#10 ·
With the ruby either the auto or the manual is fine. The auto in the rubicon is going to have the same crawl ratio (or darn close) to the std CR in a non ruby 6spd or Tj 5spd. So you will have about 45:1 or so. Which is darn good. I have a 5spd, but if I get another jeep it will be the auto.
 
#11 ·
Manual versus Automatic

All the input regarding manual versus automatic transmissions are good.

I would add the following:

Clutch versus torque converter. Clutch is a direct coupling between motor and transmission. This is advantages for downhill work. The direct coupling also gives a little better fuel millage. The down side to the clutch is when a lot of start stop driving is done the clutch will get hot. When hill climbing and feathering is needed the clutch will get hot and can fail under extreme conditions. Think of the cluth as a break pad holding the motor torque to the transmission.

The torque converter is a hydraulic fluid coupling which provides smooth coupling between motor and transmission by means of hydraulic shearing of the fluid. This sheering accounts for the fuel milage loss. A second item is the heat caused by heat sheering. When doing hill climbing and a lot of start stopping the torque converter fluid heats up. If this heat is not removed transmission failure occurs.

Heat in the automatic transmission fluid can be removed using coolers. The heat generated in the clutch is more difficult to remove under continual clutch application. The manual clutch relies on the heat sinking properties of the flywheel and pressure plate for its cooling. This means that if you heat up the clutch and can leave it engadged (foot off the clutch) for a while the heat will be drawn out of the clutch plate.

Now we get to the automatic transmission versus the manual. When looking at the gear tooth contact between the gears on a manual transmission you will notice that on the transfere of power there is only a gear and a half tooth contact between gears. This is a week point for manual transmissions. In Automatic transmissions a planetary gear system is used alowing three sets of gears transfereing torque at all times. This allows for significant tooth contact between gears. This is why drag cars use automatic transmissions.

I prefere automatic for strength and manual for fun.
 
#12 ·
All the input regarding manual versus automatic transmissions are good.

I would add the following:

Clutch versus torque converter. Clutch is a direct coupling between motor and transmission. This is advantages for downhill work. The direct coupling also gives a little better fuel millage. The down side to the clutch is when a lot of start stop driving is done the clutch will get hot. When hill climbing and feathering is needed the clutch will get hot and can fail under extreme conditions. Think of the cluth as a break pad holding the motor torque to the transmission.

The torque converter is a hydraulic fluid coupling which provides smooth coupling between motor and transmission by means of hydraulic shearing of the fluid. This sheering accounts for the fuel milage loss. A second item is the heat caused by heat sheering. When doing hill climbing and a lot of start stopping the torque converter fluid heats up. If this heat is not removed transmission failure occurs.

Heat in the automatic transmission fluid can be removed using coolers. The heat generated in the clutch is more difficult to remove under continual clutch application. The manual clutch relies on the heat sinking properties of the flywheel and pressure plate for its cooling. This means that if you heat up the clutch and can leave it engadged (foot off the clutch) for a while the heat will be drawn out of the clutch plate.

Now we get to the automatic transmission versus the manual. When looking at the gear tooth contact between the gears on a manual transmission you will notice that on the transfere of power there is only a gear and a half tooth contact between gears. This is a week point for manual transmissions. In Automatic transmissions a planetary gear system is used alowing three sets of gears transfereing torque at all times. This allows for significant tooth contact between gears. This is why drag cars use automatic transmissions.

I prefere automatic for strength and manual for fun.
hmmm never knew that thks for the info:punk:
 
#14 ·
Hey Antigoon. I dont understand what you meant by it. Could give it in newb language what that mean. I have an auto and so am reading through this thread...:confused:
 
#15 ·
Outside the technical jargon just read: Strength wise, your auto is as good as your manual..
Preference should be based on your usage..

Sry for being technical in my previous reply. Load transfer in gearing is quite complex and needs to be understood before making statements that one is better than the other....
 
#16 ·
Oh ok.. Thanks.. I was getting worried reading through the thread..:D
 
#17 ·
Manual

Have had 'em both in JKs. Manual all the way. Auto is only 4 speed, and have to push a button to lock out 4th, can't shift all 4. Acceleration with auto is not nearly as good as with manual. Pick the right gear before you start wheelin' you shouldn't need to shift in the middle of a hill. Caveat: rear end ratio makes a lot of difference, get at least a 3.73, 4.10 is preferred.

