i guess i want the best of both worlds.....

can u get the FDI w/ a manual set up?

...yes.

thats how I ordered mine...

yea i came across my answer in some other threads.... now i just have to figure out if i should go with the FDI 4x4 in the 5sp or CVT2......

it will be a 95% road driver (of that mostly city... about 90% of the time) with about 5% of play.... which will be mostly beach driving in st. augustine and daytona beach.... is there an advantage to the 5sp or the CVT2 when it comes to doing some off roading in the SAND? anyone out there who has had their patriot in the sand? what do you you have and what's been the results???? -thanks

Dude I chose the FDI with the five speed only because in all the years I have owned 4x4's there has only been two times (both on separate trucks too) that I have ever had to use low range. And that was in my younger dumber days and usually involved some large bodies of mud and another stuck truck. Something I would never do today. Not to mention 95% of the time this truck will be on road 15% of that maybe in snow. 5% of that will hopefully get the family down some light trails to some back country camping spots. But that is how I decided...

Made the same decision as JeepJim for the same reasons. Also should cover your needs in sand.

Having owned traditional 4x4s most of my life, I can count on one hand the number of times I actually used 4-lo.

I did not realize when I bought my riot that the lock function only locked up to 10mhp. I am hoping that the FDI perfoms as advertised at higher speeds, as I have a habit of traveling snow and slush covered highways before the plows get to them. (Powder waits for no one... )