Auto Wranglers Questions

DSM Turbos

DSM Turbos

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 25, 2006
Location
Raleigh, NC
We have been thinking about getting a Wrangler, but the wife wants an auto. Most of the ones we see in the range we want (8k give or take), are of course pre 03s so they have the 3 speed auto. Correct? How bad are they are highway speeds? It would be a 3rd car for us, but we would want to be able to get down to the beach with it, and go around town without issues. The plan would be to have 33s on it down the line as well.
 
I've driven my 2000 TJ Auto for 5 years on 33"s, 35"s, and 37"s and I can still do 70mph with the 37"s just fine.

You will most likely be getting 3.07 gears, which will suck, but are livable. I think better gears may help though (3.73, 4.10, etc).
 
only thing Ive got to say is if you go auto, stay away from the 4 cylinder. Only reason mine could still run decently on the highway with 32's was the ability to downshift when I wanted to.
 
I had an 02 for a few years. It was a 5-speed with the D44 and 4.10 gears I think, so my opinion only has so much weight. The I-6 engine is pretty torquey and I don't think you'll have any trouble with driving around town or hitting the highways to the beach. They're plentiful around here, so it shouldn't be hard to find one to test drive.
 
Guy at my work, his daughter has about a 2000 model I think it is, and he is swapping in an AW4. She goes to college about 1.5 hrs away, so wants the OD.
 
In stock form it's just like any other car. Once modified, it all depends on what you do. We routinely took our auto TJ on 3-4 hour drives into mountains camping or to visit family and it was just fine. We modified it with a 4" lift and 33"s and it was a bit sluggish with 3.07 gears so I put in a 8.8 with 4.10 gears and changed the front Dana 30 to match with a set of used gears from a 4cyl. After that it drove almost identical to before the lift and tire upgrade. Now it has 4.88's and 37's and has so much extra weight, full cage skid's, body protection, winch, bumpers, etc, it won't get out of it's own way on the road but it does great on the trail.
 
I drove a 99 for years with a 3spd. Its more than fine for a dd. I never had problems going 75! Just make sure you keep the brakes pressed firm at stop lights and it does want to override the brakes
 
Back
Top