CVT Transmissions ???

[janddbone]

Compared mechanically, next to each other on a bench, what you say is definitely correct. However in the real world, being in the correct 'gear' all the time, while keeping engine RPM low at the same time, would result in better economy. (Assuming you don't just flatten the accelerator all the time of course, as that wont work and fuel economy would be the same, or indeed worse with the CVT due to the loss you mention.) Also, of course a CVT would never result in better performance or driving enjoyment, did not say it would.

[chevypower]

Originally Posted by brett.r.johnstone

Also, of course a CVT would never result in better performance or driving enjoyment, did not say it would.

Nor did I say that you did say that

[janddbone]

Originally Posted by chevypower

Nor did I say that you did say that

Well then that means we can both agree that we didn't say that... Lol. (I think.)

[jjw]

I recently drove a cvt equipped liberty - did nice seamless up and downshifts using the paddles, including rev matching perfectly on the downshift enabling the car to be in the perfect part of its torque curve without upsetting the cornering grip. I gave it a 'thorough' test and it went well. I'd have one as a daily.

[Crazy Dazz]

Sorry to bump an old thread, but wondering if anyone had any more experience with CVTs?
Personally, I hate the very thought, but then I still hanker for a pushrod V8.
If looking for a smallish "automatic" its becoming hard to avoid CVT.

I had to drive my late Mum's Jazz a couple of times. It was like a golf-buggy on crack, but that comes with the territory, since a motorised shopping cart is all it pretends to be.
Since the current generations thinks "changing gears" is some form of ancient alchemy, I'm not sure she'd notice the weird sensation of a CVT.

In theory, a CVT should produce better fuel consumption, due to less power loss, and the ability to keep the engine in the sweet spot. In looking at one particular car, the Corolla 1.8, when they swapped from a 4spd slushbox to the CVT, fuel-economy improved from 7.4 to 6.6 l/100km. (Although there were probably other improvements to the engine.)

[Trump]

Don't buy one that has no factory warranty, because when it fails, no transmission shop will touch them. And they will fail if the manufacturer has not fitted a transmission oil cooler.

[janddbone]

They are superior on fuel use if you drive them so, in the end the accelerator still determines the amount of fuel going in! If you pin it to the floor no transmission technology will help with fuel consumption...

[Yellow_Festiva]

Wife has one in the Mirage. No issues at all. Does what's it's meant to do.

[Ben73]

Currently driving a rental Pulsar with CVT. It's terrible. Sometime when taking off it seams to rev hard but give hardly any power. Other times it's sensitive and jerks the car forward suddenly.

I have noticed while coasting down a hill it increases RPM I guess to help control your speed, but yesterday it was a gentle hill and the cvt decided to keep changing the RPM it was going from 1500 to 2500 every second. It's like the needle was bouncing.
Overall the car is junk.

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by Ben73

Overall the car is junk.

Don't use rentals as any sort of gauge for how a car should drive.

After helping out a mate every now and again that ran a large rental agency I'm surprised that the cars drive as well as they do, considering what they go through.

If you ever want to see a car get driven up / down several levels of car parking in less than the blink of an eye just ask someone that works in rentals.

[Pilko FNQ]

Had a couple of rental cars with CVT and didn't like them at all. I have one on my Suzuki quad bike however and love it compared to changing gears.

[383hq]

Driven a pulsar CVT - no issue, strange until you get use to it

I'm told Subaru CVT's are good for 300k km - then the steel belts need replacing

Aeroplanes have been using constant speed units on props for decades and whilst not an apples for apples comparison, just saying if the engineering's right shouldn't be too many problems.

I suspect like Porsche, if cvt transmission problems occur, they probably just swap the whole transmission out ?

[Magee]

We have a Pulsar with CVT. I agree with previous post of good fuel economy but no driving pleasure. After owning for over 1 year car feels okay with 1 person but full car drives crap. Original box was replaced by Nissan under warranty after it started making a scrapping sound. Car was bought as small run about for my wife but she doesn't like it and I am now stuck with while she drives my G6E.

[SumoDog68]

Originally Posted by jjw

I recently drove a cvt equipped liberty - did nice seamless up and downshifts using the paddles, including rev matching perfectly on the downshift enabling the car to be in the perfect part of its torque curve without upsetting the cornering grip. I gave it a 'thorough' test and it went well. I'd have one as a daily.

Subaru is probably of of the better CVTs to drive . There are no "gears" in the CVT , they just program points to lock in CVT ratio and revs to make it feel like it is changing gears. Many scooters and mopeds use it as it is cheap and simple. I would probably place it last as a transmission choice for a car.

[malazn mafia]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

Don't use rentals as any sort of gauge for how a car should drive.

After helping out a mate every now and again that ran a large rental agency I'm surprised that the cars drive as well as they do, considering what they go through.

If you ever want to see a car get driven up / down several levels of car parking in less than the blink of an eye just ask someone that works in rentals.

Hyundais seem to hold up the worst. Remember renting an i30 and the thing had such a loose gearbox and driveline, it felt like driving a 400,000 km old BA taxi, despite only having 30,000km.

I dislike CVT because it reminds me of Nissan Micra. Possibly the worst car I have ever driven. The engine delivers power and drones on like changing the dial on a desk fan, and the engine itself feels like it has as much power as a desk fan.

