Shift for yourself?

[uh_clem]

  What type of transmission do you prefer in your vehicle for cruisin' the primitive roads in The Bend; manual or automatic?

[Casa Grande]

manual,  (especially in a Jeep) 

[SHANEA]

Automagic with automagic push button 4x4 on command. 

[jamesb]

auto, I can hardly walk and chew gum at the same time

James

[presidio]

  What type of transmission do you prefer in your vehicle for cruisin' the primitive roads in The Bend; manual or automatic?

While some manual trannys have a granny gear that can be useful, they are not as common as they once were. Most people really never go up/down the kind of terrain where a granny is most useful; the view out the windshield can be intimidating and you have to know how to drive.

Stopping on a steep slope while headed uphill will change your whole perspective on which is best. I've juggled the parking brake, clutch and gas to not roll back and can do it quite well. However, it is SO much easier to juggle the brake and gas on an automatic...one less thing to coordinate, and you do not want to start rolling backwards on an offroad hill.

The principle disadvantage to automatics (don't know if this would apply to manuals since I haven't owned one in years) is that most have electronic selectors and thus no way to put the transfer case into neutral. Sometimes that can be immensely useful and I wish manufacturers would design that into the system. It could be done by pressing both the high and low range buttons simultaneously for, say, 3 seconds. Either button could be used to re-engage. I have even tried that on automatics, hoping that it would be an undocumented feature...it isn't.

[SHANEA]

  What type of transmission do you prefer in your vehicle for cruisin' the primitive roads in The Bend; manual or automatic?

It could be done by pressing both the high and low range buttons simultaneously for, say, 3 seconds. Either button could be used to re-engage. I have even tried that on automatics, hoping that it would be an undocumented feature...it isn't.

It's 8 seconds.   

Instead of doing that, why not just have an additional button for neutral?  Of course, if it is a GM like I own, they are removing everything they can get away with to trim costs.   The difference between Avalanche 1 and Avalanche 2 was incredible.  They chopped out the passenger side door lock, under hood light, cabin air filter, one of the lights in the bed of the truck, glove box light, an interior light, etc.  Makes one wonder what they did away with that you can't see...   

[presidio]

It's 8 seconds.   

That's too long 

They chopped out the passenger side door lock, under hood light, cabin air filter, one of the lights in the bed of the truck, glove box light, an interior light, etc.  Makes one wonder what they did away with that you can't see

2.2 cylinders, 3 connecting rods....but most of all, they left out the QUALITY.

[01ACRViper]

  What type of transmission do you prefer in your vehicle for cruisin' the primitive roads in The Bend; manual or automatic?

The principle disadvantage to automatics (don't know if this would apply to manuals since I haven't owned one in years) is that most have electronic selectors and thus no way to put the transfer case into neutral. Sometimes that can be immensely useful and I wish manufacturers would design that into the system. It could be done by pressing both the high and low range buttons simultaneously for, say, 3 seconds. Either button could be used to re-engage. I have even tried that on automatics, hoping that it would be an undocumented feature...it isn't.

my auto Grand Cherokee has a neutral position for the TC, but it's an old lever TC (NP 231) not a new push button model. i wish jeep mut the AW15 in the grands longer than one year, i would have enjoyed a manual. though some slopes i've been on make me glad i don't have to deal with a clutch  i'll just drive my GF's GTI when i want to shift myself

[SHANEA]

It's 8 seconds.   

2.2 cylinders, 3 connecting rods....but most of all, they left out the QUALITY.

Yea, that's why it spent just shy of 4 weeks in the shop for a transmission rebuild - forward planetary gear  bearings seized up, took out the forward clutches.  Good thing I paid of the top of the line extended warranty bumper-to-bumper - cost me only $100 and a lot of aggravation.    Finally got to "finish" my Balmorhea trip - a 4 day labor day weekend trip got extended by almost 4 weeks - back end was stuffed with dirty dishes, wet clothes, open food containers, etc.   

But, I'm back in business.  Let's go camping.   It's better outside!

[SHANEA]

i wish jeep

still built the Jeep Commander - I saw a really nice green one, great shape, cruising campus today.  Cute girl was driving it to - with the top off, not her top...   

[Undertaker]

Manual a chimp can drive an automatic, besides an automatic is like letting someone else do "YOUR" thinking. Acutally have driven both and currently drive manual, with granny. In either case drive with your brain as well as your transmission engaged.

[Undertaker]

Good question, I am worlds worst speller.

[Roy]

It's one more reason I keep my '93 Toyota.  5 speed manual with true low range 4x4.  Now THAT's a granny gear.

[uh_clem]

  I read somewhere that off roaders prefer an automatic because the torque converter provides a little extra torque multiplication (like a lower gear). Not sure if that is really true. Having to shift a manual could make a difficult situation even more difficult. I have a manual in my street car. It's no problem to drive most of the time, but it is a hassle in stop and go traffic.

[homerboy2u2]

Manual a chimp can drive an automatic.

...that is the first time, anyone has compared driving skills that way..

My 2 cents....
Manual, with granny gear, is fantastic for crawling up and down steep hill sides and over rocks.  With it in 4 low AND in granny, it effortlessly goes up the hill or rock and back down the other side with engine breaking.  You may have heard of engine breaking for going down a hill, ......with 4 low and a granny gear you have engine breaking going down a 6" high rock.  Very smooth effortless and easy on both the truck and driver.

Manual, without granny gear, can be bothersome at times.  On extreme hills you can burn breaks, and clutches.  Very hard on driver and truck.

For mud and sand, hands down the auto tranny wins.  In mud and sand the sticky spots requires instant changes in power requirments that I cannot change quickly enough with a manual.  Here is what happens.  You are going along in a certain gear and it gets thicker, so you loose power and RPM.  You push in the clutch to down shift and the truck stops.  You are now stuck.  With an auto you just give it more gas and it downshifts without loss of forward momentum.

Oh, sorry, for those new to this stuff, a "granny" refers to an ultra low first gear.  Have not seen them on anything new these days except for 3/4 ton or bigger trucks, and even then you'd just about have to special order one to get it.

But the question was what does one prefer driving.  Most would agree the manual is more fun most of the time.  Is there a speller on this thing?

 Well thank you for clearing that up, i was just beggining to bang my head for not taking my granny rockcrawking, before she died.