Why the dislike for CVTs?

[ARCOgraphite]

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.

My Rogue Select had hill descent programming - and also a noticable hill ascent - to control the drive ratio.
It would often kill injector fueling and use engine braking on steeper sections.

I couldn't defeat it - most of the smaller hills I like to gain speed to get back up the Camel's Humps coming out of the gorge. SO I had to throw it in N and risk the unloaded drivetrain. And the car ate ALL of it's undersized brakes in 25 K miles. And the Rotors. Thanks Nissan.

BTW A savvy tech can address and adjust most of this in the software options. If you can find a savvy tech. Most don't care.

 

[SeaJay]

Somebody fill me in on all of these difficult skills needed to drive a stick shift car. Do we need to go to an accredited college with a four year track to learn all of this intricacy?

 

[Rmay635703]

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)

What about the other 95% of vehicles on the road?

 

[PimTac]

Another reason manual transmissions are going away are options like adaptive cruise control, emergency braking, etc.

 

[TiGeo]

Another reason manual transmissions are going away are options like adaptive cruise control, emergency braking, etc.

Very good point, those become more challenging for sure...even remote start can cause issues in a stick.

 

[JTK]

Another reason manual transmissions are going away are options like adaptive cruise control, emergency braking, etc.

Agreed. Plus there's probably some emissions and fuel economy programming that doesn't play well with MTs.

I know back when I owned my 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek with the 5MT, it's fuel economy rating numbers were lower than CVT equipped.

Nothing against MTs. That's all I drove for 25yrs or so. Unless it was a fun, sporty or project cruiser, you couldn't get me in one today.

I also don't believe an MT of today in your average run of the mill car would be any more "reliable" than a CVT of today.

 

[supton]

I also don't believe an MT of today in your average run of the mill car would be any more "reliable" than a CVT of today.

True, true. The ECU has full control over all the works, and can back off power during shifting (well for step shift transmissions)--I'm not about to admit to how many times I've missed a shift or slipped a clutch...

I think towards the end the problem was that OEM's couldn't give a tall final gear in MT's due to how mpg was tested--plus many consumers don't want to have to downshift for a gentle grade either. But an automatic, that's less of an issue (until people complain that it's "always" shifting, and I'm not sure that anyone other than enthusiasts notice that).

 

[parimento1]

Give me back the simple and cheap 4 speed auto. I don't even want to know how much a 10spd auto is to rebuild. At this rate they should just install a tractor trailer transmission and call it a day.

 

[bbhero]

Another reason manual transmissions are going away are options like adaptive cruise control, emergency braking, etc.

Biggest reason stick shift has largely already gone away 25 years ago.. people are lazy while driving

Seriously I think you are correct in what you have said here.

I learned on a stick shift.... My mom's Ford Probe mostly. My dad's Ford Ranger was tough to use because it would cut out really easily with the clutch in that truck.

I thought about it last night... The last manual shifting car I had... Was 21 years ago. A black Ford Probe which was a 90 or 91 I believe. I gave that car to my step mom's daughter because she just needed a hand up. My dad did not like me giving her the car so he gave me $300 for it. Either way she was going to get the car. It just was the right thing to do. And it did help her out quite a bit.

 

[JustN89]

Give me back the simple and cheap 4 speed auto. I don't even want to know how much a 10spd auto is to rebuild. At this rate they should just install a tractor trailer transmission and call it a day.

You can still get one in a semi-new Journey, if you prefer.

 

[IndyIan]

Agreed. Plus there's probably some emissions and fuel economy programming that doesn't play well with MTs.

I know back when I owned my 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek with the 5MT, it's fuel economy rating numbers were lower than CVT equipped.

Nothing against MTs. That's all I drove for 25yrs or so. Unless it was a fun, sporty or project cruiser, you couldn't get me in one today.

I also don't believe an MT of today in your average run of the mill car would be any more "reliable" than a CVT of today.

