Manual Transmission Club

[RavensEyeOffroad]

Im getting a gopro tomorrow and my gladiator later this week. It just arrived at the dealiership today. They still need to PDI it. AND YES it is a manual so expect a video.

Sponsored

 

[88mmm]

is it steep and you have to stop at the top or?

It's normal. Due to the low torque and the reverse gear. I test drove some other ones and they all suffer in reverse at low speeds.

is it steep and you have to stop at the top or?

Yup, I have to back out and stop at the top still on an incline. Not an issue with my other manual car but this thing slips the clutch every time. I may start backing into the driveway but that's just a pain in the ass crossing traffic.

 

[Onebigyoshi]

Would love someone to drop some knowledge on me vs. me just bitching about what is probably a good vehicle...
I’d quantify myself as a relatively experienced manual owner. My first vehicle was a manual ford ranger. Then a manual BMW. Then a manual wrangler. But this gladiator and I aren’t clicking. My biggest complaint is first gear. Suuuper short. And slow. The microsecond I let up off the gas in first to put it in second, the whole vehicle immediately loses inertia and I get a very jerky transition that is not remotely pleasant. The obviously alternative is start in second and just slip the clutch a ton which I don’t want. Anyone have any tips?

I noticed this as well. I'm not an expert but from my short experienced with the JT it will buckle if you're moving too fast in 1st gear and then letting off the gas. Depending on how fast you're going it'll still buckle even if you give it gas again. You can either accelerate really slow in first or if you're going to accelerate hard make sure you shift to 2nd. As soon as you press the clutch and shift it won't buckle.

 

[Cape taco12]

Overly or underly sensitive gas pedal?

My mustang bucks like hell in 1-2 because the gas pedal is super sensitive. The first 5% seems to have 90% of the throttle response. The acceleration of the car is enough to move your foot back and cause deceleration/bucking as you push down. I have to rest my foot on the firewall to hold it in place for smooth takeoff.

when I let off it will coast for 5 seconds or so then abruptly buckle and slow down.

 

[Up venture]

Mostly just that you don't need to be in 1st beyond getting it un-stationary. I shift to second almost immediately and go from there. I haven't noticed it being jerky, but it all happens kind of fast ending up in second.

Then I have to tell myself to stay in second for longer than I think, that gap to 3rd is my bugaboo. I'm getting better at it, but I still go to 3rd too fast a lot. Must... run... 2nd... longer. C'mon brain, forget all your old manuals.

I agree with this 100%
Shift out of 1st real quick hold second long and 3-6 as normal

 

[Will_H]

I agree with this 100%
Shift out of 1st real quick hold second long and 3-6 as normal

Definitely appreciate the tips. My buddy says that if you can start the vehicle in second and let off the clutch slowly without giving it gas without the vehicle stalling, then it’s safe to start from 2nd as much as you want. Makes sense and this is indeed the case with mine. Does this seem correct? Come to think of it, pretty much always did this with my wrangler. Never had clutch issues with it so far as I can remember...

 

[basicGlad]

I noticed this as well. I'm not an expert but from my short experienced with the JT it will buckle if you're moving too fast in 1st gear and then letting off the gas. Depending on how fast you're going it'll still buckle even if you give it gas again. You can either accelerate really slow in first or if you're going to accelerate hard make sure you shift to 2nd. As soon as you press the clutch and shift it won't buckle.

I don't know what you're talking about, but I've noticed first is not good for crawling parking lots in. It either wants to be accelerating or engine breaking, and the lightest change in throttle throws it back and forth idk how to describe.

Definitely appreciate the tips. My buddy says that if you can start the vehicle in second and let off the clutch slowly without giving it gas without the vehicle stalling, then it’s safe to start from 2nd as much as you want. Makes sense and this is indeed the case with mine. Does this seem correct? Come to think of it, pretty much always did this with my wrangler. Never had clutch issues with it so far as I can remember...

