Automatic vs. Manual Sales Split

[acsak]

Which makes a two door manual rare AF.

Love my 2 dr manual!

Sponsored

 

[STW]

It's still lighter, cheaper, more efficient, and faster (slim margins, but still). It also does exactly what you want, not what you request (as in the auto in manual mode).

how much lighter? I looked it up when I was deciding but don't remember the number

in what way is it more efficient?

what do you mean faster?

 

[wibornz]

It's still lighter, cheaper, more efficient, and faster (slim margins, but still). It also does exactly what you want, not what you request (as in the auto in manual mode).

I would have to say, that the manual is not more efficient nor is it faster. On the auto in manual mode, it will do what you request it to do. You can make it hold gears just like the manual. Of course the Jeep will not down shift in manual mode if it put the Jeep past red line doing the shift. The Jeep will protect it self from stupid humans. It will also not let you over rev the motor like some stupid humans do.

I have owned many MT style vehicles and motorcycles. I did test drive a manual JLUR before buying the auto. I drove the manual JLUR about ten miles and shifted it about fifty times in that ten miles. I thought to myself, I will never be able to drink a cup of coffee while driving, (Note coffee is important to me) Also by the time I nearing the end of my test drive, I found myself skipping gears, on upshifts and downshift. Skipping gears is by no means a way to improve efficiency. I doubt very many people are shifting the Jeep manual transmission as often as they should be to keep the Jeep in the best power curve for the best mileage. I have little faith that none of you are lugging the motor when you drive your Jeep traffic.

 

[Old Jeeper]

I ordered my 2023, my first jeep out of 19 jeeps since 1984 with an automatic transmission… if Sally is not happy, no one is happy. Been driving manuals since the early 60s and I’m now being forced into these automatics. For rock crawling I don’t think anything is better than a manual, but you better know how to drive a stick exceptionally well.

 

[PatrickR]

I would have to say, that the manual is not more efficient nor is it faster. On the auto in manual mode, it will do what you request it to do. You can make it hold gears just like the manual. Of course the Jeep will not down shift in manual mode if it put the Jeep past red line doing the shift. The Jeep will protect it self from stupid humans. It will also not let you over rev the motor like some stupid humans do.

I have owned many MT style vehicles and motorcycles. I did test drive a manual JLUR before buying the auto. I drove the manual JLUR about ten miles and shifted it about fifty times in that ten miles. I thought to myself, I will never be able to drink a cup of coffee while driving, (Note coffee is important to me) Also by the time I nearing the end of my test drive, I found myself skipping gears, on upshifts and downshift. Skipping gears is by no means a way to improve efficiency. I doubt very many people are shifting the Jeep manual transmission as often as they should be to keep the Jeep in the best power curve for the best mileage. I have little faith that none of you are lugging the motor when you drive your Jeep traffic.

I also have owned a number of motorcycles and mt vehicles. I actually think the ideal manual would be a dog box sequential like a motorcycle (and many racing vehicles). Sadly I think the chance to get acceptance for that has long passed.

Motor trend tested the gladiator 3.6 auto and manual and found the manual faster, and autos still have greater losses due to moving fluid around and the torque converter. I would bet I do a decent job keeping the jeep where it needs to be efficient. In fact, that's one issue with autos. I can run low rpm and high throttle (where it's most efficient) since I don't have to worry about signaling a downshift.

I've never had a manual that I wasn't able to beat epa rated mpg. I currently get 21 average on 33s (mixed driving).

 

[PatrickR]

how much lighter? I looked it up when I was deciding but don't remember the number

in what way is it more efficient?

what do you mean faster?

An auto has more losses due to the torque converter and the fluid it has to pump to make it work. You start out somewhat behind (this is greatly improved with modern autos and locking torque converters, but it's still there).

The current jl is slightly faster with the 3.6 in a manual (motor trend and others tested), though that's not actually important for the jeep and differences are minimal.

Weight differences aren't huge (90 lbs comes to mind, but I have to check that), but they're there.

Really, drive what you like, as that's what's important...

 

[wibornz]

I ordered my 2023, my first jeep out of 19 jeeps since 1984 with an automatic transmission… if Sally is not happy, no one is happy. Been driving manuals since the early 60s and I’m now being forced into these automatics. For rock crawling I don’t think anything is better than a manual, but you better know how to drive a stick exceptionally well.

I do a lot of rock crawling. I have found that until you grow a third foot, or a hand throttle, you can not match the new autos. I have been driving manuals since the seventies.

