stick, but make this thread a poll

 

I love shifting my stick, wait that didn't sound right...

If I was using it as a dedicated offroad toy I would go auto, otherwise every vehicle I own will be a stick. I can't stand not shifting. I also like having the control over the vehicle. Like being in second or third and just pushing down on the gas without having the tranny make up it's mind on what gear to be in, I already know what gear for how much power I need.
I have a tendency to stomp on the floor with my left foot and shift into N while driving an auto.

 

I got the 4:10s with a 6-speed because I selected the trailer package.

 

I am getting ready to place my order for a '08 and this is the last decision I have to make.....auto or manual?

My long term plan is to make it a trail/rock machine....almost exclusively...it will eventually not be driven on the street much, if at all.

It seems that all the forums and boards I have searched this topic on, its about 50/50. There are pros and cons to each, obviously.

I guess my biggest question is the durability/longevity of the stock auto. in the JK. Will it need anything done to it to make it stronger or last longer? I will be adding lockers and a t-case down the road...maybe at some point doing 1-ton axles...etc..etc.

I have never been rock-crawling...well not as a driver anyway. So I dont really have anything to compare the 2 on as far as "ease of use" on the rocks goes. Some say auto is easier to drive, some say manual is better....

So any JK drivers out there who spend a LOT of time on the rocks, chime in with your experiene. Especially if you have experience with both trannies. Thanks!

 

funny enough, my wife chose the stick even though she's never owned a manual transmission vehicle in her life. The one she test drove was an auto and she hated the way it shifted so, after listening to me rave about manual transmissions and about how you "drive a standard" and simply "aim an automatic" vehicle, she opted for the 6 speed. It took her all of 5 minutes to get used to the clutch and, though she's still a little rough getting it up to 3rd gear, she loves it! She drives it everywhere and though I kindly offer to drive from time to time, the closest I've gotten to driving it is bringing it form the driveway into the garage :sad: I guess I'll have to wait till they come out with a diesel rubicon in yellow or orange and get my own!!

 

I'm surprised there are more 6spd out there, but this poll may be skewed.

 

And I bet at least 33% of those people that voted for the 6-speed bought an Automatic, either because of their commute, spouse, etc... EVERYONE likes the idea of a manual transmission in theory, but not everyone chooses to buy one.

I like the convenience of my Auto, and it goes so well with the 3.8L that I have no complaints - I can force a downshift easily, at will, and it upshifts smoothly too... not to mention that we all know Autos are better for offroading.

(I'm kidding - they ARE better, but this has been argued to death already).

 

Got an Auto with the 4.10.

 

Ya right...

 

As a decrepit old man of 62, this is my 7th Jeep...the first 5, starting back in '71 were all manual...back in '02, I decided to give my left leg a rest after spending 4 hours feathering the clutch coming home from a NASCAR race in Dover, DE...the automatic spoiled me till late last year, when I saw the JKs coming out...after much soul searching, at order time, I went with the 6-speed...off-roading in my area means swamps, mud, sandy beaches (surf fishing) and very few big rocks, like most of you enjoy...the manual tranny handles my area very well, I think better than the automatic I had in the last Wrangler... I do think the 6th gear isn't really necessary, it only drops the rpms about 150 rpms from 5th, and it will really lug on even some gentle Interstate hills...also,
the 4.10 helps with the 6 speed...