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

[ChiXJeff]

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.

Then maybe I should keep the AX15 I have (out of a 92 YJ) as a spare.....

 

[ebxjbob]

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.

does that ZJ have an AW4? do any of them?
My friends 95 ZJ sucks, it randomly drops out of OD on the highway, that little button has a mind of its own

anyhow for XJ's, i've had both

Its fun driving a stick but it gets old after a while I think, especially when you have 5.5 inches of lift and you can't really whip it anyway, i'd rather sit back....speaking of which with the 5 speed I had to have the seat up more then I like to hit the clutch, couldn't get that gansta lean going (kidding)

My last 2 have been AW4's, They're durable and the 4.0 has enough torque for it, if its stock you can def roast the tires, mine now w/ 30's and 3.55's will break free

If you have an 84-96 you can put those stupid cupholders in the console because you don't need to use the e-brake

change it up and get an auto, why not?

 

[ChiXJeff]

Actually, driving my XJ to/from work in Chicago suburbs with 3-6" of lift on 31x10.50s or 33x12.50s was pretty nice. One look at the Warn 9k winch on the front bumper and opposing traffic thinks twice about running the light in front of me. Nice shiny green Cadillac came to a stop, sliding sideways when he tried to run a red light. 3k RPM clutch drop, the front end lifts, and *LAUNCH*!

 

[XJ_ranger]

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

what is that supposed to mean?

 

[HaleYes]

what is that supposed to mean?

He's hitting on you Opie.

 

[XJEEPER]

After wheeling for 6 years with a 5 speed, I swapped in an auto and it's the best mod I ever made to my rig.

It's simple math:
2 Legs=2 Pedals

Any more or less of either just complicates things..........

 

[rockwerks]

auto's multiply the torque, manuals waste torque. nuf said

actually not. I have had both. auto and manual trans. both the same year even, the autos get better fuel economy, are easier to drive and rule on the trail. I learned to wheel on a yota FJ55 manual trans then in an FJ40, The day I switched to auto was the day that I learned what real vehicle control was.......after driving sticks for 20 years

 

[vetteboy]

does that ZJ have an AW4? do any of them?
My friends 95 ZJ sucks, it randomly drops out of OD on the highway, that little button has a mind of its own

No, it's a 46RE behind the 5.9 motor. I actually like it a ton better than the AW4 because it actually shifts solid rather than gradually giving up the next gear. I've driven quite a few automatic XJs and I haven't liked the transmission in any of them.

Its fun driving a stick but it gets old after a while I think, especially when you have 5.5 inches of lift and you can't really whip it

Drove mine on 33's as a daily driver for a year and a half, doing close to 80-100 miles a day, and 400+ miles at least one weekend a month to go wheelin. I built some different swaybar hardware for the front and the thing was a joy to drive on the highway. I miss it terribly and I can't wait to put it back on the road again for the summer.

It's all about proper gearing.

 

[UNCC_99XJ]

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

Agreed. There are times I wish mine was a 5 speed....mainly when i'm around town and feelin spirited in my driving. Then I hit a wall of traffic, and I am reminded how much I love my automatic. And besides, my AW4 has taken some abuse in it's time. Me being the 3rd owner, it looked as if the fluid was the orig., and I didn't change it untill I hit 90K. Not to mention I overheated it in a bad traffic jam for one night and it's still running today.

 

[Only In A Jeep XJ]

I've had both and enjoy the auto better.

 

[Onkover]

The auto is Dependable. I have turned almost ever nut and bolt on my rig and have never ( other then a Netral Switch and regular fluid changes) had to do anything with the tranny. Sure the stick is fun alot of the time but the auto has been tried and true. Everyone that I know with a stick has had to do the cluch at least.

A few years ago I pulled out the 242 and dumped in a 231. First time I streached the chain and cracked the case. I rebuilt it and then 6 months later streached another chain and tore up the oil pick up line. Been running the 231 for awile now. 6 month's ago I addeed the Teralow kit.

Having the Teralow has helped alot with going down hill. Now I just slow way down before the hill and drop into 1-2. Most the time I ahve to run a bit of throttle becouse I'm moving to slow. I also have lost the 4lo 1-2 gear shift issue. It shifts smooth and just depending on how hard I'm in the throttle on when it shifts.

I've wheeled both sticks and autos. I, now, will stay with auto's.

 

[rockwerks]

sticks are for those who feel the need to prove how manly they are. Its a testosterone thing

 

[98XJSport]

What part of the state are you looking in? I drive by a lot of dealers, I can check a few for 5 speeds if you aren't having any luck.

 

[NJ95JeepXJ]

...There are times I wish mine was a 5 speed....mainly when i'm around town and feelin spirited in my driving. Then I hit a wall of traffic, and I am reminded how much I love my automatic...

