Automatics win at everything but downhills.

That is my opinion. Everyone has their own as I am sure you will hear.

Toy Man

 

Why is automatic bad for downhill?
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I have a manual, and I prefer it. Sure, it does take more input from the driver, but I've never found myself in a situation off road where I thought, boy, wish I had an automatic. I could see an auto having an advantage when rock crawling, but for the terrain a lightly modded x is capable of handling, I prefer a manual.
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It is really personal preference.

In REALLY hard technical trails, where you are spotted inch by inch, autos win. So long as you can keep a minimum speed where you are not riding the clutch then it starts turning into a challenge of driver skills.

I have always been a stick shift person. My last hard core trail rig (lockers both ends, 4.88 geared, lowered transfer case gears, suspension made from slinkys, etc.) I ended up converting to automatic. I was running hard trails, well beyond a stock truck could do. At times I needed to apply force without actually moving, auto wins. But steep downhills could be challenging. That torque convertor that multiplies so much torque going up suddenly goes to a liability going down. As much as it slips under load it slips the other way allowing faster wheel speed then engine speed. It took a LOT of mechanical gearing to hint at keeping downhill speed control.

Now that I quit going out and trying to find the next $500 part to break on each outing, Didn't enjoy a rig that was scary on the highway, something that was new and could run normal trails. I just got a stick. At 4 days old I had a trailer on the back, going up a forest service road, in the rain, lifting a tire from time to time (playing around to see what this thing can do).

The stick is very capable but does take a skilled operator. Letting the smoke out of the clutch can get expensive. The Pro-4x has this neat little feature that lets you start it in gear. Little jerky but very effective for getting moving from a tight spot without slipping the clutch. I am very comfortable in the abilitys of the MT. I will point out that I don't plan on doing any severe technical trails with it either. The biggest downfall to the stick shift is the clutch will not tolerate a lot of abuse. Since this is my daily driver I don't abuse it. I need it to get me to work the next day. Simple, avoiding abuse avoids problems.

So you do have to decide on just how technical you want to get? What are your abilities to drive a stick? I don't typically deal with heavy traffic so a stick works fine. I have driven in heavy traffic, for that I admit I am lazy and get tired of clutch pumping and would prefer an automatic.

 

http://www.manualversusautomatic.com/

 

Auto for everything but downhill. But I will say with stock gears you get lower ones with the manual. I love the part on a slippery hill I just throw it in gear and let the engine slow me down. If you start breaking in an Auto you start sliding sideways and such.

 

The P4X with hill descent, 4LO, and 1st gear has done me great to where i don't need to break down a hill at all. Auto for me wins. I'd rather worry about the trail and obstacles than my ability to drive a stick shift...btw, this is the first vehicle that is my car that is an auto.

Sn0

 

I have not driven an auto with downhill control so cannot comment but you can with use an automatic on steep down hills by applying the brakes just enough to keep from moving then using the gas pedal to just barely overcome the brake. Going too fast? - ease up on the gas. Or do just the opposite. Hold the gas pedal at steady position and use the brakes to control your descent.

Takes some practice but works really well.

Toy Man

 

Automatic will be covered by warranty clutch and such are wear items. Plus the slowpokes at lights who have to shift are annoying. There is no reason for a manual in this day and age

 

There is no reason for intolerance towards someone elses choice in transmission in this day and age.
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I like the manual, but I have been driving manuals for well over 30 years.
I like the control it gives me both on and off the road.
My last auto vehicle was set-up for drag racing and on the street it felt a little odd (downshifting and spinning tires when I wasn't expecting it).
I also had an almost identical auto vehicle with a tame engine and it still didn't feel right to me. It just didn't shift at the points I would (up or down).
Modern autos are better for extreme applications. In the old days, manuals were better because the old style autos had a lot of slippage in them.
.
That being said...
For most people, I tell them to get an auto. The modern autos can keep up with the manual in most all ways.

 

In surprised nobody has mentioned how much lower the MT XTerra is geared. The manual has lower gear ratios on the first 4 gears compared to the auto, so you get a better crawl ratio and the potential for more torque to the wheels. The 6-speed also has higher gears in 5th and 6th, allowing it the potential for better fuel economy on flat highways. A skilled driver can avoid burning clutch on the trail in most situations.

However, the automatic is better for towing and is certainly very capable in its own right (SMOD notwithstanding). I drive an auto, but that is more because I bought the X from a friend, and that is what was on the table. I will also say, with all the modern distractions in the cockpit, it's nice to have a free hand for maps, radios, and yes, even my phone. However, I absolutely do not condone distracted driving, there is a time and a place for messing with peripheral things. Driving should always come first.

Oops, dropped my beer, I guess I need to watch for potholes. Better go.

 

The gearing is really a mute point. While the ratios in the transmission and axles are lower you don't have the torque convertor to get you off the line. By the time you factor that into the math it is a wash for getting off the line. Then for highway cruising the MT has a taller overdrive that cancels out the lower axle ratio so freeway cruising RPM is nearly idnetical. Accelerating and cruising there reallys isn't any gearing advantage to either one.

