Auto because it is simply one less thing to do while enjoying the outdoors and nature. But then it does not matter that much because I do not go fast nor have I ever shifted (had standards and other autos before this) much when I am offroad. Either one works well though it depends more on the driver and what they are used to than the actual benifits of one or the other.

 

It boils down to preference, manuals are great for fuel economy, jk autos are prone to overheating and apparently not doing all that great in the towing arena without overheating, but are convenienent, widely loved for rock-crawling. Most drivers that have manuals and use them offroad especially rock-crawling have enough experience to know how to use them effectively, it boils down to skill and experience.

Main thing is get what you like and you probably should have done a poll if your deciding factor was "what a group of folks on the internet thought you should get"

 

Yeah, the auto overheating issues are one of the main reasons I'm seriously considering the manual in the JK. I'm not sure I'd ever tow much, but it's a possibility, too, so that's weighing in the decision.

In the end, I will get what I want and I just want to make sure I make an informed decision and am happy with my choice when I do.

I like to be able to get input from "internet users" rather than just have the dealer steer me toward whatever he has more of in stock!

You bring up a good point. Are you talking about JK/Jeep trannys specifically? I am quite certain that I've clutched my truck when it was underwater and it's still going strong. One more thing to think about, though.

That surprising, I would've thought that the manual would be preferred on rocks moreso. Can you expand on why the auto is preferred?

I've heard stories of auto trannys shifting up to 2nd when least expected (and when most unwanted) like when crawling down a steep hill and putting the rig/occupants at risk. Were those just horror stories, anomalies?

 

I love manuals, but my Rubi is automatic. I've noticed that for rock climbing, which is a lot of what I do, its hard to beat the automatic mated to the 4:1 t-case. I miss the manual for DD driving and hill climbs and descents, but it more than makes up for itself offroad...IMHO

I also realized that the torque converter is covered by the lifetime powertrain whereas a clutch is not.

 

Good info there. Never realized that about the warranty.

I posted this is a separate thread, too, but I just got this in an email from Atlas.

Looks like enough to make me want an auto.

 

I second that

 

My wife wants a 4'dr Rubi w/auto, so I'm sure by end of the year when we hopefully order one they'll have resolved all or most of the issues.

 

I have seen this posted before. I asked why and did not get an answer.
Here goes again: How will clutching draw in muck into the tranny, and not clutching keep out muck? I can't see how that works.

 

Well I've done it in my old 07 TJ and for me what happened was upon pressing the clutch, it pushes the throwout bearing, pressing the spring loaded clutch-plate away from the engine flywheel. This action creates a distance between the two and the kind of mud I was in (goopy and real wet) seeped in from the bottom 3/8" x 6" long opening between the engine bell housing and tranny and got between the flywheel and clutchplate. That was it, I was done couldn't move till strapped out. I replaced the clutch and saw I could have maybe power-washed it maybe from the bottom gap perhaps dismounting the mud but didn't know any better at the time.

 

OK. So your situation was stuff getting into the bell housing, not the transmission. Do you suppose this is what was meant in the post I quoted, and in the one I previously had seen, which also said "into the tranny"?
In your case, I fully understand.