What’s your preference, automatic or manual transmission?

[Jerry Bransford]

... Oh and I can bump start a dead battery :eusa_dance:

Nope, not when it's dead. Most modern alternators and all Jeep alternators starting in YJ years require power from the battery to produce power so the ignition system is operational. Most alternators are no longer self-exciting which means they need to be connected to a good battery to work. You can bump start a Jeep with a weak battery but not a dead one. Those days are over for most vehicles.

A Jeep engine won't even stay running for long after being jump started once the jumper cables are disconnected if the battery is dead.

 

[Alex01]

Nope, not when it's dead. Most modern alternators and all Jeep alternators starting in YJ years require power from the battery to produce power so the ignition system is operational. Most alternators are no longer self-exciting which means they need to be connected to a good battery to work. You can bump start a Jeep with a weak battery but not a dead one. Those days are over for most vehicles.

A Jeep engine won't even stay running for long after being jump started once the jumper cables are disconnected if the battery is dead.

Ok let me rephrase.

I can bump start a weak battery :thumbup:

 

[Thunderhead]

Who is bump starting a manual ? Push that sucker and pop it in gear.
Fun question: how many of y’all manual guys float your gears ?
*Edit. *Floating Gears: Shift gears w/o your clutch

 

[jeep_boss]

I bought a manual, it feels more like a Jeep than the autos that I test drove. My bonus is having better control over engine braking, haven't seen any need for a big brake kit.

 

[sgtjdgelinas]

Everyone gets so offended when discussing their preference, why is that? It's just an opinion. So here's mine.
I don't remember automatic Jeeps winning a war. BOOM!
Jeeps are manuals. Everything else is a BJ... errr Hummer. Haha

 

[balfred]

Everyone gets so offended when discussing their preference, why is that? It's just an opinion. So here's mine.
I don't remember automatic Jeeps winning a war. BOOM!
Jeeps are manuals. Everything else is a BJ... errr Hummer. Haha

Maybe wars would be won faster if they were automatics

 

[sgtjdgelinas]

Maybe wars would be won faster if they were automatics

I drove autos in Iraq, you tell me.

 

[jeepins]

Never once thought of purchasing an automatic Jeep. Just seemed to me they were meant to be standard and everyday driving with a little offroad here and there makes it fun. Back in 98 when I bought mine, the notion (in my parts anyway) was the dealers had automatics on their lot for the girls. But nowadays, doesn't matter and isn't that way anymore.

I honestly never knew the rock crawlers and more 'professional' rigs were automatics. I'd watch videos of guys going straight up and wondered how in the heck are they shifting while in that position..

 

[mrblaine]

I bought a manual, it feels more like a Jeep than the autos that I test drove. My bonus is having better control over engine braking, haven't seen any need for a big brake kit.

You don't have control over engine braking, that is determined by gear ratio and the engine. You have control over when you use the available engine braking, but that's it. Engine braking is one of those things that manual owners rarely understand about autos because the myth has been perpetuated so long it's become accepted as fact.

Fact- many folks with manual transmissions have to use additional braking following me down steep descents with my auto.
Fact- I have to shift from 1st to 2nd and sometimes even 3rd to descend hills.
Fact- When in 4 low locked, all 4 tires are tied together and it doesn't matter if you are using the engine or the wheel brakes, the vehicle doesn't know the difference. One really good working wheel brake would lock up the other 3 tires if needed.
Fact- The vast majority of manual owner lie about downshifting when they come to a stop. Most of them say they never downshift, every time I go on a test drive with one, they downshift.
Fact- I watched Jerry almost flip over forward in his Red TJ descending the Exit to Sledge. He was using the engine, speed was too slow, back came up when the nose dropped and it was about to go bad quickly.
Fact- Most manual owners incorrectly believe driving an auto is easier. What's hard about driving a tractor? Let the clutch out, get it moving, hold onto the steering wheel and point until it stalls, rinse and repeat.

