Manual or automatic

dudejepe · 03-06-2004, 01:16 AM

So Im going to be getting an xj soon hopefully, im thinking 97-99 4.0L I6 manual 4wd
If I were going to be using this vehicle to navigate steep snowy/icy roads would I want manual or automatic transmission? My main concern is using this car to get to snowboarding. And I would like to take ot offroading a bit. Im tempted by manual just because I have never driven stick but if it is much smarter to get automatic I woulddo that.

Also, when looking at used cars, what options should I also try to find>
Selec-trac transfer case is only found in automatic?
Chrysler 8.25 rear axle? > How do I determine if it is this?

thanks!

Guumba · 03-06-2004, 01:33 AM

I'd have to say go with the manuel for sure. I have only ever had manuals in a jeep, my comanche and my xj both currently are manuals. My friend had an auto, I drove it a few times but it isn't as nice.

**MSHarnett** · 03-06-2004, 09:18 AM

I'm very please with auto. IMO its easiler to handle off road, and of slippery roads. The selectrac is defianatly better in the snow so if you can get one, do it. I'm not sure but I'd imagine that its available in auto and manual, but I'm not positive. I think all 97+ XJ have the 8.25 rear 29 spline which is good, its almost as strong as a 44, so I hear anyways.

WhiskeyThrottle · 03-06-2004, 10:42 AM

Get a manual!! I cant imagine my jeep as a auto. You have so much more control with a manual. You will also get slightly better gas milage. Besides all of the above its just more fun (ill get an auto when im to old to clutch it). I get bored when I drive my girlfriends GC theres nothing to do IMO.

dudejepe · 03-06-2004, 11:58 AM

Hah! I know that stick would be fun to drive, but is automatic safer on slippery surfaces? And more importantly, WHY is automatic/manual safer on snowy icy roads?

**MSHarnett** · 03-06-2004, 12:06 PM

Umm, I thought autos got better gas milage. I mean the tranny is a bit heavier, but the shifting is all controlled electronily for optimal gas milage. You have just as much control with an auto as you do a manual, that is why they give you the option of 1, 2, and 3 in the gear selector. So weather your crawling over rocks, decompressing down a steep hill, or driving on a snowy road, auto is just as good as manual. Also if you need to have all your concentration on driving, auto helps eliminate other things such as clutch throttle and brake control. A hand throttle will help, but I'm just trying to say, an auto is just good as a manual. Many may disagree, but hey, thats my opnion.

Islandroaddie96 · 03-06-2004, 01:00 PM

Matt,

Theoretically, manuals get better mileage due to the slippage that occurs in the torque converter when accelerating from a dead stop with an auto. Some engine power is wasted away and gas mileage isn't as good. That's why when at highway speeds the torque converter locks up. If it somehow stayed locked up, the engine would stall when you came to a stop due to the lack of a manual clutch.

Now, I say theoretically because most people with manuals don't let out the clutch perfectly every single time and they get the same effect that happens with autos. Plus, most people with manuals don't shift quick enough and they lose power between shifts whereas an auto is seamless in shifting. They also tend to rev the engine higher. Therefore, I'd say they all balance out with the MPG's, but a lot of it is going to depend on the driver.

Good Luck,

Peter

gonzo · 03-06-2004, 01:25 PM

well- i have a manual- and i love it...when it's on the road(refer to my brake threads)...lol
i think it's better in the snow because you can leave it in 2nd or 3rd (mostly 2nd for lower speeds) and get the engine rpms up a bit - and keep them there-i feel like it gives you a bit more control. i dunno- i guess you could do that with an auto,too- but is it as much fun?

**MSHarnett** · 03-06-2004, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gonzo

well- i have a manual- and i love it...when it's on the road(refer to my brake threads)...lol
i think it's better in the snow because you can leave it in 2nd or 3rd (mostly 2nd for lower speeds) and get the engine rpms up a bit - and keep them there-i feel like it gives you a bit more control. i dunno- i guess you could do that with an auto,too- but is it as much fun?

High rmps are bad in snow and offroad, its makes it easier to loose traction with the extra torque and reponse.

gonzo · 03-06-2004, 01:40 PM

you meen "more fun"?...

**MSHarnett** · 03-06-2004, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gonzo

you meen "more fun"?...

hehe. thats a good way to put it

n1ywb · 03-06-2004, 06:37 PM

Manuals get better gas mileage because they don't have lossy heat factory torque converters. Theres a reason autos always come with tranny coolers and manuals never do. Manuals also get better milage because they have more gears, so you can keep the engine running at the most efficient RPMs more of the time. They also get better mileage because YOU control the shifting and you are a LOT smarter than any stupid blinky brain box.

Look at the rated mileage for any vehicle and the manual version ALWAYS gets better mileage than the auto version.

Now as for which is better: I kind wish I had a manual, but I'm also glad I have an auto. Manuals are definately more fun to drive. They do get better mileage and they also tend to last longer than autos, although some of the older Jeep manuals are of questionable quality. The AW-4 auto is pretty much bulletproof. Offroad the auto pisses me off because it doesn't engine brake nearly as well as a manual, and you can't start in gear. On the other hand, having to keep one hand constantly on the shifter is at best an inconvenience, and at worst dangerous. In an auto it's a lot easier to do something while driving, like talk on the radio, eat or drink, etc. You just press the gas and it goes. I guess it's 6 of one, 1/2 dozen of the other. YMMV.

**MSHarnett** · 03-06-2004, 07:03 PM

about manuals having more gearrs, do they have overdrive? I also don't like how you can't jump start an auto, lord knows I could have used that several times. I have a fine time going down hills a not brakeing at all, espcially in low range on the trial, its just crawls in 1st grear

n1ywb · 03-06-2004, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSHarnett

about manuals having more gearrs, do they have overdrive? I also don't like how you can't jump start an auto, lord knows I could have used that several times. I have a fine time going down hills a not brakeing at all, espcially in low range on the trial, its just crawls in 1st grear

Yeah thats another bad point for autos, can't pop-start 'em.

I find my auto only has sufficient engine braking in 4lo. There are a lot of steep hills around here that I wish it would engine brake better on in 2wd. My 2nd gear switch will help with that when I finally get around to installing it

**MSHarnett** · 03-06-2004, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by n1ywb

Yeah thats another bad point for autos, can't pop-start 'em.

I find my auto only has sufficient engine braking in 4lo. There are a lot of steep hills around here that I wish it would engine brake better on in 2wd. My 2nd gear switch will help with that when I finally get around to installing it

Yeah I was gonna mention that you can lock the torque converter so you can do that. There was a thread a few weeks ago all about it.

03-06-2004, 10:42 AM	#4
WhiskeyThrottle Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Tucson, Az Posts: 174 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Get a manual!! I cant imagine my jeep as a auto. You have so much more control with a manual. You will also get slightly better gas milage. Besides all of the above its just more fun (ill get an auto when im to old to clutch it). I get bored when I drive my girlfriends GC theres nothing to do IMO. __________________ 92 4.0 5 spd- lift, 35" BFG MT's, 8.8 rear, gears, locked, armored. . . . . . . . . [I]"when the search for truth is confused with political advocacy, the pursuit of knowledge is reduced to the quest for power."[/I]-Alston Chase

03-06-2004, 11:58 AM	#5
dudejepe Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 6 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Hah! I know that stick would be fun to drive, but is automatic safer on slippery surfaces? And more importantly, WHY is automatic/manual safer on snowy icy roads?

03-06-2004, 01:25 PM	#8
gonzo Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: IL Posts: 496 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	well- i have a manual- and i love it...when it's on the road(refer to my brake threads)...lol i think it's better in the snow because you can leave it in 2nd or 3rd (mostly 2nd for lower speeds) and get the engine rpms up a bit - and keep them there-i feel like it gives you a bit more control. i dunno- i guess you could do that with an auto,too- but is it as much fun?

03-06-2004, 01:40 PM	#10
gonzo Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: IL Posts: 496 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	you meen "more fun"?...

03-06-2004, 06:37 PM	#12
n1ywb Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 571 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Manuals get better gas mileage because they don't have lossy heat factory torque converters. Theres a reason autos always come with tranny coolers and manuals never do. Manuals also get better milage because they have more gears, so you can keep the engine running at the most efficient RPMs more of the time. They also get better mileage because YOU control the shifting and you are a LOT smarter than any stupid blinky brain box. Look at the rated mileage for any vehicle and the manual version ALWAYS gets better mileage than the auto version. Now as for which is better: I kind wish I had a manual, but I'm also glad I have an auto. Manuals are definately more fun to drive. They do get better mileage and they also tend to last longer than autos, although some of the older Jeep manuals are of questionable quality. The AW-4 auto is pretty much bulletproof. Offroad the auto pisses me off because it doesn't engine brake nearly as well as a manual, and you can't start in gear. On the other hand, having to keep one hand constantly on the shifter is at best an inconvenience, and at worst dangerous. In an auto it's a lot easier to do something while driving, like talk on the radio, eat or drink, etc. You just press the gas and it goes. I guess it's 6 of one, 1/2 dozen of the other. YMMV.