Not necessarily. Recall my post where I gushed about FUJI using a small fluid coupling just for creeping around and decoupling the engine at a stop in "gear". They lock up the coupling almost immediately after taking off - then you have a direct connected drivetrain with no excessive pumping and heat losses. My NIssan didnt do that and it paid the fuel mileage penalty of an abysmal 22 MPG average in cooler weather. The WIfe obtains over 30mpg ave on her Subaru Crosstrek - and she drives it like a maniac.
Why the dislike for CVTs?
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Not necessarily. Recall my post where I gushed about FUJI using a small fluid coupling just for creeping around and decoupling the engine at a stop in "gear". They lock up the coupling almost immediately after taking off - then you have a direct connected drivetrain with no excessive pumping and heat losses. My NIssan didnt do that and it paid the fuel mileage penalty of an abysmal 22 MPG average in cooler weather. The WIfe obtains over 30mpg ave on her Subaru Crosstrek - and she drives it like a maniac.
I have no traffic stick problems. 3- 10 mph Drop it in 1st and idle.; a bit faster, select whatever gear is appropriate - just leave that 3 car buffer zon to remove the stop and go. A Digital Audio Concept. 
Making this easy for novicesThe VW has an anti- stall throttle assist of some sort. You can reverse without cracking the throttle, and you can go up a steep hill in first with no applied throttle.
Previous to the current lease car, I had a Nissan 4 cylinder w/ CVT for 4 years - and guess what I'm driving now ...
Manual Yes! - but saddled with FWD ... Boo !
Also, these new fluid and rubbery drivetrain mounts allow the transaxle assembly to move around too much. At 10-10ths it causes problems to an extent where you cant drive 10- 10ths.
- Ken
Making this easy for novicesThe VW has an anti- stall throttle assist of some sort. You can reverse without cracking the throttle, and you can go up a steep hill in first with no applied throttle.Previous to the current lease car, I had a Nissan 4 cylinder w/ CVT for 4 years - and guess what I'm driving now ...
Manual Yes! - but saddled with FWD ... Boo !
Also, these new fluid and rubbery drivetrain mounts allow the transaxle assembly to move around too much. At 10-10ths it causes problems to an extent where you cant drive 10- 10ths.
- Ken
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The manual transmission in my Focus was awful in traffic. My Subaru is fine, it can creep along with traffic. The focus would idle at like 12 mph. Terrible gearing. That's the car that made me realize that manual transmissions aren't all that
Which year Focus? I think the 5-speed manuals were all the same over the gens, same MX75 Ford used in cars since the '90s I believe. It's a fine trans, but again, I don't care, I'll choose an auto in heavy/stop/go traffic any day.
Many modern automatics now have downhill braking assist so even that is taken care of for you.
Not to accelerate, but when I want to do some AWD drifting on my driveway, using manual mode and selecting "2nd" with the paddles lets you keep the engine revs in a good spot for engine braking and steering with the throttle. Once in manual mode the CVT seems to lock into that ratio and will only downshift automatically if the revs get really low. You can bounce of the limiter if you want as well. It seems to respond the to the paddles reasonably quick too.
Easiest clutch pedal engagement and shifting was a '14 Mazda 2 . Second to that is the '10 Pontiac Vibe . Both were test drives close to 30 miles .
This has just devolved into the "manual supremacy" debate. There's a reason that car enthusiasts love manuals, and there's also a reason that a majority of new cars is auto/CVT only, including a lot of performance cars.
No one is buying a CVT because it's "fun" to drive, nor are OEs building cars with CVTs to see it to the auto enthusiast. CVTs are good at what they are designed to do- improve fuel efficiency and optimize the engine's power band. No sense in arguing about it.
No one is buying a CVT because it's "fun" to drive, nor are OEs building cars with CVTs to see it to the auto enthusiast. CVTs are good at what they are designed to do- improve fuel efficiency and optimize the engine's power band. No sense in arguing about it.
You have not had a proper manual supremacy debate until someone mentions how they do not drive a two-pedal car.
2011. Was the MTX75. I believe the SPI engines used the IB5 manual. My 2011 had a really tall final drive ratio and I always call it a 6 speed missing 1st gear.
My only road going vehicles are manuals. There have been a lot of times I'd love an automatic pickup and DD.
I’ve never seen an automatic drive past 200,000 miles even with regular maintenance.
As far as I’m concerned if the car isn’t electric I will never own another automatic again, they are all garbage compared to a stick, let alone the unholy terror that is cvt.
Now E-CVT isn’t even a transmission and gets a pass but regular CVTs are total garbage if you plan on owning and not leasing the car
I'd rather take care of it.... Myself...
If you know what to do and how to do it.... It is far better for my way of thinking to do that myself.
Something about going down a mountain... I actually want real control over the gears. Not a nanny computer doing it.
Heh, this past weekend we took a family trip up a local mountain, and I elected to take my automatic. Just put it into 1st gear and left it there, up and down. I thought about taking the family car but just didn't feel like shifting... not while on a mountain.
I think I just got old.
I think I just got old.
I've got 262K miles on the one in my 1995 Ford Escort. I bought the car new, and it's the original automatic transmission. I even used to commute into Washington DC with it. It's just having issues now because the inside of the transmission pan was painted (from the factory) and the paint came off and clogged the transmission filter.
Bad thing about my 08 Ford Fusion was it gave zero option in the mountains.. 1 gear was not usable... Even at 20 mph the motor was at 5k plus rpm. And your other option... OD... Which meant using your brakes A LOT going down a steep grade in the mountains. Yeah... That was not good.
Otherwise. . The Ford Fusion 3.0 was a very good car to drive and the transmission was always in a correct gear. Unlike earlier Ford transmissions like my mom's Ford Expedition where it would shift up... Down... Up ... Down.... up..... down...etc etc in the speed between 35-55 mph depending upon how steep a hill one was going up and if the steepness changed.
Otherwise. . The Ford Fusion 3.0 was a very good car to drive and the transmission was always in a correct gear. Unlike earlier Ford transmissions like my mom's Ford Expedition where it would shift up... Down... Up ... Down.... up..... down...etc etc in the speed between 35-55 mph depending upon how steep a hill one was going up and if the steepness changed.
Never heard of a 5R110, 6R140, 6R80, 4L80E, Allison 1000 along with MANY Aisin Warner units??? Seen too many 4R70W, 4L60E, & 46RE to count go 300,000+
The Nissan/Jatco RE5R05A 5 speed gets honorable mention as it's a beast! (Even though I don't personally care for Nissan)
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One of the reasons I stopped looking at the Nissan Murano was the cvt transmissions.
I think an interesting point was made as to that those that lease the car, like my cousin.. don't care about that. (Life past 100k or warranty.)
Not sure I'd buy a used car with a CVT..
That was in response to pimtac who had mentioned how the new automatics have a computer to "select" the gear for you while going down a mountain.
I bought my car with a used CVT.... 39,990 miles on it when I bought the car....
Now at 317,400 miles and counting. On the orginal CVT too.
Lots and lots of highway miles . Plenty of cool air while cruising does help a good amount I'd bet.
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