Manual Transmission Discontinued for 2025

[mtbjeeper]

I have to say it, I don't care if the automatic transmission in the JT gives me a reach around and cooks me breakfast, it is a 100% soulless machine that is dumbing down the human race. You'll be regretting those clean, crisp automatic shifts when you're scrubbing toilets for your AI overlord Assuming they somehow use toilets......

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[RidingDonkeys]

I'm tired of getting into n=1 sample size arguments here with people so I'm just going to say this: it doesn't matter what you want. There are tons of people screaming about the manual but not enough people willing to pony up the coin to buy one new. That's all the manufacturers care about. If people buy them, they will make them, but it's clear that for the JT, the number wasn't enough. The number of people for which no MT option is a 100% dealbreaker is very, very small and it's even smaller for a company blind brand loyalty like Jeep.

And it's not as simple as just raising the price a little. Aside from supply chain and long
term support concerns, manufacturing line changes cost time and potential errors. Harnesses are different, control modules are different, assembly process is different, trim is different. It's not just the gearbox, it's a hundred other little parts that vary between the models which require deliberate changes to the process during manufacturing.

The Wrangler will lose its MT someday as well. The huge majority of those who buy new buy it because they think it's cute or looks rugged or whatever and they don't give two shits about how many pedals it has. Add in the push to electric where transmissions become moot, enjoy it while you can.

You nailed it. People say they want it, but they are unwilling to back it up with cash.

The car below is a Suzuki Spresso. I bought it brand new in Chile in 2020 for $9k OTD. Six-speed manual, Android auto, 2 speakers, power locks, manual windows. No safety standards, limited emission standards, and 42 mpg. The only options were color. This is one of my favorite cars I've ever owned. It's a compact with a lift kit. A FWD curb jumping urban assault vehicle.

But when it was time to sell it, no diplomat would bite. Every diplomat "wanted" a cheap MT car, but nobody was willing to spend the coin on it. They all spent more for creature comforts and an automatic transmission in a vehicle that was older and had more miles.

Americans don't buy MTs in numbers that warrant production. Most Europeans don't either, anymore. The low price, stripped down, MT banger is reserved for 3rd world and developing markets these days.

 

[USMC32GTR]

The gear ratios are so poorly thought out it’s almost like they doomed it to fail. Especially given that the JK 6spd was geared just fine.

 

[Mr._Bill]

So glad I was patient and waited the 5 months after ordering my 22 Mojave exactly how I wanted it which meant the MT and the half doors and every option possible but smokers group. I bought it knowing it would be my last vehicle.

I put in a centerforce clutch and the transmission is fine---I agree that the ratio's aren't great but it's easy to get used to them.

I won't do an automatic because I'm convinced half the reason we have some many traffic accidents is that automatic transmissions allow drivers to not pay much attention to driving at all.

That's due to the drivers, not the transmission. There would be more accidents with more manuals because the drivers won't put the phones down.

 

[Mightytalldude]

Halfway through my road trip torture test of the new clutch. 1200 miles across Texas, NM, and into Colorado. Today was Ouray, Poughkeepsie Gulch, California Pass and Engineer Pass, with a quick jump to Imogene for the bridge I keep forgetting to take a pic on, no temp light, and it got abused today. This weekend is White Rim in Moab. Hit 80,000 miles on top of Engineer Pass.

 

[Slapping_Rabbits]

So glad I was patient and waited the 5 months after ordering my 22 Mojave exactly how I wanted it which meant the MT and the half doors and every option possible but smokers group. I bought it knowing it would be my last vehicle.

I put in a centerforce clutch and the transmission is fine---I agree that the ratio's aren't great but it's easy to get used to them.

I won't do an automatic because I'm convinced half the reason we have some many traffic accidents is that automatic transmissions allow drivers to not pay much attention to driving at all.

I'm about to buy a clutch. Which centerforce did you get?

 

[mendiola21]

I just ordered the Centerforce II dual friction. I’ll let you know how it feels compared to stock in a few weeks

 

[steelponycowboy]

just buy a wrangler with a 3.6, all you can get in that option is the 6 speed....
Stella is doing some weird games to get their house in order, i don't really think they know what they are doing either.

