N00B to Wheeling - 6spd or Auto

[math labs]

I'm new here and my family and I are dedicated toyota heads. I guess the thought of us getting the FJC was inevitable. My parents immediately fell in love with it because it resembled their parents FJ40 in the philippines, we currently own a FJ80 and couldnt be any happier with it, first owners and it hasnt failed us yet.

I'm a gear head and have done amateur import drag racing (starting out with an Integra and recently a 300zx turbo) so im great with clutch control. I mud my 67 Bronco but it sure is hard with 32s and my straight-6 (w/ three on the tree might i add) it gets around but its so pitiful.

At the moment my project is a S2000 powered 1987 corolla gt-s coupe, haha meaning that I'm driving my girlfriends car around. My family and I have been watching/waiting for the FJC to come around and its finally here, I've been waiting for my local dealership to get a 6spd with locker, but i've read a few articles where they say the auto is better for crawling. im fixed on the 6spd because i need to move while i drive, and it doesnt look like it could be that hard wheeling stickshift.


-todd

sorry for the lengthy read

 

[wngrog]

Auto!

 

[woody]

I ran a Toy 4-speed for many years, then a SM465 granny for many more...now run an auto...for the rock-crawlin, it's become my choice...

I'm curious how the 6-speed is geared tho, because that does sound like more fun on the street...and for most offroad situations, the stick will work great...it only sucks when that 3rd foot is required on steep climbs.....

question is, how hard offroad to you plan to push the FJC?? for 99.99% of buyers, it won't make a lick of difference....

 

[garrett1478]

6 speed!

 

[math labs]

I ran a Toy 4-speed for many years, then a SM465 granny for many more...now run an auto...for the rock-crawlin, it's become my choice...

I'm curious how the 6-speed is geared tho, because that does sound like more fun on the street...and for most offroad situations, the stick will work great...it only sucks when that 3rd foot is required on steep climbs.....

question is, how hard offroad to you plan to push the FJC?? for 99.99% of buyers, it won't make a lick of difference....

Well, my first event will be in hollister with TLCA Mud-N-Yer-Eye, and hoping to find out my capabilities then. I'm thinking I might be doing more mudding than crawling, but I'll definitely make it a monthly deal, i mean theres no way im buying an FJ just to drive to school. haha if you got the tools use it!

 

[Ocelot]

6-Speed is the only way to go. I drive a stick off road all the time and its no problem. In many situations is advantageous over an automatic transmission.

 

[OZCAL]

...we currently own a FJ80 and couldnt be any happier with it, first owners and it hasnt failed us yet.



-todd

sorry for the lengthy read

Hey Todd, you should get over to the 80 forum and say hello too!

Welcome!

 

[rubiconjp]

Look at competition rigs... they are auto!

Super low crawl ratios such as in the manual equipped Rubicon, H3, Unimog are nice and all but in general, auto is superior.

 

[math labs]

6-Speed is the only way to go. I drive a stick off road all the time and its no problem. In many situations is advantageous over an automatic transmission.

thanks for the welcome! Ill take a pic of my 80 asap, is stock as a rock though. hehe

Look at competition rigs... they are auto!

Super low crawl ratios such as in the manual equipped Rubicon, H3, Unimog are nice and all but in general, auto is superior.

im really not to sure about the autos fun factor, i really need a reason to buy an auto for wheeling, like a strong reason why auto would be a better choice

 

[rubiconjp]

Ok so for fun factor I bought two manual heeps... but auto is better for offroading... imagine climbing a huge boulder... auto gives you that "unlimited" crawl ratio.

going down a steep incline, low crawl ratio helps but nowadays with HDC, it scarcely matters anymore. Besides if u start sliding downhill, u actually want to speed up to keep ur nose down instead of going sideway and flip..

in mud, sand, auto is superior also. So for me, unless you can get like a 65:1 or lower crawl ratio, get an auto. Actually in a lot of terrain, a super low crawl ratio is silly and cumbersome.

 

[Elijah]

If you plan on really wheeling, go auto. If it's 95% road driving and that 5% of off-roading is just dirt roads and mellow trails, go stick. Me?? I prefer auto.

 

[GXO]

I drove stick for a long time in about 4 or 5 different cruisers.

Then I got an auto (my old 80).

I am certain that an auto is the best for offroad. You can pay more attention to where you are going and less on what foot goes where, how much you ride the clutch, blah blah.

One thing I have found is that the older I get the more I appreciate the ease of use and straight forward design of auto offroad and on.

Oh...the best would be hydrostatic

 

[concretejungle]

Auto!!

 

[Benson]

Another vote for auto.

 

[freewheeling frank]

the stick has a slightly better crawl ratio than the auto. But I am getting the auto because I lack a third foot when I am offroad!

But maybe more important is if you want full time 4WD. Stick is full itme, auto is part time. personally, I want part time for better mpg and simpler drive train.

 

[bamachem]

auto...

 

[math labs]

im gonna respect everyones opinion, although the 3rd foot thing can be fixed via the parking brake right? i drive in san francisco on steep hills in my bronco, im a savage and use the foot parking brake, enage the clutch release the brake and off i go, at least its easier with yotas because its a hand brake...

I'm still kinda fixed on6spd, ill give both a try though, the fulltime 4wd on the stick turns me awayy because of gas... we'll see

 

[Ocelot]

6-Speed is teh way to go... all these auto drivers have no skillz

For me full-time 4WD is a huge advantage as well, wouldn't get a truck without it.

 

[GXO]

6-Speed is teh way to go... all these auto drivers have no skillz

For me full-time 4WD is a huge advantage as well, wouldn't get a truck without it.

Like I said....ego

 

[4runnner]

dunno if anyone mentioned, but with out some sort of tranny cooler im not sure how well the auto would hold up to the temps it would reach while in 1st gear at high rpms for an extended period of time. never owned a toyota with an auto, my 88 pick up had a 5-speed and my 90 4runner has one as well, so i dunno how good toyota autos are. my 5 cents, the 6-speed