6 Speed Manual Regrets?

[Choatecav]

Bet I can back a trailer/boat/camper/flatbed into a complex parking position a lot faster and easier.................
I've had both, and for maneuvering long trailers around less than straight areas, I'll take auto and leave the stupid high reverse and burning clutch smell behind.
Sorry, i like a stick, too - and own a car with a T5, but I'd never be able to maneuver my car hauler back into place with a stick and I challenge a MT JT owner to hook onto my trailer and put it into its spot as quickly as I can.

Each has their place and reason. if I never towed, I'd be fine with a stick Gladiator, but then I hate driving my car in 4pm I80 traffic by Altoona, too.......... I'm going to boil the clutch hydraulic fluid with the constant stop and go, fast and slow, all at the same time.

I didn't own an automatic transmission anything until I got married, except for a truck I had because of my busted up collar bone that never properly healed. Otherwise, everything was manual.
Luckily, the clutch in my car isn't hard to use, otherwise I'd be looking at converting it because of my knees and hips.
You'll get old one day, kid. My neighbor has two replacement knees - decades of driving and operating the county's heavy trucks and other equipment. He swears he'll never own another manual transmission.
Enjoy your great health while you can.

In some ways I will agree with you.
For past 35 years I have pulled a long, slant-load horse trailer all over the country with a Ford F-350 PowerStroke with a manual transmission. I can put that thing in just about any opening that it will fit..... but, the F-350 has a heavy duty clutch and flywheel and is much more forgiving than this feather light flywheel that comes in my Jeep. Of course, I don't do much towing with my Mojave.

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[redriderjf87]

Bet I can back a trailer/boat/camper/flatbed into a complex parking position a lot faster and easier.................

Automatics are easier to drive.

Manuals are simpler and contain fewer failure modes, but can take an extra 30 seconds to back up to your trailer.

I'll take auto and leave the stupid high reverse and burning clutch smell behind.

Reverse and diff ratios being too tall in Jeep's design isn't the fault of manual transmissions.

I challenge a MT JT owner to hook onto my trailer and put it into its spot as quickly as I can.

That doesn't matter to me personally
I'll take an extra 30 seconds to back up to a trailer to have a manual.

Each has their place and reason. if I never towed, I'd be fine with a stick Gladiator, but then I hate driving my car in 4pm I80 traffic by Altoona, too.......... I'm going to boil the clutch hydraulic fluid with the constant stop and go, fast and slow, all at the same time.

I've driven my manuals in stop and go traffic all the time. You don't have to burn anything up if you do it correctly.

I didn't own an automatic transmission anything until I got married, except for a truck I had because of my busted up collar bone that never properly healed. Otherwise, everything was manual.
Luckily, the clutch in my car isn't hard to use, otherwise I'd be looking at converting it because of my knees and hips.

I agree that automatics are easier. But they are also more boring and complex, from the quoted post.

You'll get old one day, kid. My neighbor has two replacement knees - decades of driving and operating the county's heavy trucks and other equipment. He swears he'll never own another manual transmission.
Enjoy your great health while you can.

You're saying in this section that automatics are good for old people.

While I'm not disagreeing, it doesn't combat the original post quoted, saying essentially that automatics are boring and manuals are more fun.

 

[JamesWyatt]

...Manuals are simpler and contain fewer failure modes...

Simple ≠ Reliable

Complex ≠ Unreliable

I would love to have a manual trans in my Mojave. But Jeep would have had to deliver a manual trans that was heavy duty, bullet-proof, ideally-geared for both off and on-road driving, and satisfying to shift. They could have offered such an HD manual trans as an option for Rubicon, Mojave, Max Tow, and Willys.

And while I'm dreaming, I would also like an option for a transfer case with a 2-speed low range.

 

[ArchEtech]

I don’t know if it’s “heavy duty” and I’m not expert as to what is appropriate for a jeep gladiator, but it’s less finicky than the manual in my 99 corvette, 99 trans am and reminds me of the 5 speed rwd MPV mini van I drove for a few years a long time ago…I’ve driven a lot of manual cars over the years.

I hadn’t driven a manual for a couple years and that was only once, and haven’t owned one for 15 years and have had zero issues with the gladiator rubicon. Didn’t stall it once during the test drive miss a shift or burn the clutch. First week I’ve stalled it a couple times trying to figure out how to smoothly get out of first on a hill.

I’d actually like to drive or hear some examples of cars that have the most perfect and subtle of manual transmissions.

I wish the Jeep had a bit more power but I bought the jeep to slow down to be honest ironically after a slew of near super car level of performance cars. My last car was a Tesla and after that thing I’ve sort of lost interest in speed nothing compares to the just instant raw quickness of a Tesla anyway but I still got bored with it.

 

[JamesWyatt]

...I’d actually like to drive or hear some examples of cars that have the most perfect and subtle of manual transmissions...

I used to own a '75 Ford with utility drawer bed that had a 3-speed manual on the column shifter that was more satisfying to drive. A '76 Beetle that was more satisfying. A 1997 VW GTI manual. A 1978 Dodge Power Wagon manual. A Korean War-era Weapons Carrier (joking). I could go on. Heck, even the 1985 Chevy Citation 5-speed was more enjoyable, IMO.

A good manual trans doesn't need to be subtle nor perfect, just well-matched to the vehicle and engine.

