Auto Vs Manual

[4Runninfun]

Scrat previously posted:

[Michael4rnr]

I have an auto and my dad runs a stick and i usually do a little better going on the up hills and the the really steep obstacles. But the sticks have done better going down hills. I use both.

[Popsgarage]

Manual, but that's just me!

[Rob]

Manual can be more challenging when crawling, unless you're geared lower like Pete's rig or have a hand throttle. But the more you get to know your rig, the less challenging it is. Still, I think manual has more advantages on the trail and off, as Pete pointed out many posts ago.

And, yes, both my rigs are manual and almost every vehicle I've ever owned was manual, so I'm a bit biased. Oh, yeah, and my wife's a longtime stick fan, too.

[4Runninfun]

DrOldUnit previously posted:

[Rob]

Sunshine24 previously posted:

[RockyMtnHigh]

DrOldUnit previously posted:

[Fordguy77]

DrOldUnit previously posted:

[Aaron]

I had a 99 XJ once with an auto. I didn't wheel it much but I remember one time that tranny scared me shitless. We were driving down from Mt Evans in June and there was a hail storm that happened on the way down. There was over an inch of hail on the road and it got slick so I put the auto in low and stayed in 2wd. Well, that tranny has a funky low. Low is both 2nd and 1st and it gets to decide which one. Well, as I was coming down, I must have been in 2nd and once I got below 25 or so, it switched to 1st. Well, that was enough of a jerk on the rear tires that they broke loose and almost shot me off the side of the mountain...

Brown pants day.

[gm4x4lover]

I shift my auto k5 just like it was a stick. Never had an issue of control with an auto. With gears just lock it in first and it wont shift out. Same with second. Makes technical climbs so much easier. Also none of that roll back before the clutch grabs. On steep crap it makes you less likely to flop it over as it is much smoother, fluid, and more controlled. Also makes for a more enjoyable trail ride. I do like manuals in other applications but for rock crawling an auto is the only way to fly.

[trailfiend]

Only reason I wanted to get an auto with this latest vehicle is because I've driven home from the mountains too many times with a sprained ankle and hated using the clutch with it. Beyond that I really really miss the control I had on passes (highway) going up and down, I don't like not being in complete control of what gear I'm in regardless of where I'm driving. But it's also nice to be able to have any of my friends drive in case they need to without worrying about them not knowing how to drive a standard.

Despite all the benefits of the auto to me, not worrying about the clutch wearing, injury getting in the way of driving, others' being able to drive, and maybe because I wasn't the best at feathering it on rough terrain, I felt like when the road was rougher I'd lurch into/out of gear more so auto saves that... I still wish I had a standard (or maybe triptronic!) for the control and transmission gearing in the 5-speed on my Ranger was awesome IMO.

Dunno if that'll help your decision at all, but my biggest motivator was the injury aspect, beyond that the rest was manageable.

[Mporter]

gm4x4lover previously posted:

[Hypoid]

trailfiend previously posted: