Smaller more fuel efficient vehilces are the future... Sure the Suburbans and GC's will survive but to a lesser degree in sales. Take the GC for example. From 2004 - 2005 Jeep dealers sold 213K units. Then from 2005 - 2006 Jeep was only able to move 139K units. I am glad that Jeep is moving to capture this shift in the market with the Compass and Patriot. Other than the size, the Patriot is pretty similar to the Liberty. Both were (are) contraversial when they were released, but both have IFS and decent abilities as equiped from the manufacturer. And still the Liberty went on to become the segment leader because it was built better and stronger than the competition.

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02 Liberty Limited
Silver Outside & Taupe Inside
Heated Seats, Sunroof & Infinity speakers
USA Spec I-Pod adaptor, Mopar Sub, Garmin GPS
Tow Package, Select-Trac
Rock Rails, Tow Hooks

The GC actually has the same/better mileage as the Liberty because of its MDS capability....



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multi-Displacement_System

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Jeep Liberty Wikibook
# cd /home/fuzzymuzzle.com

But MDS only comes on the HEMI model.

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02 Liberty Limited
Silver Outside & Taupe Inside
Heated Seats, Sunroof & Infinity speakers
USA Spec I-Pod adaptor, Mopar Sub, Garmin GPS
Tow Package, Select-Trac
Rock Rails, Tow Hooks

Why do Semi's come with manual transmissions if automatics are better for towing? (I think that Jeep just put a weak clutch in the manual?)

The reverse problem I was talking about in #11 was about some people who have cited problems reversing in 4wd with their autos... I don't know, I don't own an auto, but I did read the post...

We can debate auto versus manual until we are blue in the face... i'm not sorry for opening this can of worms, it's been an entertaining read.

Anyways, I just like what I like, and another note is that my wife thinks it's hot that I drive manual

LOL, great thread. My only hope is that Jeep continues to sell vehicles with a manual tranny for the minority like me and the others here... I think that raking thru the gears is what makes driving worth it (for me at least)
-Mark

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2008 VW Rabbit- 5-speed 5-cylinders
2000 TJ 4-cylinders 5-speed I'll let you know when I figure it out.
2006 Liberty SOLD.

I do agree - but most of the time, I'm lazy and like to "autopilot" myself to and from work.

OK, on the gas mileage topic though... Here are the EPA estimates from the Jeep website. [I'm using the 4x4 numbers only]

Vehilce: City / Highway Mileage
Compass: 25/29 (Manual Transmission)
Compass: 23/26 (CVT)

Patriot: 25/29 (Manual Transmission)
Patriot: 23/26 (CVT)
Patriot: 21/23 (CVT w/ low range)

Commander: 16/19 (V6)
Commander: 15/19 (4.7L V8 )
Commander: 14/18 (da HEMI)

G. Cherokee: 17/21 (V6)
G. Cherokee: 15/20 (4.7V8)
G. Cherokee: 14/19 (HEMI)

Liberty: 18/22 (6MT)
Liberty: 17/22 (Auto)

As most of us know the printed figures are typically not realized by most drivers - instead the real number ends up being closer to the city rating for all vehicles.... So from all of those figures, with the high gas prices, which vehicles become the most attractive

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02 Liberty Limited
Silver Outside & Taupe Inside
Heated Seats, Sunroof & Infinity speakers
USA Spec I-Pod adaptor, Mopar Sub, Garmin GPS
Tow Package, Select-Trac
Rock Rails, Tow Hooks

O.K., O.K.,
I must have been really grouchy the other day...
I think the auto is great. I like the liberty in either a manual or auto. I hope my manual holds up...time will tell.
Keep wheelin!!

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'06 3.7 sport 6 speed (long live manual tranny's)
tinted windows, cruise, midnight blue
Mopar roof rack
Royal Purple Synchromax in tranny
Royal Purple Maxgear in pumpkins
Full mopar skids, front diff collar
Future mods: Rock rails, B.F. Goodrich all terains. (In my dreams: Frankenlift)

I drive a big truck 6 month out the year so I feel I some what know about this
first semi's have 10-18 gears I am sure you know that
they also have tranys that weigh almost as much as a KJ and are HUGE compared to the trany in any residential vehical

now why they put manuals in semis #1 cost most over the road truck drivers spend around $150K on a new rig
#2 autos to some degree almost always slip until they reach top gear sliping in 17 gears would wear the heck out of a cluch pack espicaly when towing the weight of 20 KJ's on average not to mention the heat that builds up

however as of a few years ago you could buy a fully automatic trany in a semi or you can opt for an auto shift
the auto is a $20k option the outo shift is like a $10k option
the auto shift uses the cluch to start and come to a complete stop but other than that the truck does the work
kind of the best of both worlds for trucks that do "in town" stuff eas of the auto after you go but the strenght of the manual for hauling