and in traffic.

Bumper to bumper traffic before I got my AC fixed was some special kind of hell. Barely get it into second, then down to a stop. And with 33's and stock gearing, it meant that I couldn't even get it into 2nd half the time, so I would get stuck "bumping" the clutch constantly

 

For sure.

Ask me how I know. Spend a week in Moab driving a stick shift, then drive back home to Colorado, and lose your clutch on the Vail pass.

Good times.

 

auto FTW.

I LOVE manual cars. but not for a daily driver/off road toy. If I was buying a small sports car, like one of these:


Manual all the way. but not in my jeep.

 

Although I do loooooove having a manual trans in the winter.

I barely ever touch my brakes in 4wd, just throw it in 3rd and let it drag for a bit, drop to 2nd and you barely need to use the brakes to come to a full stop.

Plus I can just lock it in 3rd or 4th going down hill, really helpful when it is slushy as hell out and even thinking of touching your brakes will cause you to lock up.

But yeah, automatic is really ideal for both on and off road. Plus the AW4 is so reliable that it eliminates most of my hatred for automatic transmissions anyways.

 

Love that this picture, weird to see that car with Jerome in the background

 

I just drop it into 4LO and idle in first if it's really bad traffic, especially bad traffic uphill.

 

Talking about sticks in traffic... My other car is a 02 Z28 6 speed. Monster stage 2 clutch with a Tick master (the Tick master pushes more fluid for faster shifts at high rpms, but increases effort by an additional 15%). Pushing the clutch in is liking stomping on a brick. After getting stuck in traffic in that thing for an hour I can barely walk. For a DD, auto all day long.

 

I prefer my manual. My XJ is the first stick shift I've ever had and I enjoy it so much that I'm considering never buying an automatic again (if I can help it). In July I drove from eastern South Dakota to western Wyoming in my XJ with the AX5 and no cruise control. And I loved every mile of it! In winter driving conditions I find the stick to be more practical. I prefer it offroad too; I like having more control. Although I have only been on mild baby trails (so far) so maybe I'll feel differently when I graduate to more difficult stuff. I have also never driven a manual in heavy city traffic and I'm not in a hurry to do so (though I'm sure it'll happen at some point).

This is all just my opinion of course. All the automatic love in this thread has surprised me so I thought I'd throw out a different view.

 

Gotta agree with 4 banger here. I live the control I have over my 5 speed. Slowing down in the winter is much safer and I don't have to worry about the trans shifting at a bad time like going down a steep hill.

 

its my dad's. They've been driving all over the state with it.

 

A Fiat/Alfa/Miata.

 

fiat 124 spider, which is a miata with a fiat engine and suspension.

I've driven both. Power delivery is different between the two, but both are pretty fun, the fiat has better ride comfort while still sporty. Plus (in my opinion) it looks a lot better.

 

Italian cars generally ride better and look better. I used to do the Alfa thing.

 

Got to drive one, very nice car. Surprisingly faster than I imagined too. Would daily one for sure.

 

I'm thinking of picking one up next year. Maybe picking up one lightly used that somebody bought and barely drove. We'll see.

Sorry for derailing the topic....