Scoop315
Caught the Bug
I'm thinking I'll get used to the clutch. I'm going to try another dealer that has the Rubicon with a manual transmission to see how it feels.i like you came from the TJ world and had bought a 15' 6 sp 2 door JK and 3:73 gears and traded my 99' TJ 5 sp and 4:10 gears. i was so used to the 4l engines and where they give the power and ii commented the same thing as you in the feeling. it just felt soo lite that it was me that was stalling it frequently as i was not used to the feel. it was like when i went from my first jeep an 87' with the old 4.2 and manual to a 94' 4l manual. it felt like i had to wind the rubber band to get it to move.....(carb to fuel injection) once i got the 99 TJ 4l manual i was so used to the feel of the straight 6 that the V6 was way off. i've traded the 2 door manual for a 13' 4 door now, but stayed with the manual as i'm used to it now and it feels the power farther into the rpm then the 4l. the old 4l would tap out at 2500 rpm or it would feel like it was going to explode, but the new JK's power doesn't really come on till 2500 rpm, then you feel it. i've driven the automatic JK's and do like them, but i don't feel at this point that need one.....the wife has no desire to drive the jeep, so i might as well drive what i want....
in saying all that, you will get used to the clutch (if you buy one) and will find the sweet spot that you like. it will allow to merge into traffic so much better once you train and learn the new power band.
Still, I feel like a fraud in some ways because I never built the TJ and really love the rawness and rough edges of it. But down the road, if I have a major lifestyle change and buy a second house upstate, or whatever, I can always go and hunt down another one, or an old CJ.
Thanks for the comment. I thought I was just being overly critical about how the clutch felt.