Are CVTs really that bad?

[zlcrazy]

Thanks for so many replies. Keep them coming ;-)

[SumoDog68]

Originally Posted by Bevsta007

You are describing an HST transmission, like what I have in my small Tractor.
The CVT with drop its revs away to idle when cruising, and no load

very different things, take one for a drive

Hydrostatic transmission is very different to CVT but they might share the engine drone :-) I have driven CVT equipped cars and they are programmed differently depending on the manufacturer. Not very exciting to drive IMO.
CVTs are popular with snowmobiles, mopeds ,mowers etc.
http://www.amsnow.com/how-to-tech/20...ng-and-the-cvt

[Blem]

We have a Lancer 2.4lt GSR.
While I don't particularly enjoy/like the sensation of no set gears the car goes reasonably well. Stomp on the accelerator from standing & it pulls away well.
Cart has only done about 20k but no issues.
Our FG F6 with the ZF is waay more fun to drive but as a daily the CVT works.

[.:4:.]

As the daily I tote around in a manual 2.2 ranger. I often spend 2 or 3 hours in stop start traffic between jobs (plus the 40 minutes to work and the hour and 20 home). I asked for an auto, but copped the manual. Considering spirited driving us out of the question in the ranger because all the stuff in the back moves and I carry a lot of fluoro tubes etc that are prone to smash, a cvt would fit the bill. That and a stall converter to counter the turbo lag and short 1st gear.

[David222]

I find the 300nm figure mentioned for CVTs very interesting.

I drove a Pathfinder (325nm) before buying a Kluger, and thought they drove alright for their intended purpose.

But after finding out a mate, had 2 gear box replacements in his Pathfinder with under 40,000km on the clock, and a quick google search of Pathfinder CVT shudder issues. The known reliability of a 6 speed auto sounded really appealing to me. Yet I have family who have had CVT's for 10 years in smaller cars and had no issues other than needing to change the oil a couple of times, which would be expected for the age and distance covered.

I assume over time they will refine the higher torque applications.

[SumoDog68]

Originally Posted by David222

I find the 300nm figure mentioned for CVTs very interesting.

I drove a Pathfinder (325nm) before buying a Kluger, and thought they drove alright for their intended purpose.

But after finding out a mate, had 2 gear box replacements in his Pathfinder with under 40,000km on the clock, and a quick google search of Pathfinder CVT shudder issues. The known reliability of a 6 speed auto sounded really appealing to me. Yet I have family who have had CVT's for 10 years in smaller cars and had no issues other than needing to change the oil a couple of times, which would be expected for the age and distance covered.

I assume over time they will refine the higher torque applications.

Nissan was running CVT in their VQ Maximas and Muranos and they had issues with the gearboxes while otherwise being great cars.
CVT torque transmission limit is due to their construction - belt is running in between two split pulleys which change diameter. Belt is sliding on those pulleys and is a high wear item because of high friction and losses are high .
CVT is great for industrial machinery , snowmobiles , mowers etc. - for me cvt is a deal breaker , it is hard to believe that current WRX is running cvt gearbox it would be a great car with decent TC or dsg auto.

[Marquis]

Are you in brisbane. If so ill take ya for a spin.

[vztrt]

The rolla i drove with the cvt was good (pitty the rest of the car is mind numbing).

At the end of the day its an auto most cars with autos are fairly boring.

[Vesper Martini]

CVT should drone any more than any other Auto. certainly not as much as an E series or AU Falcon with a 4speed Auto

HST Drone or noise comes from the fluid trans not the engine, I can't see any similar comparisons between the two.

PS good Article of the evolution of CVT - good tech :-)

[Sprintey]

Hey zlcrazy, just a reminder that Mazda still install torque converter gearboxes in their SUVs and still get pretty good fuel figures. The cars handle well, too...

Reading at their site on all the steps they took with the 'skyactiv' engineering program reveals their box is pretty much the ZF, only made smaller/lighter/less moving parts and optimised for FWD/AWD.

Otherwise it seems some CVTs are better than others.

