The Manual Transmission Blues

MacAttack · **Posted:** Mon Mar 19, 2007 11:26 pm

I'm back !!!
I've had my Liberty a month now, and although I don't absolutely hate the manual anymore, I still don't like it.
I know I'm the only person in the world that doesn't like the manual, but what can I say.
I'm tired of jerking and jolting almost every time I take off; I feel like I'm shaking the hell out of the drivetrain; I feel like I'm buring up the clutch whenever I take off from a hill. I want to press the pedal and go.
(And yes........I admit this is all probably user error; everybody else seems to love the 6-speed manual transmission)
But anyway, I'm seriously thinking about taking a bath and trading it in for an automatic.

2007 Stock 4x4 w/ Manual Transmission, 1600 miles
Invoice was $19,493.
I paid $18,492.

How much do you think a dealer would give me?

myjeepwalks · **Posted:** Mon Mar 19, 2007 11:43 pm

I'd say your gonna lose about $5k by trading it in. If you paid $18.5k they'll probably give you like $13.5k. Average mark up on a used vehicle is about $5k. I know what you mean i hate driving stick anymore. Out of the 14 vehicles i've owned only 4 were autos, my liberty being one of them.

Who knows maybe they'll cut you a break if you trade it in on an auto at the same place you bought it. Couldn't hurt to ask.

Marlon_JBT · **Posted:** Tue Mar 20, 2007 12:19 am

MacAttack wrote:

I'm back !!!
I've had my Liberty a month now, and although I don't absolutely hate the manual anymore, I still don't like it.
I know I'm the only person in the world that doesn't like the manual, but what can I say.
I'm tired of jerking and jolting almost every time I take off; I feel like I'm shaking the hell out of the drivetrain; I feel like I'm buring up the clutch whenever I take off from a hill. I want to press the pedal and go.
(And yes........I admit this is all probably user error; everybody else seems to love the 6-speed manual transmission)
But anyway, I'm seriously thinking about taking a bath and trading it in for an automatic.

2007 Stock 4x4 w/ Manual Transmission, 1600 miles
Invoice was $19,493.
I paid $18,492.

How much do you think a dealer would give me?

I'll trade you.

MacAttack · **Posted:** Tue Mar 20, 2007 12:36 am

Quote:

I'll trade you.

It's a deal.
When can you drive the Renegade to Oregon to make the exchange?

corwyyn · **Posted:** Tue Mar 20, 2007 12:37 am

Marlon_JBT wrote:

MacAttack wrote:

I'm back !!!
I've had my Liberty a month now, and although I don't absolutely hate the manual anymore, I still don't like it.
I know I'm the only person in the world that doesn't like the manual, but what can I say.
I'm tired of jerking and jolting almost every time I take off; I feel like I'm shaking the hell out of the drivetrain; I feel like I'm buring up the clutch whenever I take off from a hill. I want to press the pedal and go.
(And yes........I admit this is all probably user error; everybody else seems to love the 6-speed manual transmission)
But anyway, I'm seriously thinking about taking a bath and trading it in for an automatic.

2007 Stock 4x4 w/ Manual Transmission, 1600 miles
Invoice was $19,493.
I paid $18,492.

How much do you think a dealer would give me?

I'll trade you.

Hmmm, you really ready to give up the CRD Marlon???

MacAttack · **Posted:** Tue Mar 20, 2007 12:40 am

myjeepwalks wrote:

I'd say your gonna lose about $5k by trading it in. If you paid $18.5k they'll probably give you like $13.5k. Average mark up on a used vehicle is about $5k. I know what you mean i hate driving stick anymore. Out of the 14 vehicles i've owned only 4 were autos, my liberty being one of them.

Who knows maybe they'll cut you a break if you trade it in on an auto at the same place you bought it. Couldn't hurt to ask.

If the loss if $5,000 then I love my Manual Libby.
I just looked at KBB and for a 2006 the trade in value is $15,450 (that would be a loss of around $3,000). They didn't have a value for a 2007.
Maybe I'll just learn to love it.

Marlon_JBT · **Posted:** Tue Mar 20, 2007 2:39 am

MacAttack wrote:

Quote:

I'll trade you.

It's a deal.
When can you drive the Renegade to Oregon to make the exchange?

My sister would not like trading your Jeep for her Jeep very much.

moose · **Posted:** Tue Mar 20, 2007 8:31 am

Have you test drove another 6spd to make sure it's the truck and not just you?

1300ZUK · **Posted:** Tue Mar 20, 2007 10:08 am

i think its been established that this guy doesn't like a stick unless its connected to an anemic 305 with 200K miles. :shock:

1300ZUK · **Posted:** Tue Mar 20, 2007 11:43 am

does anyone else find it amusing that a few weeks ago he was trying to figure out how to keep his Libby from getting stolen, and now that would probably be best :lol:

wendell · **Posted:** Tue Mar 20, 2007 12:20 pm

I don't want offend you, but are you sure you know how to drive a manual? If you are profecient at a manual tranny, then maybe something isn't right with it. No one should have that much problems with a manual as you describ unless something is wrong. Either way, it maybe in your best interest to off it as you maybe doing drivetrain damage that may get very expensive down the road. I would be doing some real soul searching to try and figure out is wrong and address it before it gets to costly.

MacAttack · **Posted:** Tue Mar 20, 2007 5:45 pm

Ok. I really paid attention when driving today and here is what I dislike:

1. In 1st gear it's extremely hard to get the timing just right where you don't burn the clutch, but also don't stall. It seems like the clutch is extremely sensitive at this point.

