Jeep guys - should I buy this?

Majicmike said:
Am I’m the only one that doesn’t care for Jeeps? thought I wanted one,, bought one and keep it 2 months.
I just don’t get why people like them si much.
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Same here. I had a '94 YJ with a soft top and it was so noisy that I couldn't even hear the radio going down the road. I did keep it for about 2 years and have not missed it.
 
Me. said:
Manuals are better for only three things:
- High RPM mudding
- Feeling all manly because “manualz is betterz”
- Clutch out compression braking downhill.

That’s it.

Why are autos better? Infinite low-speed.

With a manual, and the clutch out, there is a minimum speed you will be moving. While that speed is very slow in a parking lot, it is often too MUCH too fast when moving on rocks. So you have to slip the clutch and risk stalling. As you bump around on rocks, feathering the throttle and clutch is more difficult.


With an auto, one foot on the gas, and one on the brake… go as absolutely slow as you want in full control.

On bouncy stuff, when you’re going a little faster, every bounce can move/bounce your gas foot, causing jerking. With an auto, the bouncing is dampened to some extent as the power gets delivered through fluid vs mechanical hookup (clutch).

On sand, autos can keep you momentum where a shift can get you stuck.


Again, I’m in the minority. Folks try to convince me very time I bring it up that I’m wrong. But their rationalization seems to come down to “manualz iz betterz” and not practical things that matter to me.

Arguments for manuals that I discount as mattering (to me)

- Better gas mileage. It’s a Jeep, you’ll be lucky to beat 13mpg no matter what you do.
- Better control. I just plain disagree.
- Better for hill climbing - people who think that are wrong. Human can NOT downshift better than an auto can when you are losing power on a hill. The loss of momentum in the manual downshift sucks.
- You can pop-start a manual trans car - OK, that’s a valid point. But with all the electronics in cars these days, even a 20 year old TJ needs an operational battery to run properly.


None of this is to say “don’t buy a TJ with a manual”. I’m just saying, I’d prefer one with an auto.
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For a long time in automotive history, most automatic transmissions were not as robust or reliable as most manual transmissions. They don't show the same warning signs before they fail that manuals do and are more prone to damage from overheating than manuals.


A modern automatic with auxiliary cooling is better in a technical sense than any manual. But manuals are more fun, so here we are.
 
beamernc said:
Same here. I had a '94 YJ with a soft top and it was so noisy that I couldn't even hear the radio going down the road. I did keep it for about 2 years and have not missed it.
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This is true..... in addition to the soft top, the tires are loud, and expensive. With bias ply tires, the tires will be all you can hear at 55+ mph. A conversation is more of a shouting match at that point.
 
Lager said:
Really want to thank you for this post. Am thinking about buying a beach capable vehicle and never considered the Kia with its low range and rear locking diff. Most Wranglers are only 2 wheel drive at best with its open rear diff unless you spring for the rear posi option, and its ride is horrible on the road as compared the Kia. The last Jeep I had was a CJ7 with the rear posi and manual locking hubs. I did a lot of 4 wheel riding in Florida in the swamps and on the beach in real deep sugar sand. Never needed to air down the tires and it performed well. At my age, I think the KIA would be a better choice for me. Thanks again.
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A Jeep Wrangler with a small lift and 33x12 .5" tires is awesome in the beach. I never got stuck in stuck in soft sand with an open diff. Aired down to 15psi. No problem.
Then they are the fun factor of top and doors off.
 
Me. said:
Manuals are better for only three things:
- High RPM mudding
- Feeling all manly because “manualz is betterz”
- Clutch out compression braking downhill.

That’s it.

Why are autos better? Infinite low-speed.

With a manual, and the clutch out, there is a minimum speed you will be moving. While that speed is very slow in a parking lot, it is often too MUCH too fast when moving on rocks. So you have to slip the clutch and risk stalling. As you bump around on rocks, feathering the throttle and clutch is more difficult.


With an auto, one foot on the gas, and one on the brake… go as absolutely slow as you want in full control.

On bouncy stuff, when you’re going a little faster, every bounce can move/bounce your gas foot, causing jerking. With an auto, the bouncing is dampened to some extent as the power gets delivered through fluid vs mechanical hookup (clutch).

On sand, autos can keep you momentum where a shift can get you stuck.


Again, I’m in the minority. Folks try to convince me very time I bring it up that I’m wrong. But their rationalization seems to come down to “manualz iz betterz” and not practical things that matter to me.

Arguments for manuals that I discount as mattering (to me)

- Better gas mileage. It’s a Jeep, you’ll be lucky to beat 13mpg no matter what you do.
- Better control. I just plain disagree.
- Better for hill climbing - people who think that are wrong. Human can NOT downshift better than an auto can when you are losing power on a hill. The loss of momentum in the manual downshift sucks.
- You can pop-start a manual trans car - OK, that’s a valid point. But with all the electronics in cars these days, even a 20 year old TJ needs an operational battery to run properly.


