Considering buying a car with a CVT transmission: thoughts?

[HenryDorsetCase]

a new subaru XV in fact. cars are appliances, if I want to wave my cock about I will either wave my cock about (though there is the restraining order) or ride my motorbike.

Its a business expense (and has to be made tax effective by my accountant), but

should I be concerned about the CVT? Google doesnt seem to think they have issues, but I thought I would throw it out to the collective wisdom of the k bizzle dizzle.

your thoughts callers?

[SMOKEU]

The majority of CVT gearboxes are fine, it's just the muppets who never service them complain when they break. Service it properly and you shouldn't have any problems.

[Edbear]

I have now done 35,000km in my Suzuki Kizashi and the CVT is great! Well programmed and intuitive, it always seems to be in the right ratio to the extent that I rarely use the manual mode. The manual mode with the shift paddles is fun though and is very useful if you have a load on in the twisties.

I used manual mode last trip to Whitianga with four people aboard and it made for smooth progress and good engine braking. Shifts are very quick.

Some CVT's are known for being less than honest about their manual control and will shift by themselves regardless. The Suzuki is the best I've tried and seems bulletproof. Reports seem to suggest the Subaru CVT is the best transmision they've ever had and is more economical as well.

With CVT's now being used behind 3.5lt V6's, I have no hesitation in recommending them. The only thing you'll need to get used to is that they are programmed for economy and will slide to the highest ratio immediately and you will think it is very sluggish. The Suzuki, though, pulls from 1200rpm and the speedo keeps climbing. All you need to do otherwise is put your foot down a few more mm and it will rev out. Once used to it, it's no problem and you find other auto's seem to be slow to change up by comparison.-

[slofox]

Reports seem to suggest the Subaru CVT is the best transmision they've ever had and is more economical as well.

I am a Subaru fan from way back. But even I would have to say that what you have said above would not be hard to achieve...:whistle:

[Edbear]

I am a Subaru fan from way back. But even I would have to say that what you have said above would not be hard to achieve...:whistle:

Pretty much sums up the reports... The old auto's weren't the best in the business and they reckon the CVT is a huge step forward.

[mashman]

Carz r ghey

[Motu]

They were very unreliable in the past....we keep a broken belt on hand to show customers when a CVT is towed in. However, they may be very good by now - guinea pigs are still a useful tool in product development.

[huff3r]

Just a thought. "Newer" CVTs haven't been around long enough to know whether to trust them or not. "Older" ones have, and the answer is no.

So on the Suby, the factory testing is probably the most extreme it's ever had. It'll do fine if you only want it a few years, if you're after a lifer then nobody knows.

[Edbear]

The majority of CVT gearboxes are fine, it's just the muppets who never service them complain when they break. Service it properly and you shouldn't have any problems.

About every 100,000km these days. Some have noted a slight whine with CVT's but I can only hear it faintly with the radio off. Rockford Fosgate make a greàt sound system...

[slofox]

Carz r ghey

Not if you own a wine business. And then you don't want a car. You want a STATION WAGON. Like a Subaru...

[Kickaha]

I did 100,000km in the Nissan Wingroad with CVT and they're fucking shit, unelss you like what sounds like a slipping clutch every time you nail it

I have not long got a new Corolla with CVT,it is heaps better, I didn't even realise it was CVT for about 2000km

[Akzle]

your thoughts callers?

suburus are shit.

nissan CVT boxes are awesome, if a bit thirsty, as long as they're well matched to the car. ie behind 2.5 skyline, whines like a bitch at 130, behind 3.5 maxima, sweet to the top of the clock.

(cut) also. you live in a city. you don't need a fucking SUV.
buy a car you pretentious git (/cut)

-edit- sorry, you're not who i thought you were.

[HenryDorsetCase]

They were very unreliable in the past....we keep a broken belt on hand to show customers when a CVT is towed in. However, they may be very good by now - guinea pigs are still a useful tool in product development.

Its a metal chain: I'm picturing something like the double row primary chain in an old SOHC Honda.... as long as it doesnt rattle like ALL the ones I had.

Having said that, three year warranty. And Nissan put a ten year warranty on their CVT in the US (admittedly after they launched it and it had problems).

I dont want a manual car again: my criteria for a car are, in order: Air conditioning, stereo, seat comfort, ease of driving, how much shit can I get in the back, reliability. And I have had a stunningly good run out of the Subaru Impreza wagon I bought new in 04: so am very likely to buy another from the same brand.

[HenryDorsetCase]

suburus are shit.

nissan CVT boxes are awesome, if a bit thirsty, as long as they're well matched to the car. ie behind 2.5 skyline, whines like a bitch at 130, behind 3.5 maxima, sweet to the top of the clock.

(cut) also. you live in a city. you don't need a fucking SUV.
buy a car you pretentious git (/cut)

-edit- sorry, you're not who i thought you were.

no, pretentious git is about right.