I've held out for 2 5-speeds; 2-door and 4-door. I drive rush hour traffic in NYC area daily (when I'm not in class). Still would never 'em trade for a run-of-the-mill auto...


...then again I'm young and I still have the calf muscles to make it through hours of stop-and-go near the Holland Tunnel

 

[vetteboy]

The auto is Dependable. I have turned almost ever nut and bolt on my rig and have never ( other then a Netral Switch and regular fluid changes) had to do anything with the tranny. Sure the stick is fun alot of the time but the auto has been tried and true. Everyone that I know with a stick has had to do the cluch at least.

Having to do a clutch job has nothing to do with it being "dependable". That's like saying your brakes aren't dependable because you have to change the pads every so often.

Besides, a clutch can easily last well over 100k miles if you know how to drive (and have proper gearing offroad).

 

[UNCC_99XJ]

...then again I'm young and I still have the calf muscles to make it through hours of stop-and-go near the Holland Tunnel

I'm almost 19....learned to drive on two straight drives, a Contour (which almost became my ride) and my old man's Honda. They're fun, especially in a car. The Contour wasn't bad around down....had a decent amount of ummmph to it, just couldn't run the a/c while sitting still...and the damn thing would run hot even when it was in the single digits outside. After 15+ recalls, we traded that thing in for the Liberty. Now the Accord on the other hand, I refuse to drive. Loud (and not the good loud like a 4.0, i'm talking the gutless loud), slow, and worst of all, it's a Honda.

I just couldn't see myself wheelin in a 5-speed. If you're really really good at you reflexes then thats great. But I'd rather not burn out a clutch on the trails.

 

[heyjpark1]

auto's multiply the torque, manuals waste torque. nuf said

actually not. I have had both. auto and manual trans. both the same year even, the autos get better fuel economy, are easier to drive and rule on the trail. I learned to wheel on a yota FJ55 manual trans then in an FJ40, The day I switched to auto was the day that I learned what real vehicle control was.......after driving sticks for 20 years

Someone is smokin' crack!^^^^ :wave:

It is the exact opposite: automatics was torque AND horsepower through the torque converter, while manuals have a direct connection between the engine and drive wheels.

Also, a properly driven manual will always, and I mean always get better gas mileage then an Auto. Too bad most people don't know how/when to shift.

 

[rockwerks]

Someone is smokin' crack!^^^^ :wave:

It is the exact opposite: automatics was torque AND horsepower through the torque converter, while manuals have a direct connection between the engine and drive wheels.

Also, a properly driven manual will always, and I mean always get better gas mileage then an Auto. Too bad most people don't know how/when to shift.

You are on crack maybe read up on the subject a bit.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_transmission

exerpt: Fluid coupling or torque converter: A hydraulic device connecting the engine and the transmission. It takes the place of a mechanical clutch, allowing the engine to remain running at rest without stalling. A torque converter is a fluid coupling that also provides a variable amount of torque multiplication at low engine speeds, increasing "breakaway" acceleration.

depending on the stall rate etc an auto can multiply the torque up to 5 times

That is why an auto crawls better, less HP is needed to do the same job.

 

[heyjpark1]

Rock,
I'm not trying to flame you, but you really don't know what you are talking about. A torque converter acts as a gear reduction device and you are confusing that with multiplication of torque to the drive wheels.

There is a good write up an MIT student did on effeiciency of torque converters: http://web.mit.edu/2.972/www/reports/torque_converter/torque_converter.htm

To boil it down, torque converters are less efficient at converting the torque an engine produces to the rear drive wheels (or front wheels, or whatever).

You are assuming, incorrectly, that because it is generally "easier" to wheel with an automatic, that the must inherently be "better" or more efficient. In fact, it has to due with the different gear ratios of an automatic transmission due to the gear reduction of the torque converter and low speeds. A properly geared manual transmission is just as easy to wheel with. Most people do not have manual transmissions geared for wheeling.

 

[vetteboy]

Rock,
I'm not trying to flame you, but you really don't know what you are talking about. A torque converter acts as a gear reduction device and you are confusing that with multiplication of torque to the drive wheels.

Thank you for getting to this before I did.

Regardless of gear ratio, you're stuck with however much horsepower your motor is putting out. A torque converter adds torque at the expense of output speed (and efficiency in some cases). It can't add or create any additional power. The torque multiplication is inversely related to the amount of slip in the converter, and with slip comes fluid losses, heat buildup, and a loss of efficiency. Depicted well in this graph:

In that sense, my doubler box does exactly the same thing, but with a fixed ratio of torque increase and speed loss. The torque converter in an auto essentially acts as a continously-variable reduction box.

Most people do not have manual transmissions geared for wheeling.

Exactly.