I have found that with a throttle commander that detunes the throttle input so it requires a lot of throttle pressure to spin a tire, and a foot on the brake and one on the gas, you can easily crawl without spinning a tire or lurching. I use a Hikeit XP in EC 4x4 mode turned down to five out of 9 for input. Then I can put a little bit of pressure on the brakes and use the throttle to override the brake and make a very controlled climb over rocks with now lurching or tire spin.

Rocks like this.

Nothing ever happens unexpected. never stall, never lurch, never spin the tire, unless I want it to.

The level of being proficient with a manual in the rocks is not something people learn by driving a manual on the street. Just because a person can drive a manual, does not mean that they will be able to successfully navigate a Jeep through a rock garden or hard up hill. Those skills are learned on the trail. You do not have to try very had to find a video on line of people failing at rock crawling with manual with dire consequences.

The auto allow you to concentrate on driving and doing a good line.

 

[Old Jeeper]

I do a lot of rock crawling. I have found that until you grow a third foot, or a hand throttle, you can not match the new autos. I have been driving manuals since the seventies.

I have found that with a throttle commander that detunes the throttle input so it requires a lot of throttle pressure to spin a tire, and a foot on the brake and one on the gas, you can easily crawl without spinning a tire or lurching. I use a Hikeit XP in EC 4x4 mode turned down to five out of 9 for input. Then I can put a little bit of pressure on the brakes and use the throttle to override the brake and make a very controlled climb over rocks with now lurching or tire spin.

Rocks like this.

Nothing ever happens unexpected. never stall, never lurch, never spin the tire, unless I want it to.

The level of being proficient with a manual in the rocks is not something people learn by driving a manual on the street. Just because a person can drive a manual, does not mean that they will be able to successfully navigate a Jeep through a rock garden or hard up hill. Those skills are learned on the trail. You do not have to try very had to find a video on line of people failing at rock crawling with manual with dire consequences.

The auto allow you to concentrate on driving and doing a good line.

LOL I would concur with your assessment.

However I learned to drive on a Ford 9 N 1959 tractor? I’ve been driving manuals all my life. Offroad, Europe, Asia, Latin America, Hawaii, and more I can make a manual short wheelbase jeep dance, and I’ve lead more runs in Moab on 7+ trails than most people have got going to work.

That said, I’ve seen more automatic transmissions fail in Moab, and other trails around the world than I ever have seen standard transmissions and clutches fail.

 

[BuyHold]

I thought to myself, I will never be able to drink a cup of coffee while driving, (Note coffee is important to me)

For whatever reason, I find myself eating ice cream cones often in my manuals. No problems. Just have to limit it to 2 scoops to prevent detachment of ice cream from cone during shifts and then between shifts watch that the melt-off doesn't drip onto one's hand.

 

[Shutterbug]

My 2 door Wrangler is not only manual, but it is also a soft top, which is even more rare in my part of the US (Northeast).

 

[FRV]

I don't see any advantage in the manual transmission any more. Heck if you want to shift, put the auto in manual mode and shift to your hearts desire and then when you want to enjoy a cup of coffee while driving in heavy traffic, put it back into auto mode.

That's such a practical response but completely disregards why people choose a manual trans.

And when you have been driving a manual as long as I have, drinking coffee from an open topped coffee cup while driving is just an every day thing regardless the traffic. ?

 

[FRV]

For whatever reason, I find myself eating ice cream cones often in my manuals. No problems. Just have to limit it to 2 scoops to prevent detachment of ice cream from cone during shifts and then between shifts watch that the melt-off doesn't drip onto one's hand.

Exactly. My daughter, who has just learned to drive the MT, laughs when she sees me doing that. "How do you do that?!" She says.

 

[OldGuyNewJeep]

My 2 door Wrangler is not only manual, but it is also a soft top, which is even more rare in my part of the US (Northeast).

Same. 2dr, manual, soft top, no eTorque (2018). I will never sell. Last of the “real” Jeeps, IMO.

 

[FRV]

I have found that with a throttle commander that detunes the throttle input so it requires a lot of throttle pressure to spin a tire, and a foot on the brake and one on the gas, you can easily crawl without spinning a tire or lurching.

Nothing ever happens unexpected. never stall, never lurch, never spin the tire, unless I want it to.

The auto allow you to concentrate on driving and doing a good line.

Right. Any grandmother can drive an auto when the going gets tough.

 

[AlgUSF]

Notice how a lot of AT owners just want to bash the decision to buy an MT. I drove the MT and AT and bought the MT, I can't quantify why but I liked it better. Not every decision requires in-depth analysis, sometimes folks just go with what they "like better".

Sponsored