Automatic vs Manual
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Auto for hardcore wheeling, manual for fun. I strongly prefer manual in all my vehicles.
The ideal offroad drivetrain of the future will probably have no transmission at all. All electric, independent motor for each wheel. No differentials, no transfer case, no transmission.
The ideal offroad drivetrain of the future will probably have no transmission at all. All electric, independent motor for each wheel. No differentials, no transfer case, no transmission.
I have a 241TC.Not if they have a 241 TC
The point of course is that some don't realize compression braking happens with automatics too. Especially when you are geared low as my TJ is.
Haven't you heard? Auto's are faster at the track now too. People only drive manuals in sports cars because the like silly things like "driving" and having "fun." Idiots.
What do you think?
Okay what do you think? Almond Joy or Mounds? Sometimes you feel like a nut sometimes you don't...
I think you guys know that I probably feel like a nut most of the time...
First of all I think it's an argument of ego a lot of times... Nobody wants to admit that they didn't make the best purchase decision or that they're driving skills might be questioned.
And this may not be real popular but I'm going to say this... If you're talking about really really hard obstacles that require finesse it's not even close... The automatic is far superior in allowing minute amounts of throttle.... Plus it allows you to concentrate on the obstacle not on keeping the engine alive or being in the right gear.
The manual has advantages in some situations... Like being able to dump the clutch and sling mud off the tires or being able to rock the Jeep back and forth.
And I'm going to add this and this is an important caveat... If a manual is what you really want you're not going to find anything that works better together than the 241 transfer case with a manual transmission and a thumb throttle.... As far as the world of manual off-road transmissions I don't know of a better combination.
I thoroughly enjoy both transmissions because they are in what I want to be driving... But the better power at the rear wheels and ease of operation would lead me to the automatic if I could only choose one.... And sadly the one that I would prefer in my Rubicon would not be the one I have... But the generation before that I think with the non overdrive was just ideal in every way mated to the 4.0 and I cannot imagine how good it would be along with the 241 transfer case.
Again I've got both so I'm not shaming anybody or putting anybody down.
My other hobby is riding dirt bikes off road... I'm talking about in the tightest, gnarliest trails in north Alabama and Tennessee... And the first thing we do when we get a new dirt bike is remove the manual clutch and put in a Rekluse automatic clutch. This is a centrifugal clutch that engages the stack as the RPMs climb and disengages at idle. you still have to shift gears but you cannot stall the bike if it's properly set up.
A talented guy can handle either one and that's true in the bike world and the off-road Jeep world... But I'll take any advantage I can get.
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Automatic is definitely the easier drive, often in extreme conditions like rock crawling the automatic definitely offers better control. But take out the competitive edge. Going for long term consistent performance. Want to reduce maintemance costs, eliminate the chance of breakdown, the standard rules.
The old 3 speed Wrangler automatic is maybe the world standard for fabulous transmissions. But I love a clutch since treated right, they run forever and have far fewer bits to fail. The TJR I just bought has a bad bearing on the top shaft which howls, 60K miles, 14 years old, someone broke it. We swapped in the tranny, transfer case from my old TJR, 250K miles and all is as good as new.
an idiot can break anything.
Part of the automatic vs manual choice is about preference. I will always prefer the standard cuz they have never failed me. But that is not to say a well maintained automatic is a bad choice. The big diffrence, an automatic NEEDS maintenance.
control is another perception......... torque has zero to do with the transmission. torque is a function of the engine. .....
controlling that torque in an automatic is automatic. in a manual it is done by the driver. automatics let you focus on other driving concerns. standards demand more attention. that said some of us love that demand, some excell at it. and for the best the clutch is an extension of their body they never think about.
A HUGE advantage of the automatic is being on the throttle and brake at the same time.
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I honestly read all this. As a person who has built 1000's of transmissions and heard many opinions......
I didn't know how to drive stick, but I wanted my first Jeep to be a manual. Not sure what initially got me to think that, but that's what I had in my head at the time and I wasn't going to change. I passed on some nice Jeeps because of my stubborn requirement. Now that I have my LJ, I don't regret the choice. If I do add another one though, it will probably be an auto.
I've ridden shotgun to let others drive my TJ the entire trail many times.Are you really going to let us test drive it
DEFINITELY. He retired after 23 years as a highly decorated SEAL.
Well, it's good you pre-qualified him to drive it. (joke)
Having read what those guys go through at BUDS... I have the deepest respect... Not only do they make sure the physical side is the best it can be... They put an enormous amount of emphasis on mental conditioning.
I've come to believe in the course of my life that most all happiness, success, and growth is a product of having it together between your ears. I've seen first hand what happens when people don't. It isn't pretty.
Even most of this forum revolves around people getting mentally prepared to own, work on, or modify these vehicles.
I enjoy letting people enjoy what I have as well. That doesn't mean letting my rambunctious sons have the keys often though. They could tear up an Abrams tank.
While I'm yapping, back to topic- I just wheeled a spot in my auto TJR that's a lockers only deal.....it's an all rock dry waterfall type structure with tombstone rocks thrown in....it is simply effortless.
I understand being proud you can handle a manual in the toughest conditions, but I also understand the joy of not having to.
To me, an auto versus manual is a similar capability difference as lockers versus no lockers.
Also, there are a lot of situations where it's just not a good place to be trying to work 3 pedals with 2 feet.... especially when rolling back means disaster.
I always had manuals so I could push start them if I had too, batteries like tires used to be way too expensive.
When I got my first car in the UK I couldn't get insurance on anything over 1.3Litre
So which is best 1300 auto or 1300 manual
Automatics were an American thing because the cars were to big to push start!Similar threads
