To give you the 3.8 vs 3.6 from my perspective having owned both.
I would rather have the 3.6 for the power.
I much prefer working on the 3.8. My current is a 2009 JKU rubicon with 205K on it. The oil goes somewhere and I'm chasing an issue with the coolant not always getting pulled back into the radiator from the reservoir, these are not horrible things for the year and mileage. But it's a solid engine, and the JK frame is lightyears better than the TJ one.
I've changed spark plugs on both engines. 3.8 requires an extension and spark plug socket, a 3.6 requires you to remove the top of the engine, super big pain. Might as well change out the oil cooler while you are in there as it is the same process and they can leak.
Certainly get a manual if you get a 3.8. The 4 speed auto they came with was meh at best.
I would rather have the 3.6 for the power.
I much prefer working on the 3.8. My current is a 2009 JKU rubicon with 205K on it. The oil goes somewhere and I'm chasing an issue with the coolant not always getting pulled back into the radiator from the reservoir, these are not horrible things for the year and mileage. But it's a solid engine, and the JK frame is lightyears better than the TJ one.
I've changed spark plugs on both engines. 3.8 requires an extension and spark plug socket, a 3.6 requires you to remove the top of the engine, super big pain. Might as well change out the oil cooler while you are in there as it is the same process and they can leak.
Certainly get a manual if you get a 3.8. The 4 speed auto they came with was meh at best.