 

[mrblaine]

Everyone gets so offended when discussing their preference, why is that? It's just an opinion. So here's mine.
I don't remember automatic Jeeps winning a war. BOOM!
Jeeps are manuals. Everything else is a BJ... errr Hummer. Haha

Well, since this has devolved into opinion, we can do that. I have noticed over the years that the vast majority of manual owners lack the security about what constitutes being a "man" and lack the intestinal fortitude to drive an auto. They fully equate auto ownership with an attack on their manhood and only slightly worse than being seen in public (at home doesn't count) wearing a skirt.

 

[mrblaine]

Auto. It's better off-road and in the stop and go traffic. Plus I've heard the 32rh transmission is bulletproof from what I've heard.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Nope, not better offroad at all. Different yes, better no. No one has ever been left behind on 100's of trips through JV due to their trans choice, manual or automatic. The 32 is tough, not bulletproof though. Smack the trans pan up and cover the pick up on the filter and you'll smoke it quickly.

 

[mrblaine]

For climbing steep rocky stuff, I like autos, but for coming down the other side, I prefer manuals and not having to ride the brakes as much. I have a 97 with 5 spd and a 03 with auto. The auto does better in the sand as well, but, I've been stranded in the middle of nowhere, alone, a couple of times with an auto, due to dead battery once and a bad starter another time. I could have push started the manual and saved my self a chilly night sleeping in the back. This was before cell phones and battery boosters where invented and I was too poor or dumb, to carry an extra starter.
I've had a clutch go out before too, but I still made it home. A battery booster and an extra starter makes the auto less worrisome, but If I could only have one Jeep, then I'd want the manual.

I see the disdain for using your wheel brakes offroad. Why is that a problem? That's what they are for. You use them on the street, what's the difference except when in low and locked, they work even better since the combined braking force is used on all four tires, exactly what you want it to be.

Autos must be driven, it takes skill and practice to ease up with smooth throttle input, gently use the brake down the other side so you don't look like a big basketball someone kicked down the canyon. Even harder for folks to master is the ability on a hard climb to give it just enough throttle input to keep the tires right at the limit of adhesion.

 

[mrblaine]

I wanted a manual, but I'm a bit of a control freak when it comes to transmissions. I absolutely hate that my truck shifts too early going around corners and prefer to make the decision to shift on my own. I also never had a car/truck/jeep with a manual and wanted to get better at driving one. I really like the manual in my jeep, it's fun. I like it for cruising around the forest and I don't mind it in the rocks, I tend to be pretty easy on the throttle in the rocks though. You can get a lot done with proper tire pressure and throttle just above an idle in 1st gear 4lo. Steep hills can be a bit tricky, but I feel like it is a skill worth developing as you never know when you're going to need to be able to hop in a stick shift vehicle and just go (injuries in remote places come to mind).

I'd rather be a control freak about what I can make the vehicle do. You do know that you can shift an auto manually, right?

 

[mrblaine]

But I'll pose a slightly different question, would anyone ride a motorcycle with an automatic?

In a heartbeat. In fact, I have a buddy who is pro manual in his wheeling rigs. He rides a big scooter that's an auto.

 

[skrelnik]

Well, since this has devolved into opinion, we can do that. I have noticed over the years that the vast majority of manual owners lack the security about what constitutes being a "man" and lack the intestinal fortitude to drive an auto. They fully equate auto ownership with an attack on their manhood and only slightly worse than being seen in public (at home doesn't count) wearing a skirt.

My wife, who is a girl, does not like autos. We both enjoy driving manuals, and makes driving that much more fun. Took about a year, but we sourced a 535 xdrive with 6 speed for her, as well as our a4 avant 6 speed was a super rare find as well.

Manuals are just more fun to drive. Once they stop making manuals I am jumping into a self driving car, as automatics are like driving theme park cars.

There is a time and place for a manual or auto, daily driving a manual is great. Sitting in "big city" traffic with a manual sucks, auto is better for that situation, etc etc.

