Talk me into buying a automatic XJ (not a flame fest!)

[summitlt]

Ive been looking at 97+ XJ's, problem is ive always had 5 speeds. Its hard to find one with a 5 speed, almost all of them are automatics. I drove both and still like the 5speed over the auto. I know the auto would be better offroad, but I just like manuals.

What other perks are there to an auto over a stick in an XJ.

I saw the AWshifting kit, but it wouldnt be the same.

Like said, this isnt a AUTO vs. Manual debate per say, i dont want that, just what makes a auto better day to day and offroad. I dont want any :firedevil

 

[Rev Den]

. I know the auto would be better offroad,

SPOBI


Rev

 

[kloker]

Sorry, you'll get no help from me there. I'm like you, I waited till I found a 5-speed XJ. If you be patient and vigilant, you'll find one. They are out there.

 

[Rev Den]

OK....

Autos are not all bad, several of my friends drive autos and do pretty darn good off-road. Heck, SeanR has an auto and he does just fine, when he is not busting stuff. While I love my 5sp, an auto would not keep me from choosing an XJ.


Of course.....it WILL be harder to roast the tires on an auto.



Rev

 

[bjoehandley]

To me the best reason is so you can get the 242 FT case.

 

[ChiXJeff]

Get != run. IIRC ScottMac stuffed a 242 behind an AX15.

Beyond that, you'll get no push from me to run a slushbox. Wouldn't want you to become shiftless.

 

[Matthew Currie]

The XJ automatic is probably the best automatic transmission you'll ever drive. It's robust, well suited to the vehicle, and durable. Too bad the damn thing is one pedal short of a full set.

I held out for the 5 speed. Twice.

 

[riverfever]

No brainer...it's SOOOOOO much easier to drink my hot coffee whilst I tool along towards the river.

 

[Krazors001]

I got the auto because it was much easier to find and I didn't know much about xjs and the only one on the lot was a red one with double the mileage i have on mine. The five speed would be fun but I like that if I am not able to drive I don't have to worry about someone burning my clutch trying to get us home.

 

[TheInstaller]

I used to wheel an automatic Pathfinder. Now I have a 5-speed XJ. I actually wish I had an automatic a lot of the time. The auto will choose the correct gear for you, and you won't have to worry about stalling while crawling over rocks. The downside is on steep decents. You just can't get enough engine breaking out of an auto on really steep decents.

 

[WB9YZU]

Of course.....it WILL be harder to roast the tires on an auto.



Rev

Pot
Kettle
Black

Now whose posting bull poop?

Automatics are much easier to use off-road in a rocky terrain since you only have to use the two feet instead of also requiring the use of ones Thrid Leg

Seriously though is that I have noticed the towing capacity is higher for an automatic equipped vehicle than a manual equipped one.

 

[motorcityxj]

I have driven tons of miles on manuals but i prefer my cars manual (well sports cars or sporty).

for commuter dd and weekend wheeler the aw4 is great all around tranny its bullet proof.

No more "showing off" by shifting with a slurpee/ giant 32 oz XXXL milk shake between your legs, whilest chomping on a big mac, and shifting with a fry in your hands.

hmm on cold days you can drive with one hand and sit on your other hand.

You can never miss a shift (not that i have done that but a half dozen times with clunky size 14 boots on)

If you dont like it .... you can always convert it to manual. That will be the test if you REALLY liked your manual if it is worth the hassle. If you never convert it, well then it was just your imagination.

My favorite thing about having a manual was when people wanted to borrow my manual tranny rides i would say do you drive a stick ? ohh you dont ! darn i woulda lent it to you if you did. Everyone can drive a auto.

 

[Rev Den]

Pot
Kettle
Black

Now whose posting bull poop?

Automatics are much easier to use off-road in a rocky terrain since you only have to use the two feet instead of also requiring the use of ones Thrid Leg

You.

Not everyone wheels in rocks. I do not see any advantage to an auto in anything other than rock.

Rev

 

[XJ_ranger]

I like my 5speed...

gets it done in the rocks

gets it done in the mud-

downhill -

and up hill -

If you want a 5 speed... wait for a 5 speed...

 

[Rev Den]

Let us not understate that driver skill has more to do with it then the choice between auto and stick.

Just look at Ranger.

Rev

 

[CSaddict]

I thought the same thing when looking for an XJ, I did eventually settle on an auto and now do prefer it to the stick.

 

[woody]

I thought the same thing when looking for an XJ, I did eventually settle on an auto and now do prefer it to the stick.

Same here:

I've had two manual XJs, and now on my third with AW4/242. For 99% of the wheeling we get, the auto is much more useful. For those 1% technical spots, I'd rather have the stick.

Stuck in stop/go traffic for any length of time, the AW4 rules IMO.

 

[vetteboy]

The auto will choose the correct gear for you,

Disagree. In fact I find myself always trying to coerce my ZJ into a different gear than it wants to be.

Regarding a manual and stalling in the rocks, 99% of the time it is due to a lack of crawl ratio. If you gear it to be "stock" as per the guides listed here, you'll probably not like it offroad, because the stock gearing stinks anyway.

I've driven several really well built automatic rigs in some gnarly rocks, and I'll be keeping my 5-speed.

 

[98XJSport]

The only advantage to an auto that I can think of (not based on preference) would be that there are so many more of them, therefore I would guess that parts would be cheaper/easier to come by. Just a guess though, I could be wrong since Ive never looked for parts for a 5 speed.

 

[87manche]

The only advantage to an auto that I can think of (not based on preference) would be that there are so many more of them, therefore I would guess that parts would be cheaper/easier to come by. Just a guess though, I could be wrong since Ive never looked for parts for a 5 speed.

true that.
I can get an AW4 for $100 locally.
I'm always on the lookout for an AX-15 to keep as a spare, and the going rate is usually $3-400, and that's a good price.