It's all about the bottom line. Very few people buy automatics anymore. Dealers don't stock them and don't want to take them in trade because in the words of a sales manager buddy if mine "they are the kiss of death". It's cheaper not to offer them to make the assembly line more efficient. I liked to drive a stick when I was young and all my CJs and YJs were sticks as were my sports/muscle cars. Later on with chit traffic and finding that an automatic is so much better off road than a stick, I have all automatics now. Say what you want about the ZF 8 speed bit as long as you don't tow with it the ZF will last you well over 100K miles and is a great all around tranny. I've tackled some of the toughest trails in Moab and elsewhere and put in front of the NP241 OR transfer case it's unbeatable by any manual 6 speed. Now I won't disagree that Stellantis is running the brand into the ground and is grasping at straws the elimination of the 6 speed along with the soon to be discontinued Gladiator are just a few of their ways to streamline the operations. The also might consider not offering so many trim levels. Sport for the people that need an entry level Jeep, Sahara for the country club crowd and Rubicon for those who want the best off-road performance in a factory package. Some other things I think you will see in the future is increased denial of warranty claims due to modifications. They have already started this and I'm betting they are going to be more aggressive in thw future as warranty claims are literally their biggest expense

 

[Geoarch]

is the auto clearly an improvement in mileage over the manual?

I had a 2022 JTR with a manual, and a 2024 with AT, and not much different. The MT might have been a bit better, but I'm not sure. Either way mileage is poor.

 

[Biff Happy]

The gear ratios are so poorly thought out it’s almost like they doomed it to fail. Especially given that the JK 6spd was geared just fine.

JT:

JK:
1st.... 4.46
2nd.... 2.61
3rd.... 1.72
4th.... 1.25
5th.... 1.00
6th.... 0.84
Reverse.... 4.06

‘bout the same, other than a deeper granny gear and an extra overdrive

 

[AKDrifter]

JT:

JK:
1st.... 4.46
2nd.... 2.61
3rd.... 1.72
4th.... 1.25
5th.... 1.00
6th.... 0.84
Reverse.... 4.06

‘bout the same, other than a deeper granny gear and an extra overdrive

I've only said it a thousand times, but I thought the gearing in the NSG370, ie JK 6 speed, was too tall. I wish 6th was a little deeper than it is. Then the AL6 was geared even taller and we all knew it was going to be disappointing. I'd like to have seen 6th be around .90-2. Just enough OD to make it technically an OD. 5th around 1.0, and make the distances between 2nd and 5th a little more smooth. 2nd is too short, 3rd is too tall, 4th is about the only one that has no complaints. It could have been much better spaced.

 

[Biff Happy]

I've only said it a thousand times, but I thought the gearing in the NSG370, ie JK 6 speed, was too tall. I wish 6th was a little deeper than it is. Then the AL6 was geared even taller and we all knew it was going to be disappointing. I'd like to have seen 6th be around .90-2. Just enough OD to make it technically an OD. 5th around 1.0, and make the distances between 2nd and 5th a little more smooth. 2nd is too short, 3rd is too tall, 4th is about the only one that has no complaints. It could have been much better spaced.

Well it sounds like you only want one gear. you don’t want an overdrive and 2nd closer to third. 2nd needs to be deeper to get closer to 1st and allow improved 2nd gear starts (1st is only an inertia breaker due to no power in the V6 at low rpm), 3rd in the JT seems pretty good, you can use it from anywhere from 20-55 mph in different situations .
I personally like having 2 ODs in the JT, i like getting 25 MPH highway in a truck.

 

[AKDrifter]

Well it sounds like you only want one gear. you don’t want an overdrive and 2nd closer to third. 2nd needs to be deeper to get closer to 1st and allow improved 2nd gear starts (1st is only an inertia breaker due to no power in the V6 at low rpm), 3rd in the JT seems pretty good, you can use it from anywhere from 20-55 mph in different situations .
I personally like having 2 ODs in the JT, i like getting 25 MPH highway in a truck.

2nd is a problem in these for sure. At 25mph it's pretty wound out screaming but you shift to 3rd and it falls flat on it's face, it's very awkward. Like I said it could have been geared to make sense. Instead it was important to Chrysler to make it so you can't use 6th until you're going 75mph which is completely useless to me. I can probably count on my fingers and toes how many times I've shifted to 6th in 5 and a half years because it can't maintain speed on flat ground in it. The only place the AL6 shines is in 4low, it's actually pretty sweet in 4low.

 

[bd100]

The 2-3 gap can be a bit much when towing up a mountain.

 

[Frank...]

Reverse is simply ridiculous, backing up an incline can be a challenge with my trailer

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