A lot of my cars, to not get stuck in snow I slip the clutch a tiny bit and start in second gear. I guess it's less torque more wheel spin.

*Disclaimer, I've been really busy since I got my Gladiator, bought a work truck because I have work to do. So this video is just really a test of my gopro. I wanted to see if it sounds passable or if it's like getting beat in the ear with a potato.

I'm going to make an actual video review of the manual transmission Saturday evening. If you want to know anything specific go to YouTube and comment on ^video so I can find the requests easy.

 

[Onebigyoshi]

I don't know what you're talking about, but I've noticed first is not good for crawling parking lots in. It either wants to be accelerating or engine breaking, and the lightest change in throttle throws it back and forth idk how to describe.

I disagree but I guess every person drives differently. I have no problem accelerating and decelerating in 1st gear without any buckle as long as I'm doing it slowly and going less than 15mph

 

[Dr Kel]

I can't get used to reverse. My driveway is fairly steep and I have to back out. The clutch slips every time no matter how i do it. Can't even imagine what it would be like with a load or a trailer.

Reverse does take getting used to. It IS entertaining backing up a drive with a trailer especially if there's an incline and a the trailer has a tongue brake. I am always more afraid to give it too much gas, but I am mostly used to it now. My dad drove it and made me laugh about how hard it is to back up.

 

[Dr Kel]

I was wondering where the two-gear gap was between the 8 spd auto and 6 spd manual. That jump from 1 to 2 and again from 2 to 3 makes it hard to keep the milage decent compared to the automatics; especially in stop-n-go traffic. I am glad the top end gears are as good. Thanks for the post.

 

[RavensEyeOffroad]

I don't know what you're talking about, but I've noticed first is not good for crawling parking lots in. It either wants to be accelerating or engine breaking, and the lightest change in throttle throws it back and forth idk how to describe.



A lot of my cars, to not get stuck in snow I slip the clutch a tiny bit and start in second gear. I guess it's less torque more wheel spin.

*Disclaimer, I've been really busy since I got my Gladiator, bought a work truck because I have work to do. So this video is just really a test of my gopro. I wanted to see if it sounds passable or if it's like getting beat in the ear with a potato.

I'm going to make an actual video review of the manual transmission Saturday evening. If you want to know anything specific go to YouTube and comment on ^video so I can find the requests easy.

video was good! No audio problems or anything. (I use gopro all the time)

Alot of folks say you cannot use 5th or 6th gear on the highway at anything under 65mph (104 kph). would you say this is true?
90% of my driving is 2 lane flat highway with a speed limit (suggested lol) of 55 mph (88 kph). would you say this is true?

 

[88mmm]

video was good! No audio problems or anything. (I use gopro all the time)

Alot of folks say you cannot use 5th or 6th gear on the highway at anything under 65mph (104 kph). would you say this is true?
90% of my driving is 2 lane flat highway with a speed limit (suggested lol) of 55 mph (88 kph). would you say this is true?

5th and 6th are useless on the highway with any grade. I typically cruise at 75 mph on the highway here and have to shift to 4th for the slightest hill.

 

[RavensEyeOffroad]

5th and 6th are useless on the highway with any grade. I typically cruise at 75 mph on the highway here and have to shift to 4th for the slightest hill.

might be a deal breaker for me then. why would they do that? Its like they just quickly threw some gear ratio's in there and didnt test anything.
speed limit here is 55, i typically cruise control 60. I just cant imagine the gas mileage hugging 4th gear the whole time. What is the point of "two overdrives" if you cant use them? O_o

 

[basicGlad]

Yes, 100% you have to be going 85/90+ mph before you would want 6th

I drive it like a 4 speed with a 5th od gear for HW.

It's fine. You don't always want to row a boat to get up the 60mph

 

[RavensEyeOffroad]

Sounds to me like I would never use 6th. Nothing around here that is 70mph

Kinda sounds like my 2003 Rubicon 5 speed honestly.

Sponsored