So how many of you use the manual shifter on the automatic?

[lobelsteve]

I've used it to force upshifts while towing, it seems like the transmission gets really aggressive about keeping in a lower gear than needed.

Same here. 5000lb trailer/car and 37's on stock gears. Need it to go 1 gear lower (3rd instead of 2nd) or 7th instead of 4th on highway hill.

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[Sky Soldier]

I use it when the automatic 8 speed is searching constantly between 7th and 8th gear - very annoying

 

[salvino]

So far I have only used it going down steep hills and helps save on the brakes.

I use mine on the road to save the brakes on steep hills and all the time off road to keep the desire gear.

 

[Logan94605]

I have used it a few times off the line just to see how much power the truck really has. I've had 2 CJ's and a string of Toyotas but my last daily driver was an Audi and I really miss having the sport mode. The stock shift pattern just feels so sluggish. I also use it descending the hills where I live, my Audi made it 100,000 miles before the first brake job.

 

[tysongladiator]

I use it on the trails.

 

[BreakFixRepeat]

I most of the time just let it do its thing. As far as downhill as long as its not more than a 6% grade the aerodynamics hold it back plenty at highway speeds. I do use the shifter all the time offroad. And relatively often when i turn back into a child. That 8 speed transmission is so darn crisp while playing. I love that thing. MILES better than the sorry excuse of a transmission ram keeps putting in the diesel trucks. 68rfe and aisin both are trash.

 

[BigEd65]

I assume those are pretty long or steep hills - here, I hit the brakes moderately for a second or two and let up and mine downshifts a couple of gears and applies engine braking.
I've not yet used the manual mode really - but might if I were towing a load.

The thing I hate about the manual mode is that it's BACKWARDS. You push the lever forward to upshift on other vehicles, but the Jeep you pull it back. That's just backwards.
My 73 you run through the gears by starting with the floor shift all the way back, run it forward to upshift, pull BACK to DOWNshift.

Forward is up, backward is down - why did Jeep do it backwards?

Same!! I hate using it because it takes me a while to get used to shifting backwards.

 

[Cowboy JK]

I assume those are pretty long or steep hills - here, I hit the brakes moderately for a second or two and let up and mine downshifts a couple of gears and applies engine braking.
I've not yet used the manual mode really - but might if I were towing a load.

The thing I hate about the manual mode is that it's BACKWARDS. You push the lever forward to upshift on other vehicles, but the Jeep you pull it back. That's just backwards.
My 73 you run through the gears by starting with the floor shift all the way back, run it forward to upshift, pull BACK to DOWNshift.

Forward is up, backward is down - why did Jeep do it backwards?

Read some Porsche Forums and they will tell you that the Jeep way is correct. Porsche does it the opposite way. Most performance cars pull back for up shifts due to acceleration and forward for down shifts due to braking.

 

[Cowboy JK]

I dunn


I dunno, I have a great time in my BMW and a Lotus Evora I rented last month. Both have flappy paddles that turn with the steering wheel, as do all Porsches with their excellent PDK. I also keep my hands on 9 & 3 (relative to the wheels) and I don't shift my hands around when I'm driving aggressively, so the paddles are always right where I need them.

That being said, I agree that it wouldn't be a good match for the JT, but to generalize *all* steering-wheel mounted paddles as useless is reaching a bit.

What I wish the JT had was the ability to manually shift the transmission without needing to put the shifter/transmission into manual mode. I often need to downshift or upshift just to get in a certain gear (passing or force into 8th) but don't want to stay in manual mode after the single shift. Paddle shifters are great for this as they allow you to make a single manual shift, but revert back to automatic after a set amount of time.

Not all Porsches with the PDK have paddle shifters. Most have the annoying buttons on the wheel.

 

[itsky]

I use it quite often even driving around town. After having Chrysler Crossfires and MB SLKs, it's second nature to me.

 

[Terry]

I’ll use it more when I’m on trails requiring 4lo... it works great in conjunction with hill descent control

Me too

 

[Deleted member 30519]

Every day

Sorry I had too

 

[Ogre_FL]

I assume those are pretty long or steep hills - here, I hit the brakes moderately for a second or two and let up and mine downshifts a couple of gears and applies engine braking.
I've not yet used the manual mode really - but might if I were towing a load.

The thing I hate about the manual mode is that it's BACKWARDS. You push the lever forward to upshift on other vehicles, but the Jeep you pull it back. That's just backwards.
My 73 you run through the gears by starting with the floor shift all the way back, run it forward to upshift, pull BACK to DOWNshift.

Forward is up, backward is down - why did Jeep do it backwards?

I think its normal. Forward is down, Back is up.
I replicates the 1-2 and/or 3-4 shift of a manual H pattern.
In some ways also replicates a sequential shift pattern of a motorcycle.

My man-u-matic Miata and Suzuki are the same.
Several others I have driven are the same way too.

Its just not 1973 any more.

 

[LostWoods]

I think its normal. Forward is down, Back is up.
I replicates the 1-2 and/or 3-4 shift of a manual H pattern.
In some ways also replicates a sequential shift pattern of a motorcycle.

My man-u-matic Miata is the same.
Several others I have driven are the same way too.

Its just not 1973 any more.

It's a carry over from racing because it feels more natural with your body's inertia to push under braking and pull during hard acceleration. The first ones on the mass produced market were companies like BMW and Porsche so it makes sense this became the norm. But then Toyota and a few others have the opposite because pushing away is perceived as "up" to the average driver.

 

[Casique]

I use it all the time to decelerate, or to slow down hills. Glad we don't have paddles on the steering wheel, hate those!

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