6 speed. My daily driver. Wife said she can relearn on it in case she needs it some time. We'll see. I bought a 5 speed before when I should have purchased the automatic (for the wife). I can always use the excuse we need some upgrades, ie exhaust, intake and chip to make it easier to take off. Once she is going it is okay.

 

Auto so the wife can drive it once in a while.

 

I wrestled with this decision for a week to the point I was losing sleep. I have wanted a Wrangler for 8 years but it just would not work for me prior to the 4 door version. I had always expected to get a stick, case closed. I like driving a stick alot and have enjoyed it in many cars.

After much consideration and against all these best laid plans I ended up getting the automatic. I am not really sure why exactly and I am sure I would have had regrets with either choice after deliberating for so long on which one. Here is the best explanation i can give after much research and thought.

A. While I loved the stick for joy riding and test drives and it was a blast, there was a small part of me that wondered if there would be days I just wanted to lean back with the wind in my hair and take in the world without being so in tune to the vehicle itself and the rpm's. Sure, I may not have tired of the shifting but the thought was there.

B. The auto was still AMAZING. Drivine a jeep is not like driving anything else. I thought losing the shifting control would diminish the fun as it does in other cars I have owned but it didnt. The ride and character of the Wrangler is so unique I was having a blast even with the auto. Despite the reviews I felt like I could pretty much get just as much oomph from the auto by learning how it liked to be driven. I think the recent TSB made a big difference in that as well.

C. The Unlimited is larger and the "feel" was a little different than the 2 door and TJ's I have driven. In the SWB I never would have considered the auto as they really are so compact. The Unlimited just had a little more weight to it and while still very exciting to drive it wasnt quite the "seat of my pants" excitement I remembered from rowing the gears in smaller Wranglers. It seemed a little less sporty and a little more utility.

D. I have never off-roaded and I readily admit my primary love of Wranglers stems from the desire to have a convertible that can still carry gear, kids, dogs, etc. That said, everyone says the bug will bite ya and I am sure that is possible. With that in mind I would think the auto will be much better for a newbie to off-roading.


Things I do regret with my choice:
A. The control is fun. I do miss that. It does seem to lose a little sportiness without the stick.
B. It does scream Jeep to have the most basic transmission. Then again the new jeeps are not exactly "primitive" anymore.
C. Being able to modify my driving for fun versus seeing how good of gas mileage I can get...and it does appear the manuals are spanking the autos in mpg.

At the end of the day I am having a blast with every drive of my new jeep without a stick so I am not entirely sure what I would have gained with the stick. Sure, it might have been a tiny bit more exciting for joy riding but that would have carried some trade offs for those times a stick is not the best situation.

I am getting closer to "no regrets" with each passing day but it really did come down to a coin flip.

 

Sponge: Well expressed!

 

Ordered My Black Rubi with 6 Speed.Should have in about 4-6 weeks. Im new to jeep and owed a H2 about 2 years ago. Biggest mistake of my life!! I look forward to getting to know everyone on here.

 

I went with the 6. I just like to have a standard tranny I suppose. I learned to drive that way, might as well keep it going. Plus, I've driven the auto too and it just wasn't as fun. The power band through the gears took a little getting used to coming out of a car. I love it though.

 

I do have to admit despite my lengthy rambling I do regret not going with the 6speed. The more I drive this thing, the more fun it is....and I cant help but think how much more fun it could be. I did not realize I would be so attached to it and now that I am I sort of long for the most involved experience possible.

It might be the only thing that gets me to trade this thing in at some point...but only to get the exact same thing in a manual tranny. Second guessing is a horrible thing, lol.

 

I went with the auto. 2 main reasons: 1) I could not walk away from the only 2-door JK I had seen with 100% of what I was looking for except the 6-speed - especially after I drove it. 2) Mama was being really, really nice and wanted the auto. How could I say no?

I had an auto in my TJ and broke nothing while going everywhere I wanted. When you're tasting the upholstery it's nice to have that extra control. Downside is lack of compression braking, even with the 4:1 t-case. It is much better in the JK (better brakes and 4:1 t-case), but my TJ was in the "N" position on many a descent because my brakes were not inspiring confidence.

 

Said I would never get a black vehicle or a manual again !! Ordered the 2dr rubi with both...ahh well.....

 

I've been a clutch guy all my life, there was never any real choice. Besides, autos just bore the hell outa me.