Why all the autos?
JK Jedi
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,468
Likes: 221
From: SE Michigan
Has mine been the only tangent in 17 pages?
The OP was complaining about the abundance of automatic JK owners and concern for the risk the manuals cease to be an option.
The discussion entailed more than rock crawling.
This thread is another of the dozens that discuss the advantages and disadvantages of one over the other.
It won't be the last. They are funny, even without the sarcasm.
The OP was complaining about the abundance of automatic JK owners and concern for the risk the manuals cease to be an option.
The discussion entailed more than rock crawling.
This thread is another of the dozens that discuss the advantages and disadvantages of one over the other.
It won't be the last. They are funny, even without the sarcasm.
From June 2011 Four Wheeler Magazine Page 6. "Rules for Rocks" by Douglas McColloch.
Got a stick tranny? Sorry to hear!! My Colleague Sean P. Holman might disagree, but having a left foot that's available for braking when you're feathering the throttle to inch over a boulder, or when easing down a steep, off-caber drop, is so much easier than having to baby a clutch, hour after hour, at ultra-slow trail speeds. It's not that you can't crawl with a grindbox-it's just that having an automatic gives you one less thing to worry about.
So......To answer the OP's question....
ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!
Last edited by Rednroll; Jan 1, 2012 at 02:34 PM.
JK Freak
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 534
Likes: 0
From: Whittier, CA
Man......I don't know about the rest of you, but this is getting REALLY old. Now us auto drivers are lazy and don't know how to wheel....??? 
The thing is, I know much of these type of comments are coming from kids that really just learned to DRIVE, much less a stick, and now they've got it ALL figured out. They seem to forget that a lot of us were driving sticks before their moms and dads were even dating, and were yet even a glimmer in their eyes. But for sure they are here to tell us all about the virtues of owning a manual over an auto...
Understand kiddos, many of us have been driving twice as long as you are old, and that being in both manual, auto, and oh....need I forget......column...."SAY WHAT???"...
Do even half of you even know what I'm talking about when I say that? I doubt it.
The thing is, I know much of these type of comments are coming from kids that really just learned to DRIVE, much less a stick, and now they've got it ALL figured out. They seem to forget that a lot of us were driving sticks before their moms and dads were even dating, and were yet even a glimmer in their eyes. But for sure they are here to tell us all about the virtues of owning a manual over an auto... Understand kiddos, many of us have been driving twice as long as you are old, and that being in both manual, auto, and oh....need I forget......column...."SAY WHAT???"... Do even half of you even know what I'm talking about when I say that? I doubt it. I'd like to see if these younger posters know how to heel-n-toe, bring it on....
JK Freak
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 697
Likes: 0
From: Denver, CO
Regarding the quip on younger posters knowing how to heel/toe... I think you might be surprised. I can't speak for Jeep drivers, but heel/toe ripped through the import scene due to the god awful Fast and the Furious franchise. Surprisingly, a lot of whipper-snappers know how... even though the extent of their usage of the technique is from driving a glowing, throbbing, Honda Civic.
JK Freak
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 534
Likes: 0
From: Whittier, CA
I learned in a '78 K-5 Blazer.
Regarding the quip on younger posters knowing how to heel/toe... I think you might be surprised. I can't speak for Jeep drivers, but heel/toe ripped through the import scene due to the god awful Fast and the Furious franchise. Surprisingly, a lot of whipper-snappers know how... even though the extent of their usage of the technique is from driving a glowing, throbbing, Honda Civic.
Regarding the quip on younger posters knowing how to heel/toe... I think you might be surprised. I can't speak for Jeep drivers, but heel/toe ripped through the import scene due to the god awful Fast and the Furious franchise. Surprisingly, a lot of whipper-snappers know how... even though the extent of their usage of the technique is from driving a glowing, throbbing, Honda Civic.
Yeah, you're probably right.... I learned how to heel-n-toe in a Formula Ford at Laguna Seca. British School of Motor Racing grad here.. of course that was 30 years ago; so my skills, depth perception and reaction times are rusty.
If they can keep up, I'd like to see their reaction through the Cork Screw at speed... and rowing a Hewland Crash-Box.
JK Jedi
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,813
Likes: 0
From: Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
A few years back I went wheeling with a few kids. I really was surprised to see how many of the manual drivers didn't know how to stop on a steep incline and start back up again without slipping backwards down the hill. They were blown away (as I was when I was a kid) when I showed them how to do it. Now tell us "kids" how many of you here know how....???
JK Newbie
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Cokeville, Wyoming
Am 63 years young & have been mountain driving since I was 9, starting out in my dads Willys jeep pickup. Few autos in anything back then let alone a jeep. Drove truck for a few years too. One was a off highway Peterbuilt logging truck that had a 5 speed main, 4 speed Brownie & a separate over & under stick to boot. Makes for lots of gears to jam with max speed of under 40 mph. First rig I owned with a auto was a 5 speed Allison in my 2003 Chevrolet Duramax. The moment I drove that rig I knew stick shifts were going to go the way of the dinosaur. Think the auto vs stick to be the same as the debate on auto traction control or not on ice. Many drivers like all those years of experience to still matter & hate to see a relative novice be near as good or with equal experience & ability better. Combine that with the great feeling of being more in sync with their jeep in challenging events will no doubt delay the dinosaur thing, but in my mind there's no doubt the auto gives the novice a huge leg up & if drivers abilities & experience are equal the new autos are superior in getting all from point A to B.
