Manual vs automatic

[AVGeek99]

I have driven manuals forever, mainly BMW's and Porsche. I like MT's - period. Yes, the JL 6MT is different, but it amazes me to see posts of owners claiming that they have stalled their Jeep so many times due to a "crappy clutch", etc. - and how terrible the whole experience is. Maybe it's a bit of not really knowing how to use a MT more than a shitty clutch? (they are all different ya know)?
I have owned my 6MT JL now for 3 years and with 30k+ miles on her, I haven't stalled the Jeep out - there is no reason to. I jump out of my Porsche (6MT) and into the Jeep, and yes It sure feels different, but is it "bad" - no it is not! You need to drive both (MT/AT) and make up your mind on how each feels to you and what is best for your needs. Don't rely on forum posts to make up your mind for you.
(AND we also have a '24 Grand Cherokee with the 8spd Auto - yes, it's a nice tranny, but I like to shift my JL!) Best of luck with your choice!

I think part of the reason people don't like the OEM clutch in the JL 6MT is becuase it doesn't feel like a Jeep or a truck. How it feels is much more like a MT in a sports car. Obviously not the same as your Porsche, but the feel is more similar to a sports car than a Jeep. In a Jeep or truck you expect the clutch to have a heavier feel than what the JL is.

I put 20K miles on the OEM clutch in mine before I had to replace it. I then put 50k miles on a CF II. And then in the past week I had the 19A clutch recall completed so it now has an OEM clutch again.

Here are my recollections of what the different clutches were like. When I got my 2021 new the clutch did take some time getting used to; I was comming from a 2012 JK 6MT. After about a week I got used to it and I didn't mind the OEM clutch; it shifted very easily and smoothly from gear to gear. I thought it paired well with the transmission. I had to replace the clutch at 20k miles because I was stupid and got a bunch of mud in the clutch and destroyed it. This was during covid and the only clutch I could find readily available was a CFII, which I had read good things about.

When I got it back the feel was night and day different, much heavier like what you'd typically expect in a Jeep or truck, and much more obvious engagment. I immediately liked this feel, but I could never get the transmission to shift as smoothly as with the OEM clutch. Starting intermittently at about 25kmiles (on the clutch) first, second, and third became notchy and harder to place in gear. This became more regular at 35k miles and for the last 10k or so miles it was a PITA to shift in lower gears. I figured out ways to make it shift a little better, but it never went back to normal. It got to the point I didn't like driving it anymore becuase I had to concentrate so much on shifting, so I bought a 2025 JLUR XR with the AT.

After moving my all my after market parts to the 2025 I wanted to sell my 2021. I knew I'd have difficutly selling it with how much of a PITA it was to shift I reluctantly had the 19A recall completed. The recall wasn't without it's adventures, primarily because the service advisor didn't tell the mechanic to call me to reprogram the computer if it through an error after completion, but when I finally got it back it only took me about 5 minutes to get used to the OEM clutch again. I drove it for all of 90 miles on the new OEM clutch before I sold it, but in that 90 miles it shifted much better and MUCH smoother than in the 50k miles I put ont with the CFII.

I know a lot of people hate the OEM clutch, but IMO I think it pairs well with the JL MT, though they are both better suited for a sportier car.

I never thought I'd say it, but I am just glad to be done with it and glad I got the AT in my 2025.

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[drpericak]

I think part of the reason people don't like the OEM clutch in the JL 6MT is becuase it doesn't feel like a Jeep or a truck. How it feels is much more like a MT in a sports car. Obviously not the same as your Porsche, but the feel is more similar to a sports car than a Jeep. In a Jeep or truck you expect the clutch to have a heavier feel than what the JL is.

I put 20K miles on the OEM clutch in mine before I had to replace it. I then put 50k miles on a CF II. And then in the past week I had the 19A clutch recall completed so it now has an OEM clutch again.

