Manuals might be dead

[5JeepsAz]

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[88mmm]

I am not a fan boy, but, I like sticks, and I wanted a stick in my Jeep Gladiator. There is nothing wrong with the 6 speed and 33 inch tires in the JT Rubicon that I own. When this exact manual transmission came out in the JL, the Jeep crowd was ecstatic. It was a big improvement, but, now it is crap in the JT ? -- hard to swallow. It might not be as good as the new eight speed auto, but, it is geared fine for this day and age and guys that like sticks happen to like them. That's all there is to it.

Head over to the JL forum. Nobody is raving about the manual over there. Mostly the same complaints as the JT. The transmission and shifter are fine. The gearing sucks and was clearly designed to up the MPGs. No need for two overdrives. The auto does a much better job of masking the V6s lack of torque down low.

 

[hjdca]

Head over to the JL forum. Nobody is raving about the manual over there. Mostly the same complaints as the JT. The transmission and shifter are fine. The gearing sucks and was clearly designed to up the MPGs. No need for two overdrives. The auto does a much better job of masking the V6s lack of torque down low.

It is not a race car, it is a jeep truck. So, a 4 speed in town, with 2 overdrives for the fwy, gives you an advantage. Good mileage on the fwy getting to your 4 wheel spot, then, 4 speeds to run in the dirt. I know that everyone would like a close ratio 6 speed transmission with 1 overdrive, but, the manual tranny in the JT Rubicon actually works well with the 33" tires. Everyone should try it first, before writing huge negatives about it.

 

[Bbannongmu]

I hope this is a minor hiccup in the supply chain. The manual takes some getting used to but the more I drive it, the more I get what Jeep engineers were trying to do. Yeah I’d love closer gearing but we live in the real world. The Pentastar likes to rev and the gear spread helps keep the engine on boil and achieve reasonable gas mileage once you reprogram your shifting a bit. I initially approached it like a TJ,YJ and trusty old M-38A1 which all had less rev happy engines with more apparent low end grunt and I was a bit annoyed. Now I rev it a bit more, stay in the sweet spot and I am very happy with the way it performs. The feedback on the clutch seems to be getting better as it’s getting worn in too. Overall this is a good manual transmission and lots of fun.

 

[88mmm]

It is not a race car, it is a jeep truck. So, a 4 speed in town, with 2 overdrives for the fwy, gives you an advantage. Good mileage on the fwy getting to your 4 wheel spot, then, 4 speeds to run in the dirt. I know that everyone would like a close ratio 6 speed transmission with 1 overdrive, but, the manual tranny in the JT Rubicon actually works well with the 33" tires. Everyone should try it first, before writing huge negatives about it.

I own one and it sucks. I'm not wanting a close ratio gear box, I just wanted a 6 speed not a 4 speed (It's 2020). Anyway, I love my truck just wish it could maintain speed in going through hilly roads. The combo of this transmission and the V6 does not work.

 

[Bbannongmu]

I own one and it sucks. I'm not wanting a close ratio gear box, I just wanted a 6 speed not a 4 speed (It's 2020). Anyway, I love my truck just wish it could maintain speed in going through hilly roads. The combo of this transmission and the V6 does not work.

I have noticed I can hold gears a bit longer now that I have the Borla cat back installed. It’s just a bit more pep. I have a Rubi with 4.10 and that helps a bit too.

 

[88mmm]

I have noticed I can hold gears a bit longer now that I have the Borla cat back installed. It’s just a bit more pep. I have a Rubi with 4.10 and that helps a bit too.

Good to know, I've thought about getting the Borla for a little sound. The sport and Overland have shorter tires so the final drive gearing does not make much of a difference. After I had mine for a bit I considered trading for a Rubi but there was no noticeable difference on the road between the two.

 

[watarski]

I just got my MT this past Friday and am adjusting to it. What is the “sweet spot” for this engine regarding shift points (up through 4th gear...)? 3500? 4000 RPMs?