[ZGM86]

We have Suby Foresters with CVTs at work, and they're a relatively good thing to drive. I haven't heard of any of them having reliability issues either. Don't think I'd like to own one personally, though.

[Qwerty321]

Subaru CVTs are supposadly amazing. Early Nissan CVTs were utter ***** from what I've heard.

Personally the noise is a big part of driving for me, and I just don't like the way CVTs sounds. I want gear changes goddamnit! Mind you some CVTs have the ability to emulate conventional autos by changing to pre set ratios. I'd definitely consider one of those.

[Jaxon]

Honestly I can only comment on the CVT in our Subaru Outback 3.6r. I love it! It's really is impressive. Smooth, no flaring, it just pulls. Hard to describe, more like an electric engine. I'll share my experiences here once I spend a bit more time in it but so far, I'm sold

[Vesper Martini]

I've driven a Corolla & Pathfinder and both were surprisingly nice to drive.
Jaxon you are right its like that Electric engine type pull.

with the Corolla it can accelerate in traffic at around 1500 rpm

I think this would be very suited to a diesel with a small power band provide it can handle the torque.

Has anybody driven the Forester Diesel with one?

[Vesper Martini]

Don't judge them on cars like the Micra or any other cheap rental, its going to be crap no matter what trans it has..

[Crazy Dazz]

Apologies again for bumping a now ancient thread.

But again am questioning the longevity of CVT versus the old slush box or DSG.
Daughter's Lancer is a CVT. The one thing I hadn't considered is just how hard and annoying it is to hold speed.
In an Auto, Manual, or DSG, you can hold speed by holding the engine revs. By and large you can do that almost instinctively and by holding the throttle mostly constant. A Decent driver can sense any change in revs and maintain almost constant speed without being glued to the speedo.
NOT with this CVT. It seems quite slow to shorten-up, so even once up to 100k on the freeway, if you hold the revs, it will slowly creep up to 110~115.
(So yes, riding the cruise-control becomes essential.)

We're currently looking for a 2nd hand mid-sized SUV. In trying to avoid the power-sh_ts, CVT s become an issue.
Often it will depend on the engine chosen. Eg in the Outlander, petrols gets CVT, diesel gets a conventional box.
(Suggests maybe CVT couldn't handle the torque of a diesel?)

[janddbone]

My sister's Lancer has 240,000 city kms on it. No problems. I hold speed easy enough. At the end of the day the revs to road speed don't alter under the same conditions. So you sit it on the rpm suited for that speed at its highest gear point and save a mountain of fuel and cruise. Easy.

[fordomatic]

Have an Outlander with CVT as the family hack for 5 years now. Car has done 210,000km and haven't serviced the CVT since 130k. Holds speed fine and performs faultlessly, i don't know what the big issue with CVT's is. Makes the engine rev a bit but once sitting at constant speed it's fine.

In fact this Outlander has been the most reliable car i've ever owned. I do all the servicing myself and not a single issue outside normal wear and tear items. I even got 80k out of the last set of tyres.

[ute83]

Just worked on an ASX with cvt. I'm not a fan. I dislike the slipping clutch feel.

[Charliewool]

Originally Posted by ute83

Just worked on an ASX with cvt. I'm not a fan. I dislike the slipping clutch feel.

I have CVT on our daily... Magic stuff, no clutch pedal... no gears... engine braking.. works for me!




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[jaydee]

Just bought a used Mazda CX5 AWD, it doesn't have CVT, just about everything else does, hate the damned things.
Test drove a few with CVT and settled on the Mazda, again.

[minheim]

Depends on the make re reliability. As mentioned by others the mitsubishi units are very reliable. Daughter's old lancer which is now our second/shopping car has just clicked over the 10 year/170k mark and has never missed as beat. Apart from those times you accelerate hard it is a pleasant enough drive. Not as nice as a torque auto but preferable to a DSG i think.

[Itsme]

Originally Posted by fordomatic

Have an Outlander with CVT as the family hack for 5 years now. Car has done 210,000km and haven't serviced the CVT since 130k. Holds speed fine and performs faultlessly, i don't know what the big issue with CVT's is. Makes the engine rev a bit but once sitting at constant speed it's fine.

In fact this Outlander has been the most reliable car i've ever owned. I do all the servicing myself and not a single issue outside normal wear and tear items. I even got 80k out of the last set of tyres.

I hope your Outlander serves you well as my daughters Outlander was a great car until the CVT shat it self, replacement was uneconomical and most transmission shops won't touch them stating CVT's are not worth repairing or rebuilding.

[Cav]

I haven't driven a car with CVT.

I have an AWD diesel Territory 6 speed auto as our main car and also a tow vehicle.

I like a car that you put in drive, take your foot off the brake, and the car moves forward.

The Territory will even do this with my 2 tonne caravan attached. I can trundle along slowly, say in a caravan park, without putting my foot on the accelerator.

Can you do that in a CVT?

I have also heard people complain when you take your foot off the accelerator, and then push back down again to accelerate quickly, that the transmission sometimes stumbles. Or is this with the twin plate clutch system?

My other car is a 20 year old Fairlane. It still has the original transmission in it.

At my age, I doubt if I will be getting a newer car as these two do everything I need and the Fairlane is especially good at picking up chicks.

[Swordie]

I can't comment how long CVTs last.


If you like a drivers car I wouldn't recommend them. I have tested a couple of late model cars with CVTs and much prefer the old torque converter transmissions.


For most people they will do the job.