Here are my recollections of what the different clutches were like. When I got my 2021 new the clutch did take some time getting used to; I was comming from a 2012 JK 6MT. After about a week I got used to it and I didn't mind the OEM clutch; it shifted very easily and smoothly from gear to gear. I thought it paired well with the transmission. I had to replace the clutch at 20k miles because I was stupid and got a bunch of mud in the clutch and destroyed it. This was during covid and the only clutch I could find readily available was a CFII, which I had read good things about.

When I got it back the feel was night and day different, much heavier like what you'd typically expect in a Jeep or truck, and much more obvious engagment. I immediately liked this feel, but I could never get the transmission to shift as smoothly as with the OEM clutch. Starting intermittently at about 25kmiles (on the clutch) first, second, and third became notchy and harder to place in gear. This became more regular at 35k miles and for the last 10k or so miles it was a PITA to shift in lower gears. I figured out ways to make it shift a little better, but it never went back to normal. It got to the point I didn't like driving it anymore becuase I had to concentrate so much on shifting, so I bought a 2025 JLUR XR with the AT.

After moving my all my after market parts to the 2025 I wanted to sell my 2021. I knew I'd have difficutly selling it with how much of a PITA it was to shift I reluctantly had the 19A recall completed. The recall wasn't without it's adventures, primarily because the service advisor didn't tell the mechanic to call me to reprogram the computer if it through an error after completion, but when I finally got it back it only took me about 5 minutes to get used to the OEM clutch again. I drove it for all of 90 miles on the new OEM clutch before I sold it, but in that 90 miles it shifted much better and MUCH smoother than in the 50k miles I put ont with the CFII.

I know a lot of people hate the OEM clutch, but IMO I think it pairs well with the JL MT, though they are both better suited for a sportier car.

I never thought I'd say it, but I am just glad to be done with it and glad I got the AT in my 2025.

Your clutch went after only 20K?? I'm on my 2nd JL with a 6speed ( 2 JK's before that) and have gone about 80K on each with no clutch issues.

 

[wreck99]

Your clutch went after only 20K?? I'm on my 2nd JL with a 6speed ( 2 JK's before that) and have gone about 80K on each with no clutch issues.

He said he got mud in it.

 

[Old Dogger]

Manual Trans, applicable to the year below:

Automatic Trans, applicable to the year below:

 

[Ratbert]

Manual Trans, applicable to the year below:

Automatic Trans, applicable to the year below:

A good manual can be significantly more fun to drive than a good automatic.

For a "point A to point B" type of person / vehicle? Sure. But for the rest of us, nothing is as engaging as a manual.

 

[gpassida]

A good manual can be significantly more fun to drive than a good automatic.

For a "point A to point B" type of person / vehicle? Sure. But for the rest of us, nothing is as engaging as a manual.

So true!

In addition to my wife's new Willy's 6-Speed I posted about, here is my Jeep:

It has an NV-4500 5-speed with a granny low first gear and overdrive 5th. Very fun behind the Fuel injected Chevy 5.7 350 V8. The 125:1 crawl ratio manages the Rubicon easily. No mushy clutch here!

 

[Heimkehr]

Well, there's a tease. Factory half doors haven't been available since well before the Renegade grille appeared.

 

[DrBob]

I love my 8AT in my JL Sport. Best AT I’ve ever had in a vehicle. MT wasn’t offered with the 2.0. So what do normal people do? I bought a MT 2005 TJ for when I want to be a little more engaged! Initially my wife wasn’t too pleased- now she’s having a blast driving it too.

 

[Maverick909]

ill be the advocate. if you want to drive and manual transmission just get it. you will learn it quick with a short commute as you're daily driving. Ive been in my JLU 6speed manual for 6 almost 7 years. I did have the recall clutch work done even though i didnt have any issues. I still enjoy my Jeep and the Skill it takes to drive a manual off road. I will say the 8 speed auto is a great transmission and not a bad way to go at all. its smooth and refined. I like the driver input of having a manual transmission.

