Not a lot of experience with the stick for off-roading, but from what I have seen here in the mountains, the auto seems better when you are trying to get over big rocks, uphill. For other aspects of off-roading, I can not give an opinion.

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New KJ Gear - Desert Armor Flak

2004 Renegade Light Khaki - 4" JBA Lift - Rock Lizard Products: Komodo Dragon Rear Bumper, Prototype Winch-mount Front Bumper, Super Skink Sliders - All J's Super Tranny Skid II - 31" Firestone Destination AT's on Moab wheels - Cobra 75W CB w/ stock Antenna mod

[b]Retired, US Military

Autos are better for lazy. We have a WJ with the auto and my JK has the 6spd. They are both good on the rocks, but I have to give the edge to the manual because it has a lower first gear.

That's more or less what I have been told as well.... but they do make a shifter mounted throttle for guys like me (who need to have gears to rake thru....
-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 think that it is one sweet looking Jeep, even if it isn't a KJ. I mean, come on, at least they make a lift for it. Sometimes I wish I would have waited a couple of years and gotten a FJ Cruiser. There are already a ton of aftermarket things for it, including multiple 5+" kits. I guess I am biased because of the my FJ40 past. Don't get me wrong, I love my KJ but there are reasons why the aftermarket lift companies haven't jumped in after 5 years of production. They must have weighed the pro's and con's many times by now.

But hey, where else can you get a neat 4X4 for $21K that gets 20mpg that is capable enough with a small lift for 95% of wheelers out there?

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2004 KJ Sport 4x4
L.O.S.T. #006901
Rusty's 2.5" Coil Lift & Diff Skid, 245/75-16 REVO's, K&N
****Grocery Rated****

yea the Fj is nice but i didn't especially like the interior of it, just seemed a little to empty i guess. And i'm sure it drinks that gas pretty good too, plus i got my KJ fully loaded for a great price with only 30k miles on it. And the Kj provides the best of both worlds, I have the 4X4 capability when i wanna go play in the mud, and then i have the leather interior with the heated seats and good road manners for when i wanna go pick up my date for a little "wine and dine"

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Drop what your doin, and go drive your jeep!!!!
03 Jeep Liberty Limited
4X4

I don't want to turn this into a bashing session... but the FJ requires either mid grade or premium grade gasoline, only has 2 functional doors and looks like plastic sanding block. Car and Driver loved it at first and then started to dislike it later on in their reports.

The FJ is nice for some people - but I am not one of them.

The Commander is / was a botched Jeep (why buy a 7 passenger Jeep the size of the GC when a suburban gets the same MPG and is roomier?)

Long live the LIBERTY!

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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

I'll drink to that.... cheers.
-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.

Not to give credit to Recon...but that Commander is really growing on me. Thats the second pictures I've seen of it. I definitly agree with Spike6901...it is one sweet Jeep. The only downside to it is the length...I just really wouldn't want something that long. We'll have to see the new KK...if it resembles the Commander well (as it seems to..)...it may be a possibility of a next Jeep for me....especially in a CRD. Hey...if you cant beat em'...join em'!!

They may not fit in places our KJs do..but they look cool.

But I do have to agree with sleeve84028....long live the liberty. I would DEFINITLY buy another KJ in a heartbeat.

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02' Frankenlifted White Sport on 31" TrXus M/Ts

89' 2 Dr. Khaki XJ- Waggy 44's, 4.88s, 35's, 3-link on 5.5" coils.

I think the commander is a bit H2ish and for that reason don't really care for it. I drive a Jeep because it looks, feels, drives ,and acts like a jeep. There is nothing else like it. I am new to kj ownership but my trail rig is a well equipt TJ. In all honesty when my wife brought the KJ home I didnt like it very much. That was until I took it wheeling and then I realized that this is deff. a Jeep

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"There only rocks."

Hey... Chrome won't get you home, but it will get you laid

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Blue 2002 Limited, 2.5" Frankenlift, 245/75R16 MTRs, cold air intake

-If you can't duck it **** it... and if it can't be fixed with a hammer it's broke.