Ya, my new jeep will have the auto & sure will enjoy shifting that auto in any gear I choose when I choose to without having to mess with the clutch.
Ya, my new jeep will have the auto & sure will enjoy shifting that auto in any gear I choose when I choose to without having to mess with the clutch.
JK Freak
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 697
Likes: 0
From: Denver, CO
Yeah, you're probably right.... I learned how to heel-n-toe in a Formula Ford at Laguna Seca. British School of Motor Racing grad here.. of course that was 30 years ago; so my skills, depth perception and reaction times are rusty.
If they can keep up, I'd like to see their reaction through the Cork Screw at speed... and rowing a Hewland Crash-Box.
If they can keep up, I'd like to see their reaction through the Cork Screw at speed... and rowing a Hewland Crash-Box.
JK Freak
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 534
Likes: 0
From: Whittier, CA
Thread Starter
JK Super Freak
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,805
Likes: 1
From: South Windsor, Ct
Originally Posted by AK4Dave
Man......I don't know about the rest of you, but this is getting REALLY old. Now us auto drivers are lazy and don't know how to wheel....??? The thing is, I know much of these type of comments are coming from kids that really just learned to DRIVE, much less a stick, and now they've got it ALL figured out. They seem to forget that a lot of us were driving sticks before their moms and dads were even dating, and were yet even a glimmer in their eyes. But for sure they are here to tell us all about the virtues of owning a manual over an auto... Understand kiddos, many of us have been driving twice as long as you are old, and that being in both manual, auto, and oh....need I forget......column...."SAY WHAT???"... Do even half of you even know what I'm talking about when I say that? I doubt it.
The fact of the matter is, in THIS day in age, the idea of owning a manual or auto is strictly preference. I learned to drive in a CJ5 and have owned a few other jeeps, all with manuals. At this time in my life I just preferred owning an auto. Not "because" it is an auto, it's "easy", or that I don't care about "control" or even that I'm "lazy", but because I "had" a knee problem, and know how far autos have come and how good they are in fact to wheel with. Again......there is a reason ATVs are all automatics. So please don't claim to understand who I am and if know anything about wheeling and transmissions, or if I'm lazy or not. Before a lot of you kids feel the need to jump in there and tell us ALL about owning a manual over an auto......do yourself a favor and take a step back first before attempting to insert your foot in your mouth.
I really doubt VERY much that manual trannys are going to go by the wayside anytime soon....there are still millions of them on the road and still being build...by jeep or otherwise. I probably wouldn't have said all this but I feel it was just another way for the op to bad mouth us auto drivers again, and not really out of concern for the highly coveted manual transmission. And if they do go away, then so be it. Sorry. It's the way of the world so get over it. Nobody ever said progress was always good. I myself think I was born a hundred years too late.
Just for the record I TOTALLY believe everybody should know how to drive a stick. Then you can pretty much drive anything they put you in. That being said..... Can we all just move on already...???
The thing is, I know much of these type of comments are coming from kids that really just learned to DRIVE, much less a stick, and now they've got it ALL figured out. They seem to forget that a lot of us were driving sticks before their moms and dads were even dating, and were yet even a glimmer in their eyes. But for sure they are here to tell us all about the virtues of owning a manual over an auto... Understand kiddos, many of us have been driving twice as long as you are old, and that being in both manual, auto, and oh....need I forget......column...."SAY WHAT???"... Do even half of you even know what I'm talking about when I say that? I doubt it.The fact of the matter is, in THIS day in age, the idea of owning a manual or auto is strictly preference. I learned to drive in a CJ5 and have owned a few other jeeps, all with manuals. At this time in my life I just preferred owning an auto. Not "because" it is an auto, it's "easy", or that I don't care about "control" or even that I'm "lazy", but because I "had" a knee problem, and know how far autos have come and how good they are in fact to wheel with. Again......there is a reason ATVs are all automatics. So please don't claim to understand who I am and if know anything about wheeling and transmissions, or if I'm lazy or not. Before a lot of you kids feel the need to jump in there and tell us ALL about owning a manual over an auto......do yourself a favor and take a step back first before attempting to insert your foot in your mouth.
I really doubt VERY much that manual trannys are going to go by the wayside anytime soon....there are still millions of them on the road and still being build...by jeep or otherwise. I probably wouldn't have said all this but I feel it was just another way for the op to bad mouth us auto drivers again, and not really out of concern for the highly coveted manual transmission. And if they do go away, then so be it. Sorry. It's the way of the world so get over it. Nobody ever said progress was always good. I myself think I was born a hundred years too late.
Just for the record I TOTALLY believe everybody should know how to drive a stick. Then you can pretty much drive anything they put you in. That being said..... Can we all just move on already...???
JK Freak
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 697
Likes: 0
From: Denver, CO
Is it plausible that Jeep could bury the manual transmission from the Wrangler line up, yes. Keep in mind that this is a business and if the revenue isn't there to support the associated costs of offering the option, it could be nixed. I don't foresee that happening anytime soon, but the stigma will only be supported by profit.
The manual transmission is standard, with an up-charge for the automatic transmission. Chrysler/Jeep wouldn't do-in the manual transmission initially, rather it would become the option with the automatic transmission being standard equipment. When this happens... well... you'll hear the death knell.