CVT Transmission

rbo1577186

rbo1577186

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Joined
Aug 12, 2005
Location
Winston Salem
I test drove a Nissan Altima and Sentra last weekend that had this new Tranny. I'm 99.9 % sure I'm not going to buy the car, it being the first year of it. Does anyone have any input/general info on these transmissions?
 
Various companies have tried it, I think Subaru was the first, back in the 80's?

Neat idea, and theoretically would be the best option, since the engine can sit at peak efficiency RPM, peak power RPM, or anywhere between the 2 as the computer dictates.

Last I remember, making them hold up to power was the problem. Newer materials are certainly helping, but I haven't paid much attention to them.

The Audi/VW DSG gearbox is pretty freakin cool for an auto though...
 
Ya in theory they are awesome.. And they may very well be the wiz-bang ticket for the ultra small econo-box to make them actually drivable..

I think the latest round of 6 speeds hitting the market is really cool too..
 
Ive never driven one, but the idea bothers me. I like for RPM to be directly connected to throttle input and gear selection. For the car to accelerate and the engine not change speed would likely break my head.
 
I've driven a couple of the CVT nissan's from Hertz etc while traveling.
They are kind of neat, but I'm not entirely sure how great they are. Gas mileage didn't seem all that good. Of course part of that is, well, it's a rental, with a CVT, soooo everyone that rode with me, or drove one, wanted to floor it cause it just sits on the redline while you accelerate.
Not really "optimal" for mileage.
But they do have good pep, and seemed more responsive than a lot of normal automatics I have driven.

I also agree with Rich about the DSG's being awesome. I'm still bitter they didn't stick those in the TT's until the year after we bought one.

Also
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continuously_variable_transmission
Has some interesting info about the history, etc.

And to Matt, yea. that's why everyone floors them at first. it's REALLY weird.
At least it was to me for a few days. Then I'm back in the jeep, and well, nothing in that is "smooth" sooo, next time I travel it's all new again. :D
 
Not new

Nissan has had that out for a while. The Murano (AFAIK basically an Altima) uses it. I kind of like it (the CVT not the Murano).

Fuel mileage is decent. We got 24ish out of a rental Murano with me driving like uhh.....it was a rental car.

Some cool things.

Coupled with Nissan's superb V6 it has plenty of acceleration.

Cruising down the highway, you hit a slight incline, instead of kicking down a gear or letting the converter slip it just gears down as needed.

You never get stuck between gears. The acceleration on on ramps is very very good.

Kind of a pig off the line, but once you get going it accelerates quite nicely.

I had no problems with the CVT. I liked the way it drove, fuel mileage was decent. The only concerns I would have are over longevity. I suspect the thing would probably be kaput by 100k.
 
The Honda Civic Hybrid have them as well... Im not a fan, but that after seeing how badly the fluid can deteriorate after 30K... The wear and the heat associated with the mountain driving up here makes the fluid completely black in a short time, and when the fluid gets that hot, it loses is friction modifier properties... Seen alot of CVT's coming in chirping and growling after 30K...

Might just be out hill and mountain driving though.... And might just be the Honda's, but I don't like the idea of that constantly slipping the bands have to do....
 
hscrugby said:
I've driven a couple of the CVT nissan's from Hertz etc while traveling.
They are kind of neat, but I'm not entirely sure how great they are. Gas mileage didn't seem all that good. Of course part of that is, well, it's a rental, with a CVT, soooo everyone that rode with me, or drove one, wanted to floor it cause it just sits on the redline while you accelerate.
Click to expand...

Anything thats been ridden that hard by that many people......
 
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