View Poll Results: Manual or Auto for offroading
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Manual or Auto for offroading
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
From: Plano, TX
You also have 4.10 gears. Those of us who have 32" tires manuals, and 3.21 gears get pissed sometimes. THAT IS NOT ENOUGH GEAR!!!! I recently had to do a hill climb in 4lo 1st gear, and there were times I almost had it floored to keep the damn thing from stalling. And 4hi is useless my "crawl" ration in 4 hi is 6 mph!!! WTF Jeep?!? And I don't think gas mileage is any better cuz it has to work so much harder to keep speed, downshifting all the time etc. etc.
O yeah, I love my jeep big time and prefer my stick for fun purposes, but the water fording issue is the big sticking point for me, anyone know how to water proof that slit in the bottom of the bellhousing? Why is there a vent tube on top of hte transmission that goes up into the shifter housing if it is open open up underneath the bellhousing? I don't get it. It is just a place for dirty water to get in.
O yeah, I love my jeep big time and prefer my stick for fun purposes, but the water fording issue is the big sticking point for me, anyone know how to water proof that slit in the bottom of the bellhousing? Why is there a vent tube on top of hte transmission that goes up into the shifter housing if it is open open up underneath the bellhousing? I don't get it. It is just a place for dirty water to get in.
I'm not knocking a manual, but reading through this thread I've seen some biased opinions from manual owners(maybe I wasn't looking for auto bias?) and I'm not saying the quote above is biased

If someone who never offroaded before was looking for info and insight on buying a Jeep(for offroad) from the experienced, I would almost 100% recommend an auto based on my experience. Let me remind you that this thread started as a question of offroading. Yeah, the manual is more fun to drive around town and makes you look cool and masculine, but I would stick(let me rephrase"stay") with my auto in the JK if I was buying again. I think when I get 37s I may have finally compensated for my lack of a stick to throw around

Hope this doesn't sound to harsh
Last edited by kidjeep; Oct 9, 2008 at 11:11 AM.
Yes, that's why I offroad too, but I would say if you can't find any challenging trails with an auto then you are either driving a professional rock buggy or not looking hard enough. Even with offroad driving experience of 10+ years all over the country I can tell you that I have found plenty of challenges with my auto JK.
I'm not knocking a manual, but reading through this thread I've seen some biased opinions from manual owners(maybe I wasn't looking for auto bias?) and I'm not saying the quote above is biased
If someone who never offroaded before was looking for info and insight on buying a Jeep(for offroad) from the experienced, I would almost 100% recommend an auto based on my experience. Let me remind you that this thread started as a question of offroading. Yeah, the manual is more fun to drive around town and makes you look cool and masculine, but I would stick(let me rephrase"stay") with my auto in the JK if I was buying again. I think when I get 37s I may have finally compensated for my lack of a stick to throw around
Hope this doesn't sound to harsh
I'm not knocking a manual, but reading through this thread I've seen some biased opinions from manual owners(maybe I wasn't looking for auto bias?) and I'm not saying the quote above is biased

If someone who never offroaded before was looking for info and insight on buying a Jeep(for offroad) from the experienced, I would almost 100% recommend an auto based on my experience. Let me remind you that this thread started as a question of offroading. Yeah, the manual is more fun to drive around town and makes you look cool and masculine, but I would stick(let me rephrase"stay") with my auto in the JK if I was buying again. I think when I get 37s I may have finally compensated for my lack of a stick to throw around

Hope this doesn't sound to harsh

Hey, It never occirred to me a manual was cooler and more masculine, but, now that you mentiion it, maybe.
I think its easier to drive an automatic, but, its more rewarding to drive a manual.
The three legged conundrum is solved by learning heel/toe technique btw.

So, if you are a newbie/spaz/lazy, have one leg/are afraid of people thinking you are too masculine and/cool.....get an auto.

Seriously, now a days, it doesn't make much difference unless you are a competitor...then most go manual for rocks to get the extra control.
In mud, drag racing, etc....autos are super common.
So you're not as much of a girly girl with an auto as you would have been.
Depends on what you are doing...
I've had both, and I don't have a preference ...
Also, your choice of transmission does not make you cool; that is determined by your personality and attitude
I've had both, and I don't have a preference ...

Also, your choice of transmission does not make you cool; that is determined by your personality and attitude
I was searching for an 08 with an Auto and the Locker/Sway bar combo, but it didn't exist in a 2 door here. So I ended up with a 6 speed again. I had to can my 07 because of the 6 speed messing up every 2000 miles. So, I'm going to have the faith in Jeep that I used to have, and give it another shot, because it's too damn fun.
Personally i like driving manual in the woods. I feel like you have more control at times and haver more options with how you want to get moving. But as alot of people have been saying, it all depends on what your doing and if you want it.
Opinions differ from rock crawling to bogging.
Opinions differ from rock crawling to bogging.
I bought the stick for the drive and seemingly more control of my Jeep. I have never been offroading with an auto but can see where it becomes a definite advantage based on certain terrain.








