JK auto vs JL 8 speed?

[WillIeB]

After reading posts from those that have owned jk/jl manuals and autos, curious about the 8 speed. My 16 JKU had the W5A580 5 speed auto, loved that trans.

Just test drove a JL 6 speed manual, seems geared really high, but could . Live with thst.

But, buying used, and they do not get many low mike JL (2 door) manuals on trade.
So, how is the new 8 speed Torqflite compared to the MB auto.

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[Deleted member 59498]

JL all come with a great auto trans. It is the 8 speed ZF 850RE and everyone I ever read or talk to love it above any other transmission they have had, automatic that is.

 

[Reinen]

Not sure what you test drove, JL has an 8 speed auto trans. Did you mean 6 speed manual?

Anyway, don't waste any time with concerns about the JL 8 speed auto. It's a fantastic trans. Coming from 30 years of manuals, not once have I ever said I wish I had a manual. It's very controllable and it has an uncanny knack for knowing what gear you want it to be in, during acceleration and engine braking. You can communicate with it through the throttle and only have to use manual shifting when you're in a special situation and want it to take more severe actions. It's the best auto trans I've ever driven.

 

[Tool Guy]

No comparison between a 6 speed Auto JK and 8 speed Auto JL. The 850RE is fantastic.

Edit: I've owned both the JK and JL Automatics. I also have the same ZF 8 speed in both my BMW's. I love that transmission.

 

[Maverick909]

the 8speed auto is extremely good

 

[Valpo Jeep]

I have the ZF 8HP 55 8 speed Transmission in my Audi and its at 229,000 miles and problem free. I am hoping to get the same problem free usage out of the Wrangler ZF 850RE

 

[Wabujitsu]

The control on and off road is superb.

 

[MOOG5050]

Not even close. Owned both. The JL 8speed is so much better. At least with paired with the 2.0t, it’s night and day difference.

 

[Shark01]

JL all come with a great auto trans. It is the 8 speed ZF 850RE and everyone I ever read or talk to love it above any other transmission they have had, automatic that is.

These are two different transmissions....the ZF is an actual buyout from ZF and used on the high torque engines (392 and diesel....not sure about the xe) and is a magnificent unit used by alot of high dollar cars. The 850RE is a Stellantis in-house transmission build.

"FYI, the 850RE is produced by Chrysler/Stellantis with tech licensed from ZF in Germany. The 8HP75 is built by ZF themselves in Germany and imported into the US,, and is used behind all Hemi V8 engine applications, including the 5.7L, 6.4L/392, and the 6.2L Hellcat."

 

[Deleted member 59498]

OK, mine is ZF so assumed the rest were the same.

 

[Shark01]

OK, mine is ZF so assumed the rest were the same.

See, another thing to love about the diesel…….still don’t understand why they killed it.

 

[Deleted member 59498]

See, another thing to love about the diesel…….still don’t understand why they killed it.

These transmissions are so damn smooth I forget it is changing gears most of the time!

 

[WillIeB]

Thanks guys. I edited my original post. I test drove a JL manual, seem to be higher geared,

My initial thoughts on going manual was to avoid etorque, but i see Jeep added a 3.6 auto no etorque option.

Im buying used, so will take what i can get, 2 door hard top AC, and now will go 8 speed auto.

Thanks.

 

[Bocephus]

See, another thing to love about the diesel…….still don’t understand why they killed it.

well it wasn’t bc of the transmission

 

[WillIeB]

See, another thing to love about the diesel…….still don’t understand why they killed it.

Because the eco diesel wss a warranty nightmare. The 3.0 was a great engine, until they dlapped the emissions equipment on ut. It was never designed for that garbage.

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