Auto vs. Manual Jeep JK- Off Road Only
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Hey Guy!
I am now looking to buy a newer Jeep JK (2012+ Pentastar) and it will be used only for offroading. I am currently driving a older Jeep and its a manual, which is a lot of fun. However I do notice that once I get a bit stuck its quite hard to get out because the car keeps stalling when it can’t get out. My question is:
For pure off road use what are the pros/cons of each tranny type and what would you recommend?
Thanks in advance!
Omar
I think it is more of a personal preference.
At first I planned to get an automatic so I could focus more on driving and not shifting gears. Later on I came across a nice almost new manual and decided to go for the extra challenge and got a2014 JK manual. I am Very Happy with that decision and wouldn’t even consider an automatic if I was buying again.
Now to answer your question I do believe a well driven manual is more capable than an automatic because you have full control over your gear selections and when they happen. Additionally it should put more power to the wheels due to less drive train losses vs. an automatic, but I don’t think this makes much difference. Another things is you don’t’ have to worry about overheating your manual transmission; however, you can smoke the clutch if driven incorrectly. Now the issue is you have full control so that does open the door for mistakes such as being in the wrong gear and the occasional missed shift if the worst of situations.
Regarding the getting unstuck, just use low range. With the manual you will want to use low range more because the last thing you want to do is ride on and overheat the clutch. Just put it in low 2 and you can practically idle out. You want minimal wheel spin in those situations anyway, so LO works great.
But in the end its back to personal preference and weather or not you want to deal with both driving the dunes and the added challenge of shifting gears.
Walter
Mine is auto with manual mode 1 or 2 or 3 or D. This is my recommendation.
Much better than manual gear, as there’s no clutch, so it’s easier to shift, at same time you control which gear to drive in.
I’m using manual mode even on tarmac.
Regarding maintenance, manual will be burning clutches, auto will be rubbing components, both can be expensive to repair.
Tiptronic sux offroad, as the car ECU really controls gear shifting, even you want to downshift, if ECU don’t feel like, it will not.
But at the end, performance-wise it all depends on the driver. You get used to anything.
I’m a big fan of manual gear and will prefer it to an auto, but only on a rear-wheel-drive sedan or hot hatch – that’s where you feel the real fun!
Thanks a lot for all your help guys. From what you guys have said I think I’ll stick with manual!
quote bukho001:Thanks a lot for all your help guys. From what you guys have said I think I’ll stick with manual!:-BD :-BD :-BD
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