Buying a Jeep???? Auto or Manual???

Joined: 19 Jul 2007 Location: Brisbane

Looking at buying a Jeep next year sometime, (Wrangler 2dr)
Just wondering if the Auto G/Box is any good in them and if it got better at some stage,
Mainly because of the misses, Rolling Eyes

dam auto licence,
trying to teach her to drive Manual but see how things go first. Rolling Eyes

(only reason for her to drive is if we are off road and I cant drive for some reason then she would have to drive Rolling Eyes

)

Thanks
Dan

Joined: 21 May 2004

What model Jeep are you looking at? The XJ has an AW4 which is a 4 speed auto, the TJ came with a couple of types and I know stuff all about the JK auto.

Cheers
Steve

Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 11:49 am

In most offroad situations the Auto will give better offroad perfomance.
I wish my TJ was auto not manual :(

Joined: 19 Jul 2007 Location: Brisbane

Steve F wrote:

What model Jeep are you looking at? The XJ has an AW4 which is a 4 speed auto, the TJ came with a couple of types and I know stuff all about the JK auto.

Cheers
Steve

I havent heard great things about the AWD setup they use.

Looking to buy a 2Dr Wrangler, Probably just under the $20 000 mark,

Joined: 29 Aug 2005 Location: western shitney

how long has she had her license? after 1 year she should be allowed to drive a manual.
unless they have changed the law since i got my license

Joined: 11 Nov 2004

The autos are not a worry at all. The later TJ's had the 4 speed auto, earlier ones were a 3 speed.

Should be able to pick up a TJ for well under $20000 now that the JK is out.

Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2007 11:46 am

Danzo wrote:

I havent heard great things about the AWD setup they use.

Really?
My 2cents = It's not a bad medium duty transmission.

Joined: 03 Oct 2007 Location: brisbane

I was keen to get a auto tj, as my v8 cj was a auto and loved it! but a few people we go wheeling with have tj 4speed auto,s and I must say I was shocked how they proformed off road. They would put the tyre on a rock and gas it, heeps of rev's but nothing else, no spinning wheels nothing. It was all lost in the auto box. I have just got a manual tj.

Joined: 21 May 2004

ian1974 wrote:

I was keen to get a auto tj, as my v8 cj was a auto and loved it! but a few people we go wheeling with have tj 4speed auto,s and I must say I was shocked how they proformed off road. They would put the tyre on a rock and gas it, heeps of rev's but nothing else, no spinning wheels nothing. It was all lost in the auto box. I have just got a manual tj.

Had to be something wrong there, the auto in my XJ is just fine in those situations and will crawl along much easier than a manual, I managed to snap an axle with it so it certainly will push the power to the wheels with no problems.

Cheers
Steve

Joined: 03 Oct 2007 Location: brisbane

[quote="Steve F"]

ian1974 wrote:

Had to be something wrong there, the auto in my XJ is just fine in those situations and will crawl along much easier than a manual, I managed to snap an axle with it so it certainly will push the power to the wheels with no problems.

Cheers
Steve

Thats what I thort as well! but I have seen 2 different new 4 speed tjs do the same thing (with 35's)and I also read a artical about a unlimited build up in the US that did the same thing!(with 37's) dont know why?

Joined: 25 Sep 2003 Location: "Shit"ney

Have a late 92 model tj auto (low k's) - have to say it is mighty nice to drive.

Had a drive a couple of years back of a manual and was not impressed at all ( that's not to say it was a good example).

For onroad driving I really enjoy the auto - for offroad (not in the same car - non jeep ) I think I prefer manual.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Joined: 19 Jul 2007 Location: Brisbane

Thanks for your responces guys, Most apreciated!
I will go for a couple of test drives soon, but probably getting an auto anyway.
Although up here in Brisbane there are not to many 2000 up Wrangler Jeeps in the car yards to test drive Mad

If any one is in the Brissy area that would let me take a quick test drive with them That would be awsome! Smile

PM me

Auto or Manual,
Thanks again

Joined: 24 Feb 2008 Location: New Zealand

My wife has a auto and I have a manual. Both have their up points. Someone commented on another thread about the auto gearbox breather. I had to extend the wifes one after i drowned the tranny costing me 2500$. For some reason they run it to just above the trans bell housing, which probably measures up to 3/4 of the way up the tyre (?) After drowning hers i check the location on the manual and it was identical. Whereas on both my ex Cherokees the trans breather joined into a t with the front diff breather which then plugged into the air box... nice and out of the way.

the auto seems to have more oomph high, but down low my manual outperforms the wifes auto. Still like the autos ability in mud to change without losing momentum, but also prefer the manuals downhill performance.

Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2008 8:01 am

ian1974 wrote:

I was keen to get a auto tj, as my v8 cj was a auto and loved it! but a few people we go wheeling with have tj 4speed auto,s and I must say I was shocked how they proformed off road. They would put the tyre on a rock and gas it, heeps of rev's but nothing else, no spinning wheels nothing. It was all lost in the auto box. I have just got a manual tj.

That would most likely be cause they've run out of fluid due to the angle - theres deep pans available to help this problem....which could also be cause just by low fluid levels too.....

Noisey wrote:

Have a late 92 model tj auto (low k's) - have to say it is mighty nice to drive.

92 TJ - No such beast. Wink