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Manual vs. auto

49K views 545 replies 207 participants last post by  DWDK 
#1 ·
Hi,

I'm thinking about a 15 when they come out and I'm wondering about the automatic owners. Are you happy or do you wish you got the manual?

Are the manuals historically more reliable than the auto?
 
#2 ·
I drive an automatic and 100% happy with my decision. Sports car=manual, I choose automatic for any jeep/truck/suv that I own
 
#4 · (Edited)
My last Jeep ('05 TJ) was an automatic. I wanted an auto because I wanted to build a rockcrawler out of it. Loved it. Amazing in the rocks.
Both of my current Jeeps ('93 YJ and '09 JKR) are manuals and I love them.
I guess it depends on what kind of driving you tend to do. There's absolutely nothing wrong with either of those tranny decisions.
You'll get a bunch of one-sided opinions on this forum. People tend to make up excuses to justify their purchases and have a hard time staying objective. I've owned both and say there are pros and cons to each.
 
#5 ·
The auto with the 4:10s in my Rubi are a perfect match. Perfect shift points all around. I guess over the years shifting all the time has lost a lot of it appeal. Besides my wife never learned to drive a manual when she was a youngster and she damn sure doesn't want to learn now. Of course if you buy a manual it'll sure cut down on the number of people asking to drive it!
 
#6 ·
The auto is "easier" in nearly every way. The manual demands more skill, more concentration. One is not the universally better solution -- each may be the better solution for you.

For me, manual is the better choice. I have a fair amount of time in rental Wranglers, all autos. They are easier to handle in tricky rock and snow situations. They are easier to drive in traffic. I prefer to be more engaged, and the manual demands that of its driver. I don't mean that to sound elitist, like I am special because I choose the harder option. In fact, I have 3 autos and 2 manuals right now. Every tool has its best use.
 
#8 ·
I have a manual. I like the feel and control of it. That said, I live in the sticks and its not my daily drive, got a work van for that. If I lived in an urban area with a lot of heavy stop and go traffic, I would have opted for the auto. Just my two cents, no change required.
 
#10 ·
I love my auto. My previous 3 jeeps we're stick and I have no plans to go back. With the control the slap shifter provides I can't think of any advantage the manual would provide me in exchange for its extra work and hassle.

And the auto is awesome both off-road and in traffic.
 
#11 ·
just go for personal preference. period. you wont be happy if you don't follow your instinct on that one. the downside to the auto in my opinion is the electronics, the shift points may not be desirable in all conditions, the possibility of a wire or computer issue taking down a bus or solenoid circuit and going in to limp in mode, also the increased chances for leaks due to additional components like the coolers, lines and pan.....but then again those are always my reasons to not get an auto and why I drive manuals lol, we drove 200 miles to get our 6 speed so obviously its my preference....auto wasn't an option for me...

if I rock climbed a lot I might have been swayed by an auto....nothing we do is that major but at times get into some decent stuff considering the stock ride height/32"mt's, the left leg can get a little tired at times, and can get wheel slip/roll back where an auto wouldn't.. the auto's have been pretty reliable other than a few electronic problems here or there as far as I know...

as far as I know the manuals have been reliable unless wheeled really hard. on the downside they have been known to always have some clutch/throw out bearing noise that doesn't cause any real problems
 
#12 ·
I've had plenty of sticks over the years. My new Wrangler's an auto and I couldn't be happier. It shifts smoothly and solidly, which isn't always the case with autos. I've ditched a couple of cars in the last dozen years that had horribly shifting auto trannies - cars that slammed rather than shifted into gear.
 
#13 ·
I like to watch the manual guys stall out multiple times when rock crawling.
 
#14 ·
The guys stalling out their manuals on obstacles just arent geared right. 4.56 gears, 4:1 trans case and 35's and you can ride the brakes without stalling. Seen it first hand lol
 
#18 ·
I went with a manual because I like having the control and it adds to the experience of driving... But I didn't realize the learning curve would be so steep when off roading. It takes a bit to learn how to drive it off road without stalling. Once you get the hang of it, and how to properly use 4 Lo, it's awesome!

An automatic would be much easier though if you just want to drive without really needing to to relearn or think about it.
 
#19 ·
My wife and I both drive standards and autos, We both like driving period. The Jeep auto transmission gives you a bit of both if used properly in the proper setting. Now the only problem is who gets to drive the trails on a given day....

I personally would love to drive a Rubicon with 6sp and 4.88s on 37s....she would too, Dang it.
 
#21 ·
I test drove an automatic and a 6spd. Either one is good. Just look at your driving with it. For me the JKUR is a second car/toy since my primary ride is a 14 Grand Cherokee (Perks of being a Chrysler Employee). I went with the manual and honestly it's been fine off road and I have only stalled it once. The 4.10's with the stock tires in low range idle over a lot of stuff. Plus on some of the steeper trails here in CO it just seems to be geared perfectly. Buy what you want and buy it once.
 
#23 ·
That is one of the few advantages left for manuals other than sheer fun. Manuals enable you to overcome non-optimum gear ratio to good extent.

If you're a long time driver of manuals go with the manual, otherwise get the auto and you will soon forget you even had to make a decision.
 
#27 ·
If you did not have that low trans gear in addition to 4L you would be limited in your off road adventures. I would be happy and live with it. Back in the horse and buggy days I had a Toyota pick up and often took off in 2nd gear, just became habit after while.
 
#28 ·
I have had several manual wranglers and my mustang is a stick but my new rubi is an auto and I can say I will never own a manual wrangler again.
 
#29 ·
This is really one of those personal preference choices. I test drove both when looking at buying my jeep, and both worked fine for me. All but one of my vehicles have been manuals. For me an auto equals autopilot and i have a tenancy to zone out. Manuals keep me focused on both my vehicle and whats around me more. Plus i like to rest my hand on the shifter, kind an extension of the arm rest. It also didn't hurt that it saved me over a $1500 dollars when i ordered my 2dr Rubi, no added up charge for the auto or 4:10 gears which is an added option on autos but standard on the manual.
 
#30 ·
I just bought a wrangler 2 Dr and I told the dealership that I HAD to have a manual. Unfortunately the only manual in the entire state was 200 miles away. So I never got a chance to test drive it, but I did test drive the autos. If I had to do it over I probably would have gotten the auto. I still like the manual, mostly for the long 6th gear, but I HATE driving it in traffic. I am going to wear out the clutch driving in traffic long before I would start having problems with an auto (I would hope).

*And as many of you probably know a clutch is considered a wear item and not covered under the warranty, just like brakes and tires.
 
#32 ·
Yes, a clutch is a wear item. But I've never gotten less than 100K out of one. In several cases, I've gotten MUCH more- 160K in one case. If driving in traffic causes you to smoke your clutch before 100K, something's wrong-either with your driving habits or the vehicle. And a clutch replacement isn't cheap. But neither is an auto tranny rebuild. Autos do need them occasionally. Especially if not maintained properly which is the case with a lot of people.

To the OP- I went stick for no other reason than it's what I wanted. I have 3 other vehilces that I drive regularly, all autos. The Jeep is MY toy and I wanted stick so that's what I got.
 
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