Jeeps and Corvettes should be red and should have manual trannys.:cool:
 
#18 ·
:):) Heh Heh, Well I've had corvettes and jeeps--

Mine has to be yellow and Auto for the jeeps-snow/shale/hills and 6-speed manual's for the corvettes

I've just been that way since my first vette, a 1962 fuely, although it wasn't a 6-speed, twas a 4-speed and it was a color, called Fawn Beige

:rofl::rofl: JIMBO
 
#19 ·
:):) Heh Heh, Well I've had corvettes and jeeps--

Mine has to be yellow and Auto for the jeeps-snow/shale/hills and 6-speed manual's for the corvettes

I've just been that way since my first vette, a 1962 fuely, although it wasn't a 6-speed, twas a 4-speed and it was a color, called Fawn Beige

:rofl::rofl: JIMBO
 
#21 ·
I just wanted to add-- I was eating food while driving stick in traffic with the doors off and it was windy I win!

This battle will never end I fore see the future here.
 
#22 ·
I have always had manuals. My jeep is a 6 speed and lots of fun. I feel like I have more control and engine breaking is nice. If you like to do a bunch of other things while you drive I would go with the auto. The most I usually do is take a drink now and then at a light and maybe..maybe take a hands free call if it's important but only out of personal preference. I love driving it so much I just don't like to be bothered. I'm 6'3" and am quite accomplished at knee steering so I can do everything you auto drivers can do too.
 
#31 ·
I have always had manuals. My jeep is a 6 speed and lots of fun. I feel like I have more control and engine breaking is nice.
You mean you BROKE your engine? Or did you mean engine BRAKING...
big difference between 'breaking' and 'braking'...makes it sound like a manual is going to break your engine....

tsk tsk tsk...your high school english teacher is shaking a finger at you....:banghead:
 
#23 ·
I would love to talk to people while driving but it is so damn loud they scream at me telling me to call them back later lol
 
#24 ·
I see the "Automatic vs. Manual" virus is making it's way around this site. :)
 
#26 ·
My only question about auto vs manual is reliability. Are the autos prone to undiagnosable issues like Chrysler transmissions? Every single Chrysler van we owned eventually would get stuck in "limp mode", where only 2nd gear was available. Replacing the transmission didn't fix this for long. Solution was to turn the van off and then on at speed to reset the computer, and to never use OD. (It would happen every time when decelerating in OD, but only every now and then if D was selected instead).

I enjoy driving a stick, but having to replace the clutch in every vehicle I owned at around 140k is an expensive drag - especially since I plan to buy a jeep with around 100k on it. My jeep will be on-road 99.5% of the time, but I am looking at a 6" suspension lift and 35" tires. I basically want whatever will cost me the least amount in maintenance and repairs over the next 10 years.

Charles.
 
#29 ·
I just replaced the auto transmission in my wife's Chrysler PT Cruiser. I could buy several clutches for what I paid for the transmission. If hers were a standard, I could have had clutches for life plus clutches for life in my jeep as well. The only transmission that I have ever had issues with. The only auto too...I love my wife...nuf said.
 
#30 ·
I just replaced the auto transmission in my wife's Chrysler PT Cruiser. I could buy several clutches for what I paid for the transmission. If hers were a standard, I could have had clutches for life plus clutches for life in my jeep as well. The only transmission that I have ever had issues with. The only auto too...I love my wife...nuf said.

You love your wife, yet she's driving a PT Cruiser? :eek: :rofl:
 
#35 ·
x2 The hill assist and no stall feature on newer JKs really even the playing field of Manuals vs Autos and you also get all the engine control and feel of your Jeep with a stick.

This is the last time I will reply to a tranny thread with helpful information. From this point on, no prisoners will be taken!!!:bottom:
 
#39 ·
I have a 6 speed and I would not change it. I came from an auto car for 5 years but have driven many manuals and with the hill assist in the Jeep that really seals the deal. Its so fun to be able to have the control and it puts you in the drivers seat, you are piloting the Jeep, you act and it reacts...its cool to be the boss :D
 
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