None of this is to say “don’t buy a TJ with a manual”. I’m just saying, I’d prefer one with an auto.
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You left out one positive: driving enjoyment. Not everyone likes to shift gears but some of us do. I match rpms (as best I can) on downshifts and it's the ongoing challenge of striving for perfectly smooth shifts both up and down that I find enjoyable.

Yes autos are actually better for rock crawling, etc. but I don't live out west and don't get into that anyway. Mostly around here it's woods trails, mud and ruts, etc.
 
Majicmike said:
Am I’m the only one that doesn’t care for Jeeps? thought I wanted one,, bought one and keep it 2 months.
I just don’t get why people like them si much.
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I bought a 2013 4 door wrangler.

I
Hated
That
Thing
With
A
Passion
 
Regarding all the warnings of driveability, wind noise, etc. I remember as much from the last one I drove or rode in many years (decades? ) ago. It won't be a daily driver.

I will drive it this weekend and make a decision. If I decide against it I'm happy to pass the contact info to anyone interested.
 
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I had a 98 TJ configured the same except for half doors. I'd check the drive line angle on the lift too. The only problem mine had was a cracked exhaust manifold. Mine was pushed hard in the western desert and mountains. I had a Detroit Locker put in mine. Talk about rude on road behavior!
 
Flashpoint
will drive it this weekend and make a decision. If I decide against it I'm happy to pass the contact info to anyone interested.

SO What happen? Junk, or you have a new toy? ;)
 
Been purposely under the radar while I take my time making a decision on this. Drove it on Sunday. It's a bit "darty" in the steering department and popped out of first gear a couple of times. At highway speeds I think I need hearing protection just due to the rag top. That's the extent of the negatives I could find. My jeep liberty had the same 6 speed manual and it popped out of 1st sometimes too unless you kept your hand on it. Anyone know any thing about that issue?

I slid under it and could find no major rust issues, frame was solid. Most rust I found was on the step bars near where they connect to the frame. The plate where the rear main seal is was damp with oil, but not wet.

So it has 32s on it. When I was underneath I could not comfortably move under the skid plate in the middle, I had to come out of the back and go in a the front. Has it been lifted or not? I think it has but not much, but I could be wrong.

So at this point I "think" I'm going to go for it, but want to know more about the 1st gear thing and drive it again. It has a CB installed with a speaker mounted overhead, a PA speaker under the hood and a nice antenna near the windshield on the driver's side.

It certainly has all the goodies one would want to take on the trails. I'm beginning to think it spent most of its time in the garage but has done a good bit of (hopefully) light wheeling. Just wondering if I should have it checked over, was any lift done correctly, etc. I read that lifts can cause the popping out of 1st issue, but my liberty wasn't lifted.

Here's some more pics. If I decide against it you all will be the 1st to know, including the one who PM'd me (that I haven't responded to) .

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Check out this thread for some discussion about the 6-spd trans popping out of 1st gear.
www.wranglerforum.com

2006 6 speed jumping out of first gear

www.wranglerforum.com www.wranglerforum.com
If it actually has a transmission problem and it’s not just something like the shifter boot being pinched, this may not be something you want to get involved with, as transmission work will be expensive.
 
DangerRuss said:
Check out this thread for some discussion about the 6-spd trans popping out of 1st gear.
www.wranglerforum.com

2006 6 speed jumping out of first gear

www.wranglerforum.com www.wranglerforum.com
If it actually has a transmission problem and it’s not just something like the shifter boot being pinched, this may not be something you want to get involved with, as transmission work will be expensive.
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Seems like it's a common issue with this transmission. In the liberty I just lived with it, but it does throw shade on this as an investment as it would be harder to sell.
 
Flush the cooling system. Probably the most neglected thing on Jeeps that I see.
I don't like any larger than 31's on road driven jeeps but I am weird.
 
I never had the first gear issue with my 2002.

I don’t think it’s lifted. If it is, it’s probably a spacer lift if you can’t fit under the skid plate?
 
confused said:
Flush the cooling system. Probably the most neglected thing on Jeeps that I see.
I don't like any larger than 31's on road driven jeeps but I am weird.
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Yeah I had 31s on my slightly lifted XJ and it was like it was made for them, drove great on the road.
 
Nobody who’s a “jeep guy” would buy one of those. lol.

It’s CJ or nothing baby.

Well, a wagoneer half finished under a tarp in your yard is acceptable too.
 
Chdamn said:
Nobody who’s a “jeep guy” would buy one of those. lol.

It’s CJ or nothing baby.

Well, a wagoneer half finished under a tarp in your yard is acceptable too.
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When I was a teenager my dad had a green woody Wagonneer with Quadratrack, looked a lot like yours. I think it was the first full time 4wd ever. It did real well in mud and snow.
 
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