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My first experience with CVT

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Old May 10, 2009 | 10:11 PM
  #1  
BlueEyes's Avatar
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My first experience with CVT

My company bought me a new Sentra. They wouldn't get me the manual because they said that if I leave others might get the car and it needs to be drivable by all employees. I was a bit bummed, but whatever, free car!

So I pick the thing up at the dealership, and just drive off. I had no idea it had a CVT. At first I thought, weird I don't feel this car shifting, then I started watching the tack for the shift points and there weren't any. I was trying to convince myself the car was somehow defective. So I stomped on it, the revs climbed, the car pulled and the revs hit about 6k and just stayed there. I was freaking, I'm thinking why is this stupid car not shifting!! but why is my speed increasing by not my revs.

Being retarded, I was pretty confused for a good 15 minutes of driving. Then I thought, this thing must have some weird as transmission. Bust out the owners manual and there it is, 'your cars CVT".

I have to say, for an automatic it's pretty good. Smooth, always good power, great gas mileage. The only thing I notice is if you're crusing around and then jump on it, it takes a second for the computer to figure out what's happening and the tranny to catch up.

In all, I like them. And now you know as I'm sure you care.
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Old May 10, 2009 | 10:17 PM
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cool story hansel.
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Old May 11, 2009 | 09:15 AM
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nice, ive never driven a cvt before, sounds pretty neat for daily drivers.
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Old May 11, 2009 | 10:38 AM
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well i have had a few a rentals when the 8 go's into the shop. i gotta say. i hate em. i mean for the person that is just that driving the car its fine. but i want to love a car. i cant love a juiced up golf cart. thats just me. but congrats on free company car.... that is truly awesome
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Old May 11, 2009 | 11:00 AM
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No shift points?! Unacceptable!
You must modify this car to have shift points!
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Old May 11, 2009 | 11:13 AM
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I rode in a buddy's Murano with CVT the other day, and it was a weird feeling at first. Kinda neat once you get used to it.
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Old May 11, 2009 | 12:27 PM
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Originally Posted by BlueEyes
The only thing I notice is if you're crusing around and then jump on it, it takes a second for the computer to figure out what's happening and the tranny to catch up.
you mean like all automatics?

cvt is pretty cool from an engineering standpoint. some of the most heavily modified autocross cars have cvt transmissions. but they are geared for max hp all the time.
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Old May 11, 2009 | 12:38 PM
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I drove an CVT car b4

Its so smooth that u dont even feel any shifting ... grr ....
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Old May 11, 2009 | 12:54 PM
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Originally Posted by nycgps
I drove an CVT car b4

Its so smooth that u dont even feel any shifting ... grr ....
That's because there isn't any shifting to feel
It is kind of frustrating though. I enjoy the feel of a crisp-shifting automatic that's mated to a really torquey engine.

Wow, I just said 'automatic' and 'torquey engine.' I feel like I should go take a shower now...
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Old May 11, 2009 | 11:40 PM
  #10  
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Ok CVT noted for future reference. That actually sounds nice for a family car or something where you drive a lot in the city.

thanks
________
properties for sale Pattaya

Last edited by dmorales; Sep 9, 2011 at 03:34 AM.
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Old May 12, 2009 | 10:22 AM
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Oh CVT freaks me out. My brain is telling me "there's something slipping and burning up in there!!!! I'm not going to make it another ten miles in this death trap!!!"
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Old May 12, 2009 | 11:19 AM
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How can you be a car guy and not "know" the Sentra has a CVT as most Nissans do nowadays?

I drove a CVT Sentra rental car. I didn't think it was that weird to drive. What drove me crazy was the constant whining of the engine because the CVT would rev the engine the minute you tapped the accelerator.

The Sentra is ugly and a also-ran compact. Give me a Mazda3, Civic, Elantra, or Golf over that thing. Even a hatchback Versa would be more palatable.
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Old May 12, 2009 | 11:23 AM
  #13  
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in theory, a CVT would be the fastest, assuming minimal power loss. For example, the CVT could allow an RX8 to stay at 8500 rpm, (peak hp), from rest, and keep accelerating full throttle until aerodynamic drag stopped you from speeding up.

motor-boating!!
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Old May 12, 2009 | 11:31 AM
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Originally Posted by kersh4w
some of the most heavily modified autocross cars have cvt transmissions. but they are geared for max hp all the time.
check out that post.
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Old May 12, 2009 | 12:26 PM
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The last CVT car that I drove was the Altima Coupe. They do have "shift points". It is simulated rather than a mechanical characteristics of CVT because CVT do not have gears like an automatic. However folks complained about the weird lack of "shifting" sensation as the velocity piles up. Now Nissan designed the CVT with these shift sensations.
I find it a bit slow to react personally. It's good just loping around. Apparently it is very good on gas. Again it is tuned for gas mileage than performance.
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Old May 12, 2009 | 12:47 PM
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I believe Ford added shift points as well to theirs for the same lame reason
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Old May 12, 2009 | 05:56 PM
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Originally Posted by CarAndDriver
How can you be a car guy and not "know" the Sentra has a CVT as most Nissans do nowadays?
Haha as a car guy I care not for the cars of mortals. There are only 2 Nissans, the GTR and the Z. The rest are irrelevant and will only ever serve my by paying for the development of the other two cars.....and to drive me to and from work on my companies bill.

I don't feel any fake shift points in the Sentra. Maybe they ditched it. That would **** me off knowing the transmission was capable of smooth operation but pretending to be shitty.
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Old May 12, 2009 | 06:12 PM
  #18  
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the cvt is not standard in all nissans.. like the versa.. not standard. even more odd is a manual in that car costs more then the cvt option. i know it was my loaner car and wanted to know how much the pos i was driving cost..... and then took it a step further and made my "ultimate versa" wait did i just say my ultimate versa.. ok time to go ride my bike and gain my man card back.......

ACCESS TO ***** DENIED
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Old May 12, 2009 | 06:20 PM
  #19  
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Originally Posted by BlueEyes
and to drive me to and from work on my companies bill.
Yes, enjoy your brand new rubber band powered car.
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Old May 12, 2009 | 06:31 PM
  #20  
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Haha. I'm actually really glad they offered to get me one. The roads down here in Mexico are brutal. There are speed bumps all over the place and there seems to be no standard size...just however much ashpalt they had left over in the truck. Some of them are enormous.

Between that and the fact that people have no regard for cars down here I would not want to own my own car. I would loose it at all the door dings and marks on the front and rear of the car from failed parallel parking jobs. They really do act as bumpers down here.
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Old May 13, 2009 | 11:18 AM
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Becareful you don't fall asleep, I had an 03 Murano for 3 years. The CVT was neat for a while but the complete lack of engagement put me to sleep. It may be why the put in fake shift points in the new one. It does help with fuel economy though, used to average 21-22mpg in a 2 ton vehicle with 245hp.
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