manual or auto?

[raptor86]

eh, i dont know anymore. I really like the fact that it comes with the better axle and reinforced frame. The widened stance is a plus too. And IMO it looks more tough. Has anyone heard anything bad about the auto trannies or just the zr2's in general? or how bout the blazer in general. i know the early years had problems.

 

[jimbo74]

personally i dont like the blazer at all, they seem very small on the inside and their plastic seems cheap.....

if stock is what your after the zr2 is fine, also though... i hate the rearward visibility as they mounted the spare tire in the middle of the already tiny rear window making it even harder to see out....

 

[raptor86]

yeah well i have a 94 s10 blazer now with 320k miles on it so im used to the rear window/spare tire. I do agree with it seeming a little cheap inside. I liked the ford explorer sport more, but technically isnt the zr2 a more rugged, capable truck in stock form?

I like how the blazer is a 4.3 too. a litle more power than the X.

 

[raptor86]

i think i may go with the auto. Im just worried about it having more problems since it is more sophisticated.

btw, i was wondering. my 4wd has a 4wd low, not just hi. What is the difference between doing that and going to 2 or 1 with my transmission shift lever? ya know...od, d, 2, 1.

 

[lonestar]

Originally posted by raptor86
pros and cons of having an automatic and a manual gearbox.

Tranny or Transfer, I assume tranny since that is what most of the conversation is about.

I prefer manuals. More fun to drive, provide more user control and more engine braking for hills and snow. Usually when driving in snow I leave it in 3rd and drive around 35-45 and instead of hitting the brakes, I just let off the gas and idle down, or even downshift. Same for hills. When on vacation at the Smokey Mts, I would just engine brake down the hills, whill the cars in front of me were riding the brakes.

OD, D,2 ,1 on the auto tranny just keep the tranny from shifting into higher gears. So if yotu put it in 2, the tranny only shifts up to 2nd gear. 4wd high engages 4wd. 4wd Low engages 4wd and also provides gear additional gear reduction. 3-4 gear in low is about the same as 1st gear. Unless you have manual hubs which can be left unlocked, which would allow 4wd low to be engaged, but leaving the front wheels disengaged giving 2wd low.

 

[raptor86]

ok, anybody else? and btw, i also searched and read teh other threads from the past. thanks

 

[Kadarom Douhrek]

Originally posted by Hokie
FYI: Every semi and big rig on the road is a manual

Wrong for quite some time.

Lock the torque converter and automatics can have just as much engine braking as a manual.

 

[allen820]

Back in "the day" when I was doing a lot of grouse hunting, wood cutting, etc. on the old logging trails of the East Tennessee mountains, I would not consider anything other than a "straight" with manually locking hubs. But that was thirty+ years ago. I had a great International Scout, but that's another story, too! I wanted to tell my truck what gear to be in; I did not want it telling me! And the low range on that Scout was super for navigating rutted out roads in the snow while hanging off the side of a montain. However, these days, I go automatic, as my ideas of fun sadly have changed considerably!