 

[hjdca]

I own one and it sucks. I'm not wanting a close ratio gear box, I just wanted a 6 speed not a 4 speed (It's 2020). Anyway, I love my truck just wish it could maintain speed in going through hilly roads. The combo of this transmission and the V6 does not work.

Mine can hold overdrive on the fwy with small hills on 33" mud terrains, it is a JT Rubicon with 4:10 gears. In fact, once you hit 75 mph, the 6th gear seems like it can climb more higher hills on the fwy.
What rear end do you have ? 3:73 or 4:10 ?

 

[wannajeep]

I just got my MT this past Friday and am adjusting to it. What is the “sweet spot” for this engine regarding shift points (up through 4th gear...)? 3500? 4000 RPMs?

There may be a tendency to run & shift at lower RPMs during the adjustment period. I'm at about 3K miles now, and only now I'm getting used to letting it run higher RPMs before shifting, and the Jeep seems happier. I'd say around 3500 RPM is good. But there's value in the "break in" period - not just the Jeep's, but your own. Don't short cut or get too technical by watching RPMs, but instead take your time getting a feel for it. If you're shifting too low, the Jeep will give you feedback. After 2-3K you'll be at one with it. The Jeep needs to train us, not the other way around. Congrats on your new MT!

 

[Bbannongmu]

I just got my MT this past Friday and am adjusting to it. What is the “sweet spot” for this engine regarding shift points (up through 4th gear...)? 3500? 4000 RPMs?

I shift by sound (another reason I went with the Borla cat back exhaust) and I’ve had to train myself to let it rev a bit more than previous Jeeps...but I suspect around 3000- 3500 or so.

 

[wannajeep]

The auto does a much better job of masking the V6s lack of torque down low.

Exactly this. Masking. Auto or manual, in the end it's still a V6 Pentastar, with the same hp and torque, and there are pros and cons for both manual and auto.

 

[ThirtyOne]

Head over to the JL forum. Nobody is raving about the manual over there. Mostly the same complaints as the JT. The transmission and shifter are fine. The gearing sucks and was clearly designed to up the MPGs. No need for two overdrives. The auto does a much better job of masking the V6s lack of torque down low.

You have to adjust the way you shift. Keep it in the power band around 3,500 RPMs and it responds much better. This means being in 3rd and 4th gear a lot. Pretty much all the time around town and even on the highway under 70. That's not a lot of fun if you are used to rowing through a lot of gears but that's how this one works.

 

[Lives The Dream]

After reading all the “it’s a 4 speed with 2 overdrives “ (which it actually is) and “the sweet spot is is 3500-4000 RPM”, I start feeling like I am in bizarro world. This transmission gearing is very comparable to other manuals if you look at the ratios. If you like to stomp on the pedal to here the RPMs to drive like a race car that’s your thing (And more a statement on how quiet the engine is).This transmission shifts just fine at 2000, 2500, or whatever rpm you like, in city driving as long as the next light isn’t 20 feet away, you can even ride in sixth at 40mph and 1000 rpm and keep right up with traffic, below that speed the engine hesitates and you need to shift down like any other manual transmission. If you upgraded the tires bigger than stock and not the axle gearing, it isn’t the transmission’s fault. And it has handled climbing 4-5000 ft mountain passes in 6th without down shifting, something my LJ rubicon can’t do but that’s more to do with the 100 more horsepower vs the 4.0L. Not a fan bois, just enjoy manual transmissions.

 

[Mtneerdan]

My 70yo, 100lb, gray headed babysitter drives mine to pick the kids up from school every day, and crawls through the school pickup line with it. She's never once stalled it out, or complained about the clutch feel, or the shift points. Hmmm.

For my part, i just drive it like i stole it. Try and lug it and it'll annoy you. Let it scream, that motor is built to turn.

There's nothing wrong with this combination. A 285 hp v6 paired to a transmission that will crawl, and still get 22mpg? Stock?? This is the stuff we dreamed of being able to buy in the eighties. Some of those bitching about it should drive a mid eighties ford with a 140hp 300 6, NP435, 3.08 gears, a hockey puck lift, and 35's for a week.

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