Off-roading with a manual transmission?

[Toycrusher]

The TRUTH!

I have been driving manuals since 1962, ranch trucks, Ford and John Deere tractors, Jeeps, Corvettes, I was a drag racer back in the 60s.

To me a Stick is natural, in fact its transparent to me.

It did NOT get transparent over night!!!!!!!!!!

If you have not lived with a stick most of your adult life then you better get a AUTO, you will be glad you did. I had to give up Sticks on the 1320 because drag racing had advanced and autos started shifting gears faster than I could and that is saying something! I had a trick to my fast shifting. Use a ROUND shifter knob and unscrew it a about 3 turns. Now it would twist in my hand and all I had to do was apply muscle and direction back, right forward and back right again.

GO AUTO, I just ordered my 2024 Rubi with a Auto and I have only had 3 autos in life and not counting my F 350/450 trucks.

Trust me , that Auto is a LOT FASTER and SMARTER than you and me are.

Is the auto more capable, faster, and smarter than us? Sure. But since when is that the whole point?

In drag racing, auto's and manuals are in different classes so really not a point of discussion.

Do you want to be a bigger part of your driving experience? Get the manual.

Do you want to be faster and better (and dumber than your transmission?) Consider the automatic

Sponsored

 

[Old Jeeper]

Is the auto more capable, faster, and smarter than us? Sure. But since when is that the whole point?

In drag racing, auto's and manuals are in different classes so really not a point of discussion.

Do you want to be a bigger part of your driving experience? Get the manual.

Do you want to be faster and better (and dumber than your transmission?) Consider the automatic

Manual and Auto's run in different classes? Could not find that in the AHRA/NHRA rule books and for sure It did not apply when I was racing.

The point I was making was if you want to profficient with a manual so much that you play on the rocks on all the trails in Moab...you do that overnight, a week, a year, maybe 5+ years assuming you getting a LOT of rock time, at least every weekend or more.

Sticks are not the domain of newbies you got to work up to it and the rocks are very complex to deal with.

 

[LKG]

The TRUTH!

I have been driving manuals since 1962, ranch trucks, Ford and John Deere tractors, Jeeps, Corvettes, I was a drag racer back in the 60s.

To me a Stick is natural, in fact its transparent to me.

It did NOT get transparent over night!!!!!!!!!!

If you have not lived with a stick most of your adult life then you better get a AUTO, you will be glad you did. I had to give up Sticks on the 1320 because drag racing had advanced and autos started shifting gears faster than I could and that is saying something! I had a trick to my fast shifting. Use a ROUND shifter knob and unscrew it a about 3 turns. Now it would twist in my hand and all I had to do was apply muscle and direction back, right forward and back right again.

GO AUTO, I just ordered my 2024 Rubi with a Auto and I have only had 3 autos in life and not counting my F 350/450 trucks.

Trust me , that Auto is a LOT FASTER and SMARTER than you and me are.

John Deere, you must have been rich?? I learned on a Massey Harris. I stuck with the manual, too stubborn I guess. No regrets though, I love it.

 

[Old Jeeper]

John Deere, you must have been rich?? I learned on a Massey Harris. I stuck with the manual, too stubborn I guess. No regrets though, I love it.

LOL, I had 2 Deeres due to the my ranch land. Places I had trees and thickest I could barely get my Billy Goat mower into, hyea I needed 2 different sizes of tractor.

 

[J.Ferreira]

Auto is obviously going to be easier. Manual will be more fun.
IF you like driving a manual.
If you’re the kind of person that thinks a manual is a chore in heavy stop and go traffic, maybe not the best decision.

I don’t drive automagics, best and only decision for me was the manual.



Save the manuals!

 

[LKG]

LOL, I had 2 Deeres due to the my ranch land. Places I had trees and thickest I could barely get my Billy Goat mower into, hyea I needed 2 different sizes of tractor.

I grew up on more of a hobby sized farm, I guess it's hard to justify a shiny green tractor when you're only putting up 16 acres of alfalfa.

 

[Old Jeeper]

I grew up on more of a hobby sized farm, I guess it's hard to justify a shiny green tractor when you're only putting up 16 acres of alfalfa.