[HenryDorsetCase]

Carz r ghey
sure, but necessary appliances. Its like I wouldnt want to live without a dishwasher now. I did, and I could, but fucked if i want to. And I dont have to, so won't :)

[ducatilover]

CVT gearbox development has come a fairly long way in recent times. Services are cheaper and further apart, gearboxes are smoother and more efficient than before as manufacturers are throwing away torque converters (Devil's favourite invention) in favour of proper clutch set ups.

The newer Subaru units are pretty decent, they've put a huge amount of time and money in to CVT tech over the last 20-something years (If I remember right the Vivio was available with CVT)and they're far nicer than the conventional auto units and if programmed and driven well, offer fuel savings.

Do it, why not?

[paturoa]

I'd be looking the other way from any that have tow bars attached.

I've had a 3.5 maxima and it was superb!. Going along the motorway at 100ks and select 5, 4, 3 then 2nd in manual mode. Smoother than a smooth thing. I've currently got a Primera CVT which is quite asthmatic, but that is more the engine than the tranny. Not a problem.

[spanner spinner]

The latest CVT's are a huge improvement over the earlier ones. As the manufactures chase the lowering co2 levels they need to meet to pass the new emission rules we will see most cars fitted with these as they are a good compromise between performance and economy and build price. As for life of these units they are designed to last the life of the car, the problem is that NZ owners keep there cars for longer than the manufactures expect. BUT!!! if you do the servicing required, change the oil when they say to and use the right oil even if you have to buy it off Nissan Mazda etc they will do big mileages with no problems. Most of these I have seen with issues are due to contaminated oil blocking control solenoids or oil ways due to lack of servicing or incorrect grade of oil used.

[trustme]

Wife has a Nissan Tino , had it for 10 years, over 200,000km. Blown a pump once which was quite expensive, oil changes are dear, gutless off the mark, really cheap to run on a long distance , the motor just idles along at 100kph. Overall, more than happy with it.

[caspernz]

The majority of CVT gearboxes are fine, it's just the muppets who never service them complain when they break. Service it properly and you shouldn't have any problems.

That would be my opinion as well. :2thumbsup

[HenryDorsetCase]

That would be my opinion as well. :2thumbsup

Pretty much. Plus I like the vehicle so I think it will have to be done. :) Like anything, servicing is the key

[Flip]

Mrs Flip had a Ho-ho-nda, thats a Honda with an extra Ho, with one, it was a great car, went fine.

These days my requirements for a car is, it must handle well and go fast. If I want comfort I will take the Harley.

[James Deuce]

They are really horrible to live with. Noisy and slow and any load just means you have to put up with a screaming engine at really inappropriate times. Can't stand them particularly as it just feels like driving an overweight car with a fucked clutch.

[ducatilover]

They are really horrible to live with. Noisy and slow and any load just means you have to put up with a screaming engine at really inappropriate times. Can't stand them particularly as it just feels like driving an overweight car with a fucked clutch.
That's usually down to having a pathetic little engine and a torque converter eating all the power, the current model Corolla with the 1.5 is an excellent example of that :msn-wink:

[James Deuce]

Maxima, Tino, Primera, MPV, Liberty, all with CV trans, all bloody awful. If they were poorly maintained examples then my benchmarks may be skewed but I found them all very ugly places to be.

[ducatilover]

Maxima, Tino, Primera, MPV, Liberty, all with CV trans, all bloody awful. If they were poorly maintained examples then my benchmarks may be skewed but I found them all very ugly places to be.
Each to their own perhaps?
I personally like three pedals.

[James Deuce]

Gosh yes, three pedals FTW.

[SPman]

3 pedals good

2 pedals.............:bleh:

[HenryDorsetCase]

Meh, its a car. I'm already bored talking about it.

This, on the other hand I can talk about for ages:

http://www.bikeexif.com/

[Kickaha]

the current model Corolla with the 1.5 is an excellent example of that :msn-wink:

Current model Corolla 1.5 with CVT is good and it is what I currently drive, the previous car was a Wingroad 1.8 with CVT and it was crap

[Akzle]

o yeah. cvt oil is, like, 3000$ a litre.... evry 50 kms. like a GN, on crack.

[ducatilover]

Current model Corolla 1.5 with CVT is good and it is what I currently drive, the previous car was a Wingroad 1.8 with CVT and it was crap
They're quiet on the road. Other than that, I found it underpowered and poo on anything but city driving. Bloody good on gas though!

[Edbear]

The manual Kizashi is quicker, but the CVT is no slouch unless you are comparing to a bigger V6 or V8. Overtaking is quick. The trick is not to mash the pedal to the floor, you will not get the best acceleration, I use half throttle then feed in full throttle for a quick take-off, keeping the revs at peak power.

While I have owned fast cars, most have been of "modest" power and one learns how to get the best out of an engine. Our Pulsar SLX was a 1600 auto with lock-up converter and by judicious use of throttle and OD switch I had effectively six ratios to use in the four speed box. Made for a reasonably peppy performer while still getting great economy.

How did the test drive go?