Standard or Auto?

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My FJC is an auto, I get 20mpg consistently. It is the "smartest" auto I have ever driven. It automatically downshifts when slowing, floor it from a stop and take your foot off the gas before it shifts and it stays in 1st, just like a manual.
I am very impressed with the auto, although I have never driven the FJC in a stick. The '40 offers plenty of shifting opportunities. If you are driving 80% on the street, get the auto.


Ed
 
k_os said:
But the FJ has enough torque to let you double clutch in almost any hill I've been on 65-80 degree hills something close to the begining of the lions back if you will, and I was able to double clutch it without rolling back.

QUOTE]

Hate to nitpick here, but you are using the term double clutch a bit incorrectly.
The term is most often used with shifting old cars or race cars which often don't have synchros on the gears. What that means is that you must (very quickly) shift into neutral, let the clutch out, blip the throttle to the correct rpm, shift to the next gear, let the clutch out. If you miss the correct rpm, you get gear grind. My old FJ45 has a non-synchro 1st, and you HAVE to do this unless you come to a dead stop.
Your FJCruiser is fully sychro'd, so you would never need to actually double clutch it, unless you just find it fun.
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Good call Barry. Not to mention that all of that goes out the window with an auto...and it is a cheap crawler box of sorts :)
 
Auto vs Manual

This is an argument I've seen on every automotive bulletin board from this one to the SCCA. It seems to me that the decision is best made by using the following formula:

testosterone = manual
estrogen = automatic

:o
 
adso said:
This is an argument I've seen on every automotive bulletin board from this one to the SCCA. It seems to me that the decision is best made by using the following formula:

testosterone = manual
estrogen = automatic

:o
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you cant really boil everything down to this level of simplicity sadly.

it all depends on the application. in some instances (say, driving a roadster) a manual is a far superior option for me personally because i dig enthusiast driving yadda yaddablah blah... but in some types of offroading and in many many situationd encountered in offroading an auto tranny just gives you an advantage (assuming you arent finding yourself stomping the dead-pedal):D especially crawling rocks its just one less variable that you're being forced to deal with.

a manual transmission is a two edged sword, at 140mph having total controll is essential and good controll of your vehicle can hinge on how and when you shift but on a steep slope crawling slick or sharp rocks its just not the most effective way to travel, even if you're totally CAPABLE of driving the obstacle with a manual, you're putting more wear on the driveline than you would with an auto, you burn up clutches etc. its all situational.
 
I love my manual...wouldn't have it any other way.

dirk...didn't know you were on Ih8mud...yet another cross from rccrawlers, There are a lot of us on both.
 
FJTex said:
you cant really boil everything down to this level of simplicity sadly.
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I think you can...

Even my wife when I first met her seemed to be all for a MT, and I had never owned an auto before. But as soon as it came to getting her a new vehicle (to replace her brother's old broken down no-options Toyota pickup) she had to have an automatic. When I was looking to buy an FJC, she insisted on an auto, but I got lucky and found a TRD SE with the MT/6 and considering how rare they are she actually got it for me. She won't drive it though, but if it was an auto, I'd probably never see it again.

Women may say they like a manual, but I guarantee you there will come a time, when they are going to want an automatic. Especially if kids come into the picture.

In ten years you probably wont be able to buy a new car with a manual anyway, unless it some kind of special application vehicle.
 
clarkrw3 said:
I love my manual...wouldn't have it any other way.
quote]

Yes, but you have the auto pink panty mobile for rock crawling;)

Carl
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I love the manual too, except on certain obstacles which is less than 1% of my driving time but cetainly the most demanding.
 
Blues Dawg said:
I love the manual too, except on certain obstacles which is less than 1% of my driving time but cetainly the most demanding.
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How's the foot?

I have to agree, there are vary few times I wish I had an auto and even then I look at it as a chance to improve my driving ability.
 
adso said:
This is an argument I've seen on every automotive bulletin board from this one to the SCCA. It seems to me that the decision is best made by using the following formula:

testosterone = manual
estrogen = automatic

:o
Click to expand...

I am new to this forum and have been reading this thread, I would like to say this definitely isn't a man-woman thing. Coming from a girl that learned to drive on an old 3-speed on the column truck, I have never owned an automatic and wouldn't trade my 6-speed FJ for anything. It is a blast to drive. I am sure there are others out there just like me.

Seriously, if you buy an automatic, buy it because that is what you want, not because your GF prefers it. Take advice from your women on where to eat or what shirt to wear, not your rig :)
 
BC_FJC said:
How's the foot?

I have to agree, there are vary few times I wish I had an auto and even then I look at it as a chance to improve my driving ability.
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The foot's fine - toe's still broken till I get it repaired:crybaby: - I just had to ice it after days 7 and 8 on the trail. Thanks for asking.

If you get down our way, we'll take you to some places which have definitely given me the opportunity to improve my driving skills:bounce:. Or maybe next year back in Utah...:D
 
Amputation

Carl you should just amputate the toe. Then you wouldnt have to deal with it anymore.
I also wanted to cast my vote in for the manual. I love being able to push the FJ as fast or as slow as I want with out having to use the brake.
Matt

Blues Dawg said:
The foot's fine - toe's still broken till I get it repaired:crybaby: - I just had to ice it after days 7 and 8 on the trail. Thanks for asking.

If you get down our way, we'll take you to some places which have definitely given me the opportunity to improve my driving skills:bounce:. Or maybe next year back in Utah...:D
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Another thought: selling a MT will PROBABLY (but no certainly) be harder than selling an AT. IF that's important to you.
 
mjager24 said:
Carl you should just amputate the toe. Then you wouldnt have to deal with it anymore.


​
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Been there done that. That is where my screen name comes from. wouldn't reccommend it!

Niner
 
I have an '08 with A/T. I really like it and it lets me concentrate more on my wheelin. Robbie with TTT said A/T is a good way to go for wheelin.
 
Samson said:
I am considering the purchase of an FJC and was wondering whether there are any real wins off-road with the standard tranny over the auto; especially factoring in the smart shifting in the auto.

I currently drive a 2005 TJ Wrangler (I know...) with a 6speed in it, but if there is no reason to keep the standard, I would not be against going automatic.

Are there any opinions over whether to go standard or auto in the FJC? Thanks!

-Samson
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The standard has an overall lower crawl ratio. I have the 6 speed and prefer that much more than the auto box.
 
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