[stazza]

I 100% get no drone on my CVT Forester. I have heard that Mitsubishi CVTs are woeful though

[SpoolMan]

Originally Posted by stazza

I 100% get no drone on my CVT Forester. I have heard that Mitsubishi CVTs are woeful though

No drone here from our Qashqai either and whilst the daughters Outlander isn't as smooth as the Nissan it certainly doesn't drone, purchased new now 125,000klm.

A lot of post's in the thread are clearly not coming from CVT owners, just opinions not personal experiences.

[SumoDog68]

Originally Posted by SpoolMan

No drone here from our Qashqai either and whilst the daughters Outlander isn't as smooth as the Nissan it certainly doesn't drone, purchased new now 125,000klm.

A lot of post's in the thread are clearly not coming from CVT owners, just opinions not personal experiences.

One reason the CVT opinions are not coming from the owners is because some people find them to be a deal breakers and don't purchase cars that run them.
I hired CVT equipped cars and driven them for long enough that i know i don't like them.

CVT https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJZycDVUd1A vs DSG - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCsDiWQG6kI vs TC Auto - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dWgW63NmJc
Subaru programmed their Lineartronic to have "steps" and it works quite well but it is still a CVT. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gC43i7Xlqqw

[XR Martin]

The 'drone' noise described is the sound they make when accelerating hard which comes from the engine constantly sitting at the same revs. Basically a vuvuzela of the automotive World
This is the reason most have 'steps' in the transmission, to vary the revs of the engine so it doesnt drone so much.
They all do it, whether the owners think they do or not.
Nissans in my experience are the worst for this noise, followed by Mitsubishi with Toyota the best of the lot.

Ive often wondered what a V8 would sound with a CVT...

[stazza]

Originally Posted by XR Martin

The 'drone' noise described is the sound they make when accelerating hard which comes from the engine constantly sitting at the same revs. Basically a vuvuzela of the automotive World
This is the reason most have 'steps' in the transmission, to vary the revs of the engine so it doesnt drone so much.
They all do it, whether the owners think they do or not.
Nissans in my experience are the worst for this noise, followed by Mitsubishi with Toyota the best of the lot.

Ive often wondered what a V8 would sound with a CVT...

Well then it's no different to the GS with the Circle D coverter holding revs.

Do you own a car with a CVT? I have just done 800kms in the Forester this weekend and can confirm there is no "drone". Yes it does hold revs to an extent but it certainly doesn't have a constant drone.

[XR Martin]

Originally Posted by stazza

Well then it's no different to the GS with the Circle D coverter holding revs.

Do you own a car with a CVT? I have just done 800kms in the Forester this weekend and can confirm there is no "drone". Yes it does hold revs to an extent but it certainly doesn't have a constant drone.

Dont own one, however I have driven dozens of them over the last decade though work.

[SpoolMan]

Hire cars you got to love them..

[roddy1960]

G'day all....My good friend who drives a Chevrolet City Express cargo van that he contract delivers for Amazon in Baltimore MD...loves the CVT in it..
He's done over 10,000 miles already in about 6 months since he got the contract , stop /starts constantly with it and he tells me he's impressed by how smooth it is..It's the 2 litre one and it does I 95 easily on his routes.. He was skeptical of the CVT transmission but now he loves it...Here's the spec's on his 2016 model incase anyone is interested http://media.chevrolet.com/media/us/...2016.tab1.html ...Cheers Rod...

[SumoDog68]

Originally Posted by roddy1960

G'day all....My good friend who drives a Chevrolet City Express cargo van that he contract delivers for Amazon in Baltimore MD...loves the CVT in it..
He's done over 10,000 miles already in about 6 months since he got the contract , stop /starts constantly with it and he tells me he's impressed by how smooth it is..It's the 2 litre one and it does I 95 easily on his routes.. He was skeptical of the CVT transmission but now he loves it...Here's the spec's on his 2016 model incase anyone is interested http://media.chevrolet.com/media/us/...2016.tab1.html ...Cheers Rod...

That looks like a rebadged Nissan NV200 - same driveline as OZ X-Trail , Qashqai and some Renaults.

[maison_69r]

My wife has a 2015 Lancer with the cvt. There biggest down fall is off the mark take off and bumper to bumper traffic. Other than that I don't mind it. Loves the freeway just hums along even for a 2.0 litre lol

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