2. When accelerating in 1st gear it will go, then pause, then go even though the gas pedal is being kept constant or on it's way down. (which is what causes one of the jolts).

3. When downshifting from 3rd to 2nd to turn a corner, when you make the turn and go to accelerate it's not smooth. It's more like it thunks into 2nd even though the rpm's are not high (causing another famous jolt).

These are basically the only problems. It is fine otherwise, but since I'm in the city these 3 things get annoying.
Got any driving tips to help me get rid of these issues?

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Tue Mar 20, 2007 6:00 pm

MacAttack wrote:

Ok. I really paid attention when driving today and here is what I dislike:

1. In 1st gear it's extremely hard to get the timing just right where you don't burn the clutch, but also don't stall. It seems like the clutch is extremely sensitive at this point.

2. When accelerating in 1st gear it will go, then pause, then go even though the gas pedal is being kept constant or on it's way down. (which is what causes one of the jolts).

3. When downshifting from 3rd to 2nd to turn a corner, when you make the turn and go to accelerate it's not smooth. It's more like it thunks into 2nd even though the rpm's are not high (causing another famous jolt).

These are basically the only problems. It is fine otherwise, but since I'm in the city these 3 things get annoying.
Got any driving tips to help me get rid of these issues?

1. It has a low first gear.. Good for offroad.

2. idk.

3. sounds like you need to match the engines rpms to the tranny.

1300ZUK · **Posted:** Tue Mar 20, 2007 6:00 pm

moose wrote:

Have you test drove another 6spd to make sure it's the truck and not just you?

X2

but it still sort of sounds like your skills are lacking, what town are you in, maybe someone is near you that can drive it and see what they think. or do you know anyone that will drive it and you can ride with, etc.

MacAttack · **Posted:** Tue Mar 20, 2007 6:10 pm

1300ZUK wrote:

moose wrote:

Have you test drove another 6spd to make sure it's the truck and not just you?

X2

but it still sort of sounds like your skills are lacking, what town are you in, maybe someone is near you that can drive it and see what they think. or do you know anyone that will drive it and you can ride with, etc.

I did test drive another one and still found 1st gear difficult. Didn't get to drive enough or make enough turns to evaluate the rest. I think my skills are lacking also. I have no idea how to do the rev-matching thing. Never did that with my old truck. It's definitely not as bad as when I first got it...............it did some weird things then which was definitely the jeep and not me.

1300ZUK · **Posted:** Tue Mar 20, 2007 6:44 pm

what was your car before this?

Just curious as to what kind of pedal feel you had before (if any)

practice a few times getting started not using the gas pedal too.

MacAttack · **Posted:** Tue Mar 20, 2007 6:53 pm

1300ZUK wrote:

what was your car before this?

Just curious as to what kind of pedal feel you had before (if any)

practice a few times getting started not using the gas pedal too.

My previous was a 1993 GMC Sonoma aka Chevy S10. Little 4 cylinder, 2WD.

Ok. I obviously don't have the modern-day clutch skills---------Rev Matching?????????
Starting without any gas?????
How do u start without gas-----won't I just stall immediately?
I just read that some people shift without using the clutch at all.
Now I am certain I have no idea what I'm doing.

I feel like I'm going to wear the clutch out in no time due to 1st gear being such a pain to take off in. If I could just figure out how to get going at a reasonable speed without burning the clutch that would make me feel better.

07Latitude · **Posted:** Tue Mar 20, 2007 7:17 pm

I can't drive a stick, and I admit it.

But, the few times I"ve actually been allowed to, all of the car owners told me this:

The best way to learn to take off is to not use the gas pedal.

What this means is the following:

Start on level pavement. Put the vehicle in 1st. SLOWLY keep letting up on the clutch. In any normal vehicle, you can take off without any gas. Yes you'll take off EXTREMELY slow. This is done to learn the feeling of the clutch, where in the clutch travel the trans grabs and starts the vehicle moving, etc. Then once you're moving in 1st gear (10 mph or whatever), press the clutch, come to a stop, and repeat. Do this a few times and you'll learn the vehicle better.

EDIT: I don't know the KJ's gearing, but until the owner learns his transmission/stick driving habits closer, will the gearing allow a reasonable takeoff in 2nd? I know 1st is very low in these, but how is 2nd? Will this put TOO much undue stress on the clutch?

jcphoto20 · **Joined:** Sun Nov 19, 2006 1:36 am **Posts:** 507

[quote="MacAttack"]I'm back !!!
I've had my Liberty a month now, and although I don't absolutely hate the manual anymore, I still don't like it.
I know I'm the only person in the world that doesn't like the manual, but what can I say.
I'm tired of jerking and jolting almost every time I take off; I feel like I'm shaking the hell out of the drivetrain; I feel like I'm buring up the clutch whenever I take off from a hill. I want to press the pedal and go.
(And yes........I admit this is all probably user error; everybody else seems to love the 6-speed manual transmission)
But anyway, I'm seriously thinking about taking a bath and trading it in for an automatic.

[b]2007 Stock 4x4 w/ Manual Transmission, 1600 miles
Invoice was $19,493.
I paid $18,492.[/b]

How much do you think a dealer would give me?[/quote]

holy crap! how did you get it that cheap is that what they cost these days? ours was a loaded limited in '02. 31 something thousand, got them to take off 6k in a rainstorm.

keep the peace · **Posted:** Tue Mar 20, 2007 7:34 pm

i have to admit i totally hated the low gearing for the manual trans, but i've come to a point where i've learned to shift with the libby, not force it to shift when i doesn't want to.

my best advice to you is to stick it out, the low gearing is oh so sweet when offroad =D

The Manual Transmission Blues

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