 

[Scott97]

Got happy with my 2024 Willys 6spd MT once I figured out the clutch engagement and stopped trying to drive it like my 1978 CJ7. Lots of great posts on this thread. I would echo those who recommend the Willys or Rubicon with 4.10 gears or 4.56 if available. Not available when I ordered my 2024 two door. Not available for a 2025 either. What are the chances Jeep comes to their senses and offers some separate gearing options that do not require the 35 XR package?

 

[wibornz]

I think part of the reason people don't like the OEM clutch in the JL 6MT is becuase it doesn't feel like a Jeep or a truck. How it feels is much more like a MT in a sports car. Obviously not the same as your Porsche, but the feel is more similar to a sports car than a Jeep. In a Jeep or truck you expect the clutch to have a heavier feel than what the JL is.

I put 20K miles on the OEM clutch in mine before I had to replace it. I then put 50k miles on a CF II. And then in the past week I had the 19A clutch recall completed so it now has an OEM clutch again.

Here are my recollections of what the different clutches were like. When I got my 2021 new the clutch did take some time getting used to; I was comming from a 2012 JK 6MT. After about a week I got used to it and I didn't mind the OEM clutch; it shifted very easily and smoothly from gear to gear. I thought it paired well with the transmission. I had to replace the clutch at 20k miles because I was stupid and got a bunch of mud in the clutch and destroyed it. This was during covid and the only clutch I could find readily available was a CFII, which I had read good things about.

When I got it back the feel was night and day different, much heavier like what you'd typically expect in a Jeep or truck, and much more obvious engagment. I immediately liked this feel, but I could never get the transmission to shift as smoothly as with the OEM clutch. Starting intermittently at about 25kmiles (on the clutch) first, second, and third became notchy and harder to place in gear. This became more regular at 35k miles and for the last 10k or so miles it was a PITA to shift in lower gears. I figured out ways to make it shift a little better, but it never went back to normal. It got to the point I didn't like driving it anymore becuase I had to concentrate so much on shifting, so I bought a 2025 JLUR XR with the AT.

After moving my all my after market parts to the 2025 I wanted to sell my 2021. I knew I'd have difficutly selling it with how much of a PITA it was to shift I reluctantly had the 19A recall completed. The recall wasn't without it's adventures, primarily because the service advisor didn't tell the mechanic to call me to reprogram the computer if it through an error after completion, but when I finally got it back it only took me about 5 minutes to get used to the OEM clutch again. I drove it for all of 90 miles on the new OEM clutch before I sold it, but in that 90 miles it shifted much better and MUCH smoother than in the 50k miles I put ont with the CFII.

I know a lot of people hate the OEM clutch, but IMO I think it pairs well with the JL MT, though they are both better suited for a sportier car.

I never thought I'd say it, but I am just glad to be done with it and glad I got the AT in my 2025.

I think it has something to do with the catch on fire and burn your Jeep to the ground thing too.

 

[Wbino]

In my manual days you always had a favorite gear...mine was 3rd.

 

[YJdude]

The JL 6MT is by far the goofiest setup I've ever driven. But it has taken me across the country and over some incredible mountain trails without problems.

 

[Ratbert]

In my manual days you always had a favorite gear...mine was 3rd.

Doesn't "a favorite gear" imply an extremely boring drive and / or driving style?

Manuals should be engaging.

 

[SadRobot]

I think it has something to do with the catch on fire and burn your Jeep to the ground thing too.

There was a post here on the forums of a Jeep up in flames from the pressure plate shooting through the bellhousing and into the fuel lines causing a fire. That day I ordered an aftermarket clutch. That in itself sent my Jeep on a wild ride over the next year of one issue after another BUT at least it didn't explode.

I got a chance to drive @AVGeek99's Jeep when it was at it worst and it was pretty bad and I think he did the best thing which was just get rid of it and go auto. One the clutch starts to have shifting problems you just end up sinking more and more money into it to fix it. Every time you have to drop the transmission that's 2k out the door if you can't do it yourself.

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