Manuals are a super minority these days, BMW is getting rid of manual trannys. I believe Dodge could not put a manual in the Demon due to the engine power/torque, although the Hellcat has a manual option. Manuals are dying off like CDs.

 

[mrblaine]

My wife, who is a girl, does not like autos. We both enjoy driving manuals, and makes driving that much more fun. Took about a year, but we sourced a 535 xdrive with 6 speed for her, as well as our a4 avant 6 speed was a super rare find as well.

Manuals are just more fun to drive. Once they stop making manuals I am jumping into a self driving car, as automatics are like driving theme park cars.

There is a time and place for a manual or auto, daily driving a manual is great. Sitting in "big city" traffic with a manual sucks, auto is better for that situation, etc etc.

Manuals are a super minority these days, BMW is getting rid of manual trannys. I believe Dodge could not put a manual in the Demon due to the engine power/torque, although the Hellcat has a manual option. Manuals are dying off like CDs.

Well then if we are bringing the ladies into it, my wife owned a manual when I met her but after we started Jeeping together, had no problem jumping into the driver's seat and working our rig up the trails in JV to keep the line moving when I had to stay and spot at the hard places. Sure made it easier on me not having to run 50 yards up the trail, move the rig, walk back to the obstacle to finish getting everyone through.

As to your lamentations about the decline of manuals, I think Occam's Razor applies. If there was a time and a place for them, they wouldn't be going away so fast.

 

[skrelnik]

As to your lamentations about the decline of manuals, I think Occam's Razor applies. If there was a time and a place for them, they wouldn't be going away so fast.

I personally shave my head(and face), but the best shave I ever got was when I went to a barber who used an Occam's Razor....kidding, it was a straight edge.

But agreed...people like easy stuff, hence why we have more automatics and less manuals being made. This generation of millenials needs cars as well, but generally speaking, they do not have the patience to learn manual processes, i.e. shifting a manual transmission.

But great usage of Occam's Razor...similar to one by Jerry when he quoted Peter's Principal...love it!

 

[sgtjdgelinas]

Well, since this has devolved into opinion, we can do that. I have noticed over the years that the vast majority of manual owners lack the security about what constitutes being a "man" and lack the intestinal fortitude to drive an auto. They fully equate auto ownership with an attack on their manhood and only slightly worse than being seen in public (at home doesn't count) wearing a skirt.

Hard to devolve into opinion when the title is "What's your preference?"
And guys get their panties in a bunch over all sorts of stupid stuff.

 

[mrblaine]

Hard to devolve into opinion when the title is "What's your preference?"
And guys get their panties in a bunch over all sorts of stupid stuff.

At the end of the day, it doesn't matter. Pick one, run it, enjoy it, but for god's sake, quit trying to convince others that your choice has merit to anyone but you. I don't give a shit what your reasons are, they are yours, you're welcome to them and just let me be the same. At no point is anyone's drivel and justifications as to why they made this particular choice going to convince anyone else that they should swap or change their mind. I don't care why you picked a particular transmission, they all get over the trails and that's what I want to do, just get over the trails.

 

[sgtjdgelinas]

At the end of the day, it doesn't matter. Pick one, run it, enjoy it, but for god's sake, quit trying to convince others that your choice has merit to anyone but you. I don't give a shit what your reasons are, they are yours, you're welcome to them and just let me be the same. At no point is anyone's drivel and justifications as to why they made this particular choice going to convince anyone else that they should swap or change their mind. I don't care why you picked a particular transmission, they all get over the trails and that's what I want to do, just get over the trails.

It doesn't matter, and there's no point in trying to convince anyone else to change, that I agree on. But I do like to hear what people's preference is and why, it's interesting to hear their reasons.
Like Jerry with his autos, he's so damn passionate about them. or the guys who want to teach their kids on a stick, because it's a dying art.
It's cool to read those stories and telling your own without being told you're wrong.
Just my .02 ... resume the bickering.