[jepstr67]

With this much passion about manuals, isn't it pathetic that Wrangler, Compass and Patriot are the only Jeeps that offer it? THESE ARE JEEPS!!!! for crying out loud!

 

[Ignatz]

I'm a CVT fan. I wanted an auto because Wifey's Wrangler is a manual and I figured if one of us ever breaks a leg, we can still drive the auto. It was a miserable few months in high school when I had surgery on my left foot and couldn't drive my beloved Ford Falcon.

I would have preferred a conventional automatic, but all they had was CVT. At first the CVT felt wierd, but now that I'm used to it, I honestly prefer it. However, you will want the auto stick feature (I think all Pat CVTs have it, but the Caliber does not, and that was a deal-breaker on the Dodge). Auto-stick is nifty because at lower speeds you can notch it up to save fuel (like you would with a manual) and in snow you can hold it in a gear so you will feel if your wheels are slipping --impossible to tell in D on a hill. You can also use the gears on a downgrade to save your brakes.

Fuel economy? I'm running my best ever -- all but one of my last 5 tanks was 30+MPG and the only one that was under 30 was still a hair over 29. If a manual does better, I doubt it would be significant.

That said, you can 'settle' for a CVT if the dealer is basically throwing it in for free.

 

[jepstr67]

I'm a CVT fan. I wanted an auto because Wifey's Wrangler is a manual and I figured if one of us ever breaks a leg, we can still drive the auto. It was a miserable few months in high school when I had surgery on my left foot and couldn't drive my beloved Ford Falcon.

I would have preferred a conventional automatic, but all they had was CVT. At first the CVT felt wierd, but now that I'm used to it, I honestly prefer it. However, you will want the auto stick feature (I think all Pat CVTs have it, but the Caliber does not, and that was a deal-breaker on the Dodge). Auto-stick is nifty because at lower speeds you can notch it up to save fuel (like you would with a manual) and in snow you can hold it in a gear so you will feel if your wheels are slipping --impossible to tell in D on a hill. You can also use the gears on a downgrade to save your brakes.

Fuel economy? I'm running my best ever -- all but one of my last 5 tanks was 30+MPG and the only one that was under 30 was still a hair over 29. If a manual does better, I doubt it would be significant.

That said, you can 'settle' for a CVT if the dealer is basically throwing it in for free.

I agree, coupled with the modern low-torque 4 bangers, the CVT is far superior to a conventional automatic. My ex wife has a Compass CVT which was much better to drive than my HHR was. I hate the wild downshifts the conventional automatics do to compensate for the lack of torque in these little engines.

 

[Stonent]

I agree, coupled with the modern low-torque 4 bangers, the CVT is far superior to a conventional automatic. My ex wife has a Compass CVT which was much better to drive than my HHR was. I hate the wild downshifts the conventional automatics do to compensate for the lack of torque in these little engines.

I do sort of wish the autostick was up/down and not side to side. Up and down would feel more like a stickshift.

 

[dixiedawg]

I know a lot of folks complain about the CVT, but I actually like it, and I don't have the autostick, as mine is the FDII.

Most 4cyl autos shift like crazy, especially up hill, like jepstr67 said, but these don't. They are very smooth, and that really comes in handy when going up steep snow and ice covered hills.

 

[Lordy123]

My brother has a 2010 with the CVT, it does shift smooth, but I still went with manual. If she wants manual she should get it, I settled for a automatic in my last car and I did not like it at all.

 

[RHill]

I have the 5MT, per my sig and profile. I test drove each and ordered the 5MT with the other options I wanted in December, 2007. I chose the manual for the slightly better gas mileage, lower price, and I have always preferred manuals.

That said, if I could get the CVT for the same price, I would go with the CVT. The manual has a pretty big split between 4th and 5th, and the CVT autostick provides six discreet controllable ratios, plus a seventh in "D" for economy. I drive my Patriot for economy, see my sig. I think that the CVT autostick would be a bit easier to drive for economy; but less easy if you want to drive for performance.

Plus my wife could drive it, although she rarely would. Plus the aspect of having some injury. But, I managed to drive my 1965 Pontiac V-8 with a Muncie four speed forty years ago when I had a badly sprained left ankle.

Bottom line: give the CVT auto stick a good workout before discarding it. If you still don't like it, enjoy the manual.

 

[jepstr67]

My brother has a 2010 with the CVT, it does shift smooth, but I still went with manual. If she wants manual she should get it, I settled for a automatic in my last car and I did not like it at all.

When considering a major purchase, you should never have to say this.
(unless you couldn't afford what you really wanted)

Take that as the best advice Apriliagirl.

 

[TJ99er]

When considering a major purchase, you should never have to say this.
(unless you couldn't afford what you really wanted)

Take that as the best advice Apriliagirl.

+1

I ordered mine from the factory for this exact reason...

 

[Ignatz]

I hate the wild downshifts the conventional automatics do to compensate for the lack of torque in these little engines.

The MIL's Saturn can get frantic if the grade is just enough to confuse it. Can't handle the hill, it downshifts; accelerates back to speed, upshifts; can't handle the hill, downshifts; on & on we go. Ignatz's CVT just revs up a few rpms till it finds the sweet spot -- if the grade changes it goes up or down a bit to compensate. Lightyears better than a conventional automatic.

 

[APT]

Autotrader lists 514 manual transmission 2011 Patriots in the US. And there are plenty more not advertised there. Where do you live? I'm certain the community can help you find some. What color, trim, equipment do you want?

 

[Indyguy]

Ill sell you mine!

 

[NoSunshinePatriot]

The manual tranny was one of the main things that drew me to the Patriot. I haven't regretted it.