I have both, an 05 LJ Rubicon and Scrambler(s). I like both, but they are two totally different vehicles
My Scramblers are used as SMALL trucks. I can haul stuff in the bed, work around the yard with them. My Scrambler's ride/drive great, I regularly drive them across the country, but they are still 1980's Jeep CJ technology, which is fine. You sit higher up in the Scrambler, a bit more spartan interior.
My LJ is a daily driver. It rides more car like/planted/comfortable. The dash is like a car, the seats sit down low like a car, not up high like a CJ. The HVAC system works great, unlike a CJ, even one with AC. My LJ has a full soft top, full carpet, and is a daily driver, so I don't throw the lawn mower, chainsaw, transmissions and what not in the back.
I like both, but prefer the look of the Scrambler better. The front grill of LJ's/TJ's is shorter then a CJ, turn signals on the face of the front fenders. Not terrible, but not as cool as a CJ
As for the auto vs 6 speed, I have owned both, both long term. I bought an 05 TJ Rubicon 6 speed brand new in 2005. I sold it in 2013, it had 165,000 miles on it when I sold it. A manual transmission will always feel sportier then an automatic transmission, especially behind a six cylinder
I traded/bought my 2005 LJ Rubicon automatic when I got rid of my TJ. Traded/+cash the TJ for the LJ. I have daily drove it since 2013. When I bought the LJ, it had 20,000 miles on it. It now has 115,000 miles on it. The transmission is still functioning perfectly.
Like Big Walton, when I first drove the auto vs 6 speed you can tell a difference. In my opinion, I am happy with the auto's 1,2,3 shifts. The overdrive ratio in the automatic is VERY deep, cuts the RPM way down. So, if you drive easy on the gas, the auto will shift into overdrive around 40 MPH, and the RPM's drop to around 1,500 RPM. Then it goes BLAH. If you stay on the gas, not floored or anything crazy like that, it shifts later in the speed/RPM range, and is fine. I am used to driving it now, have no issues with the automatic.
The tan Scrambler that I sold had a TBI 350/700R4 automatic transmission. It would do the same "shift early into overdrive" as the LJ. It would shift onto OD at 35 MPH. But, it had a V8, so the overdrive BLAH factor was not as great as the six cylinder BLAH factor.
With a standard, you don't normally shift into overdrive so early, so it feels sportier. With the tan Scrambler, I would leave the Lokar shifter in "Drive" for around town/interstate on ramps, so it could not shift into overdrive early. With the LJ, you can either hit the "OD OFF" button, or learn to drive it with your right foot so it won't shift into overdrive early.
People will complain about having to turn the OD Off/put the auto shifter into "Drive", but wont complain about downshifting a manual transmission
NOTE - my LJ/TJ has/had the STOCK 4.10 gears AND STOCK tires. If I were to put even 33" tires on it, I would swap in 4.88 gears. Two reasons:
1) The Overdrive ratio is so deep, it cuts the RPM way down on the interstate, even with 4.10 gears/stock tires.
A. Six Speed Rubicon/Stock Tires/4.10 gears/80 MPH = 3,000 RPM
B. Auto Rubicon/Stock Tires/4.10 gears/80 MPH = 2,500 RPM
That 500 RPM makes a HUGE difference with a 4.0
2) The 4.0 likes to rev higher then a 4.2. So, what works with a 4.2 won't necessarily work the same with a 4.0
Both my TJ and LJ have been reliable, each one has only had one "major" issue.
My 2005 TJ, I had the OPD issue. I was lucky. It happened somewhere north of 100,000 miles. I got a check engine light on the interstate, would not go faster then 55 MPH. The upper bushing came apart, allowing the sensor to flop around at high RPM. At lower RPM. it was fine. Anyway, no cam or gear issue. I bought a new OPD from the dealer, they installed it for free, not other issues when I sold it, 50,000 miles later.
Other then the OPD, I think I put two batteries in the TJ, one starter, two sets of tires, a few blower motor resistors (kind of common problem with TJ's), and a headlight switch under warranty, maybe front brakes once. When I traded it off, it still had the OEM clutch, u-joints, tie rod ends, shocks, everything. It still drove like new. It was a very good vehicle.
I have had more issues with the LJ, but even though it is the same year as the TJ, I got it when it was "older". The only "major" issue with the LJ, the PCM went bad. It would throw all kinds of engine codes, transmission wouldn't shift right. This happened around 50,000 miles, I think. New dealer installed PCM, no other issues. I have had to do more work to the LJ, but I chalk that up to it being close to 15 years old now. A short list, besides the PCM:
1) headlight switch
2) need to change blower motor resistor (no low speed on the fan currently)
3) the plastic tank radiator started to leak, swapped in another cheap plastic tank radiator
4) the OEM water pump started seeping, was swapped out
5) the valve cover gasket/grommets started seeping, were swapped out
6) a battery or two
7) front and rear brake calipers (the factory interior coating flakes off and will make the calipers stick randomly, this happened to my GF's '04 also)
8) front rotors
9) shocks
10) front track bar/rear track bar bushings
11) under hood vacuum lines
12) throttle position switch
13) AC evaporator/condensor, heater core all started to slightly leak, were swapped out (have to have AC down here)
Besides the PCM, none of that stuff was expensive, or really hard to fault on a close to 15 year old vehicle
My girlfriend Tiffany has a stock 2004 TJ Rubicon, automatic. The 2004 models use separate engine/transmission computers, not one big PCM like the 05-06 models. The 2004 model also had a different OPD/cam positions sensor thingy. Her 2004 model feels way more sporty then my 2005. I guess the transmission computer difference causes this
Her 2004 has been very reliable. Besides front brake calipers, one leaking rear axle seal, and an oil pressure sending unit, no problems at all.
Anyway, my long drawn out experience.
I agree with BigWalton on some things, others, no way 'Jose
I love my CJ's, BUT I think the 1997-2006 TJ/LJ's were the best/most reliable/still easy to work on Jeeps ever built. After 2006, they get way more complicated/expensive/harder to fix/more issues
I still flirt with the idea of selling my current 05 LJ Rubicon, buying another low mile TJ/LJ, and using it as a daily driver. I did it once, worked out OK. If I do it now/again, if I can find a low mile TJ/LJ, I think the age will work against them, as far as being a super reliable daily driver. It would still be a good Jeep, but an almost 20 year old daily driver???????
Anyway, food for thought