Really, what do you want to drive? Get that. It is that simple. Both are good choices. Why are you making a decision for something you are going to get yourself based on what someone else wants?

 

I wasn't talking about "getting off the line" like a sports car, I was talking about crawl ratio like a 4x4.

 

I've only driven one automatic in my life. Love the control of the manual. I don't trail ride so for me it's great. Only thing I don't like is when it's really cold it can be difficult to get in to reverse. That's only when it's well below zero.

 

I traded in my 2012 xterra MT with around 15000 miles because it had the worst manual transmission I have ever encountered. I don't care to remember or write out all the problems I had with it. But, I for one will never own another MT thanks to Nissan.

 

I vote for the auto. I drive a Pro4X with an auto and love it. It completely eliminates and worries about hill starts no matter how steep the hill. The hill start assist, which just holds your brake on until you press the gas, is great. Not having to feather a clutch while roling backwards is so much simpler.

The hill descent control works great, you just have to get used to the sounds it makes. Put the X in 4LO and lock the transmission in 1st gear and you will crawl up, down and over obstacles without stalling.

 

Manual all the way.

No SMOD to worry about
More control
Less and cheaper maintenance
Better acceleration
Better gas mileage

 

No SMOD after 2009, iirc.
More control over what?
$$$ is less on purchase, but no guarantee of cheaper maintenance if the clutch gets burned out due to poor driving habits on and off road.
Better Acceleration...ok, I got a truck for off-road, not drag racing down a dirt road
Perhaps slightly better gas mileage, but no experience.

 

Yeah, ive wheeled the dogsh*t out of my MT over the past few years.

One thing ive noticed "knock on wood" is that MTs rarely go through CV shafts. The ability releave all tension and torque when you start to hop or slip I think is a key factor. Ive only had to replace a CV due to self inflicted damage, (mushroomed it) I still have the same 3 spares sitting in my trail gear box.

I dont think I've ever heard of an MT grenading a R180 or M205 yet.

I think all i did was defend the MT opposed to putting up an argument about which is better. This is the first vehicle Ive ever wheeled so I guess I cant say which is "Better" but this is just my personal experiences.

Plus I like when I sleep in my truck after a long night of drinking and accidently leave the radio on and kill the battery; that I can get it rolling and pop the clutch to bring my truck back to life!

 

If you are going to go rock crawling get a automatic. And the whole manuals don't have a place in cars today may be true from a technology stand point, driving a manual car is about 5,000 times more engaging than an automatic. That's all the pro you really need.

 

And you are 17? Go with the stick and go impress some girls.

 

At 17 it's better to have the right hand free to roam:cheers:

 

^ this

 

more control over the vehicle itself. ability to slow down more quickly. ability to downshift and pass the grannies on the highway.

 

Remember that fiasco where Toyota's had stuck accelerators and people couldn't stop? Not ever going to be an issue with a manual. Press the clutch and no more being pushed along against your will. If that doesn't work force the gear lever into neutral. Yes it may damage something, but you have MANUAL controls to disengage engine power from the drive line. This should be considered a safety feature.

Another safety feature of a manual comes in the event of brake loss. You can force a downshift and slow the vehicle using the engines compression. Again this could cause damage, but is available as an emergency option.

I'll take a manual over a auto any day. The simpler engineering creates fewer points to fail. This society of wanting everything idiot proof is hurting the manual, it actually takes skill to drive one, and people are lazy.

 

With an auto you can still put it in neutral if you have a runaway. If engine overrevs and blows get a lawyer and get on the news and youll be set

 

I think it's gonna have to come down to the test drive and a lot of deep consideration, I LOVE driving a manual probably because it is so much more engaging; however, I feel like I would be better off driving a manual in a little car that way I could make it do exactly what I want it to do. I will eventually be re gearing for the TS whether I end up with the AT or MT but I have to take into consideration that I'm planning on wheelin' pretty hard and pretty often, so that's possibly why I'm so hesitant to drive a manual because I've never wheeled with one... I appreciate the opinions guys! haha this feels like the hardest decision. I feel like if I go for the automatic for simplicity of wheeling that I'm going to regret it only because I have wanted a manual for so long... decisions, decisions, decisions...

 

Manual transmission! Save the manual! Down with the boring automatics!

Automatics are much better then 30-40 years ago so most of the old arguments don't matter. They are still more expensive to purchase and repair. Otherwise, it all comes down to personal taste. I love the challenge of driving manual. I feel more in tune with the truck. Even in the woods.

 

Turn the ignition off at freeway speeds? So you lose braking? Most people will over react anyways and shut it off completely and loose steering...

What are you talking about lack of warranty? A manual, will be more reliable as there is less to fail anyways. I've had 3 cars with automatics... All three had problems with the auto tranny within 30k miles... This is from Dodge, BMW and Porsche even... All my manuals? Well, I've had over 20 cars with manuals and with the exception of ONE of them, never had a problem with manuals. How much have I spent on changing clutches? Probably $1200 including labor. That was only TWO clutches I have had replaced... Between the three auto's that broke? Well over $10,000.... Luck two were under warranty...

 

To paraphrase Shakespeare, methinks the weevil doth protest a bit too much. HPH