Originally posted by IBJeepin2:
Larry
what have you found different between the auto and man trannies, ie: pro's and con's of have one or the other. I realize you had them in different vehicles but what did you like/hate bout the maunuals and what did you like/hate bout the autos.
Well, for starters, I find that there are now only two pedals on the firewall, which makes my life much simpler. ;-)
Manuals are great for bump starting, they generally last longer than autos, and they're better for steep descents. They're terrible for hill climbing (although backing down is better with a manual than an auto) and really rough terrain which requires slow speeds where you are always trying to get at least one vehicle over an obstacle (ie: rocks, etc). Manuals are also less sensitive to water. If they get contaminated one or two fluid changes will suffice. An auto may have to get rebuilt.
Autos are the opposite of manuals. Duh. I've found that the auto is far easier to 'wheel with. The control is far better than with a manual (as long as you learn to ride the brakes while using the throttle sometimes) and steep downhills weren't a problem for the stuff around here. With the 4:1 tcase gears, the auto has really come into its own. Downhills are no longer a problem and the control is even better than before. I've never stalled, either. <g>
Looking at my list, the manual actually looks like the better choice because it is more robust and versatile. However, my experience is that those advantages haven't really been part of my pattern of use. I avoid deep mud (if it'll bury a 35" tire, that's where I draw my limit) and I avoid deep water crossings. I've rarely ever had to bump start a vehicle in the bush and each time I did, I could have easily jump started as well. I suppose if I spent a lot of time in the bush alone, then a manual tranny would be a better choice, though. But then again, so would a Diesel, which, once it's running, can operate even if your electrical system dies. <g> So really, it's a matter of degrees, not absolutes.
If you 'wheel like I do, the auto is, in my opinion of course, a great choice.
I find it difficult to understand people who poo-poo autos from a performance perspective. Most people who have driven my Jeep or have watched me drive it are impressed at how easy it is to _smoothly_ navigate through an obstacle without the lurching and stalling that is common to many manual transmission vehicles. Even those manual tranny rigs that have super low gears still stall and lurch. And smooth driving = longer lasting parts.
also is the shifter thru the floor on your jeep or is it on the tree. I've seen quite a few stock jeeps with the shifter on the tree (what type of tranny is that used for).
It's on the tree. Autos, because of their simple shifting pattern and the fact that the shifter only actuates some valves (ie: not a whole lot of force required), can be shifted with something as simple as a flexible cable. So, to save floor space or for ergonomic considerations, some use a steering column-mounted shifter while others use a transmission tunnel-mounted shifter.
BTW, older (like REALLY old) vehicles also came with steering column-mounted MANUAL transmission shifters. Those are pretty weird to shift but the pattern is largely the same as today's manuals, you just have to think of operating it from the side.
...lars
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