I've got to think the MTX75 in my ford could go quite a ways if driven properly... I guess the throwout bearing or slave cylinder may go at some point in 200k miles, but living out in the country you can make a clutch go nearly forever. I guess you are betting a 3 digit repair for a manual for a vs a 4 digit repair for a CVT. If the Outback had a manual available we would have got it but 2017 was the last year for it.
I don't know if the Focus counts as sporty but the 5spd is geared well except it needs a taller top gear just like most manuals to get some better mileage. I like hustling it around in town, but for sure if you are doing stop and go everyday an auto of some sort is the way to go.

 

[TiGeo]

Something funny I put together to trigger folks in the manual vs. auto debates in the VW groups. Then there's the other pic of the folk on both sides that always chime in....hahahaha

.

 

[supton]

Easier/cheaper to add power? I don't understand that one, not for DSG. For a conventional slushbox yes (TH400, 4L80, 727, whatever Ford has), not so sure on the DSG's?

 

[ARCOgraphite]

I say, Drive what you want to drive. I have ADD and I will fall asleep in an autotrans cars due to lack of involvement - and I could likely crash. Happened three times when I was in my 20's. One instance, I was coming down a long, slow rolling hill, after a long day working, in my Yugo GV; I was lulled and snoozed right out but through partially open eyes, I saw a compact wagon stopping in front of me. It was a Pinto with mother and Daughter onboard. 1/2 awake but still half asleep I couldn't summon my right foot to move to the brake. Then - BAM ! The Jolt of the crash woke me. I got out. Mom was accusatory and frantic. After I told her I fell asleep, she was muttering something but less confronting.
Surprisingly, no apparent damage to the rear bumper of the pinto, but my grille was crumbled and the hood buckled. I hate those sleep crashes when you can "sort of" see what is about to happen but you are "paralyzed" from responding.

Now that I think about it, that was a FIAT 3P and it was a 4 speed. DOI !

 

[TiGeo]

Easier/cheaper to add power? I don't understand that one, not for DSG. For a conventional slushbox yes (TH400, 4L80, 727, whatever Ford has), not so sure on the DSG's?

Again, this was focused on my world - MK7 Golf platform and this is all for fun. The stock 6-speed manual's clutch in the Golf/GTI/R is woeful in it's power-handling abilities and even a simple Stage 1 flash tune will substantially impact the life of the stock clutch due to the large bump in torque. You have to replace it with something like a Southbend and this is about a $2K affair with install. For the DSGs, you don't need a TCU tune until you reach higher levels so it's free. Even then, a TCU tune is about $600...much easier/cheaper to add power on this platform with the DSG vs. manual - it's just math.

 

[supton]

Ah, gotcha, ok.

Yeah I remember the DMF being known as "weak" in my vintage TDi. Once the flywheel started making noise after 250k I had a South Bend SMF installed and boy was that a nice clutch. Made it ready for when the turbo blew the following month--then I could install bigger & better without worry. Want to say it was a $700 install, like half for parts, half labor, but that was like 10 years ago and the memory fades.

 

[Nick1994]

I’ve never seen an automatic drive past 200,000 miles even with regular maintenance.

I hope this is sarcasm.

240k on my Camry, still going strong.

 

[Rmay635703]

I hope this is sarcasm.

240k on my Camry, still going strong.

Little cars maybe, my nieces Older RAV4 went out at 65,000

 

[supton]

Little cars maybe, my nieces Older RAV4 went out at 65,000

What year? Although most of Toyota's 4AT's seem pretty long lived. And I'm not sure how "big" a RAV4 (the older ones!) are considered.

Of course, single point data isn't really great, I mean, my Camry is similar to Nick's (albeit only at 225k). My two other autos are at 160k with no issues, but one of them lived in the 'burbs and I would not be shocked if it had issues crossing 200k.

 

[Nick1994]

Little cars maybe, my nieces Older RAV4 went out at 65,000

My Camry weighs 200 pounds more than a 2005 RAV4