16 of Alfalfa is a lot. Not having brother growing up the Hay barn was one of my jobs. 3500 bales of hay of which 1/4 was Alfalfa and that was backing the day when a bail was 100+ lbs. By the end of summer I had arms like popeye

 

[Maverick909]

I haven't driven manual transmissions my whole life. i did learn how to first drive a manual before i was allowed to drive an auto. I had 5-6 trucks all auto before i got my Jeep. I went the manual transmission route for the Jeep because i could still get it. with 90% of vehicles being auto now I had to go the opposite way and i couldn't be happier. Yes, It is much harder for wheeling but i do love the challenge of it. I also didnt expect to get wheeling level7 and up trials either but now i am hooked. at some point i may get my wife an auto Wrangler and build it identical to my jeep so we can wheel together and she can get some more seat time

 

[dstevens]

I consider the 3.6L pentastar with it 11.2:1 compression ratio a high output engine.

Modern engines use the variable cam timing is dynamically adjust the compression ratio, so the static ratio is not that relevant. I'm sorry to have to the use this as an example, but the prius had a 14:1 compression ratio and could run on 87 octane. So with knock detection and real time adjustment the 11.2:1 ratio is not really a concern. Direction injection helps a lot too - the 2.0T has 10:1 compression which is not considered unusual for a turbocharged engine now.

 

[Zuni]

I enjoy the the challenge of a clutch. Knowing which gear to pick and when and using the clutch properly. If ur not comfortable with a clutch the JLs with a 6 speed probably aren't a good choice. The throttle is kinda touchy and the clutch is kinda weird. It has a very light recall pressure when u start letting it out. until it starts to engage then it seems like the pressure increases and is easy to dump. It's like it's a paroblic curve of pressure. I've used clutches since my 1st dirt bike 50 yr ago and it took almost 1500 miles on my JLR before I stopped occasionally stalling it at a stop. Very embarrassing! LoL (Retro talk: A heavier flywheel would help by lessening the touchiness of the throttle and giving more low end grunt to lessen the stalling.)

 

[Zuni]

Modern engines use the variable cam timing is dynamically adjust the compression ratio, so the static ratio is not that relevant. I'm sorry to have to the use this as an example, but the prius had a 14:1 compression ratio and could run on 87 octane. So with knock detection and real time adjustment the 11.2:1 ratio is not really a concern. Direction injection helps a lot too - the 2.0T has 10:1 compression which is not considered unusual for a turbocharged engine now.

All true but still even on the average the 11.2:1 would be higher than a 9.6:1 so the power produced and temperature of each combustion would be slightly higher. Meaning a little more wear and tear on the bearings and valves. At least that's my opinion.

 

[stumblinhorse]

I have owned many manual vehicles including my JKUR. This question is always out there.

Simple answer for this. If you often feel like you need to shift while in 4L and you need to shift in a water/mud crossing. Both those circumstances are bad with a manual.

Manual shifting in 4L is terrible And hard to do.

Manual shifting in muddy water is destructive To your clutch.

Manuals are fun, I hate when an auto thinks it needs to shift. But I won’t buy another manual. Automatic is the direction automakers are going. So if you want to have current stuff and full power from your engine, you have to get an auto.

 

[Ratbert]

I have owned many manual vehicles including my JKUR. This question is always out there.

Simple answer for this. If you often feel like you need to shift while in 4L and you need to shift in a water/mud crossing. Both those circumstances are bad with a manual.

Manual shifting in 4L is terrible And hard to do.

Manual shifting in muddy water is destructive To your clutch.

Manuals are fun, I hate when an auto thinks it needs to shift. But I won’t buy another manual. Automatic is the direction automakers are going. So if you want to have current stuff and full power from your engine, you have to get an auto.

Don't forget going through deep sand where you're totally screwed if you lose speed midway through due to shifting.

 

[Toycrusher]

Don't forget going through deep sand where you're totally screwed if you lose speed midway through due to shifting.

Hey, your off-roading for an adrenaline rush aren't you? What better way to spike that adrenaline than trying to pull off an emergency downshift as your tires dig in and you feel those revs dropping fast!

 

[Ratbert]

Hey, your off-roading for an adrenaline rush aren't you? What better way to spike that adrenaline than trying to pull off an emergency downshift as your tires dig in and you feel those revs dropping fast!

Yeah, Poison Spider outside of Moab has a stretch like that (depending on conditions). In a manual you have to commit to a specific gear and hope you chose wisely.

Sponsored