 

[OHJeeper]

You will love the 5.13's on the rock gardens with the manual transmission. On a JTR, with the 4 to 1 Transfer case, 1st gear, 4WD low is like a tractor. Here I am doing Holcomb Creek's second rock garden. At the end of the run, you can see me feathering the brake pedal to slow down, but, never using the clutch. You can basically "pause" with 5.13s using the brake without stalling.

If you have a tazer, I also map my steering wheel button to "Rock Crawl" brake lock, so, I can pause on a sloped boulder using the clutch, then, start again without moving backward at all - with my feet on the clutch and gas pedals... If you practice with the "Rock Crawl" brake lock button, you can get really good at it. It is really a game changer in the Boulders when you need to stop.

Had to come back just to say Windrock park was AWESOME with the 5.13's. I stalled a couple of times over some boulders only because I was in 2nd gear and not 1st. Other than that, it's back to the way I remember the 4:1 T-case is supposed to drive.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Automatics are easier to drive.

Manuals are simpler and contain fewer failure modes, but can take an extra 30 seconds to back up to your trailer.



Reverse and diff ratios being too tall in Jeep's design isn't the fault of manual transmissions.


That doesn't matter to me personally
I'll take an extra 30 seconds to back up to a trailer to have a manual.




I've driven my manuals in stop and go traffic all the time. You don't have to burn anything up if you do it correctly.



I agree that automatics are easier. But they are also more boring and complex, from the quoted post.



You're saying in this section that automatics are good for old people.

While I'm not disagreeing, it doesn't combat the original post quoted, saying essentially that automatics are boring and manuals are more fun.

Totally missed the point - not backing up TO a trailer, but backing a trailer around and maneuvering it in reverse.
I'll pull my car hauler or even a camper down the drive, unhook, and let you hook up and park it. Or try to get a trailer turned around a corner and into a narrow passage.
You'll fry your clutch. My first trucks were all sticks, my farm trucks were sticks. It's just a lot easier to maneuver with an automatic.

The reverse in manuals has been too high for a long time - it's not Jeep. Just that for some reason, even in the days of the T4 and T5 reverse is stupid high. Makes no sense unless you like performing the Joe Mannix moves in reverse at high speeds or are trying to outrun someone in reverse.

Fewer parts is all but meaningless really when I have seen manual transmissions need repair or overhaul almost as often as an automatic needs major work. The odds are not that different.
I used to rebuild a lot of manual transmissions.

It really only comes down to personal preference, and nothing more.

 

[AustinL911]

No ragrets here. Not even a single letter.

That being said, people keep bashing the MT itself. I've yet to read about even one MT TRANSMISSION failure. The clutch? yes. absolute dog crap. However, at this point you know that going into the purchase. The transmission has been solid and shifts like a dream for a truck. The ratios get harped on, but IMO, its because the truck is seriously undergeared from the factory. If you regear the truck and put in a solid aftermarket clutch, the MT is quite phenomenal.

I realize that's an added cost, but using the $2000+ I saved over not opting for the AT went towards that. So, I consider it a win for what I wanted. Is it the "best" option? Well, that's subjective. I chose my preferred route, others choose theirs.

 

[Artsifrtsi]

My '20 JT is an auto, because I have regretted the past 20 years of owning the '05 TJ with a manual. Manual is more difficult to drive through technical trail, and introduces a safety issue if you disengage the clutch at the wrong time or stall the motor going up something steep... now restart without rolling...

Automatics have a virtually unlimited low range because of the nature of the torque converter. Automatics have a higher tow capacity.

Wife and I have been driving manual transmissions over 40 years now... I do prefer them in a sports car, but will not do one in anything but again.

 

[NortonJTSS]

I've only had one auto my 20 years of driving and I only used it for a year. Traded my Willys 2.0 auto for a 2023 Mojave manual! Things I learned driving it for 1k mile-

1. I am sure it needs some breaking in. I used to have rev hang, clutch discs slipping and engaging few seconds after shifting and weird feel when I first started but all looking better once I passed 1k miles. Not sure if I am breaking in Jeep or Jeep breaking me in..
2. Same thing with stalling. It will get better.
3. 1st gear is useless on road. once break in period is over, I use second for the most part unless it's starting from a hill or something..
4. You have to rev high to get power out of this 3.6 One easy mode I did was a K&N reusable filter with factory airbox. I wouldn't spend money on CAI s Jeep has a great set up from factory. It also gets cold air from the front grill.
5. It's a great gearbox. I never had any shifting issues even in the cold mornings.
6. Use cruise control on highways. I've noticed computer does a better job keeping Jeep in 6th gear while doing 60-70 with small hills than throttle modulation.
7. Works great off road. clutch feel and power is great in 4H and 4L situations. Again it got better after initial 1000 miles..
8. Other pros are not many friends will borrow the Jeep and theft proof! ?

Good luck and keep Jeeping!

That's a lot of pretty good revelations for just 1k miles (at the time). That's a good little tip about using the cruise control on the highways, it truly does a better job maintaining speeds

 

[loganjeeps]

and introduces a safety issue if you disengage the clutch at the wrong time or stall the motor going up something steep... now restart without rolling...

Not true on JL / JT if you choose to activate the hill assist feature which is active by default from the factory.

 

[Birds83]

Not true on JL / JT if you choose to activate the hill assist feature which is active by default from the factory.

I despise the hill assist lol

 

[loganjeeps]

I despise the hill assist lol

Agree, I turned mine off before I left the lot. But it's there if you want.

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