Driving a CVT - after 6 months.

[mitsfan]

When you are accelerating from lights and you see the cars beside you lurching with each gear change, fixed gears seem really primitive all of the sudden.

Driving up steep winding roads is a completely transformed experience. Having become familiar with particular mountain roads for years in a manual and then a conventional automatic, suddenly these same roads seem much less dramatic and driving along them very effortless.

Cruising on open roads and freeways is very relaxed and economical, while passing and accelerating up hills is a real sustained buzz.

The CVT simulation of 6 fixed gears is great when using engine breaking downhills, and normal "D" CVT operation is terrific the rest of the time.

When I was considering purchasing my CVR VRX I was a bit worried about venturing away from a manual or a conventional automatic. Most of the forum postings I could find at the time seemed primarily concerned with how how much slower than a manual the maximum acceleration from a stand-still is with a CVT. Having now become accustomed to using the CVT in varying driving environments, I thought that it might be helpful to others considering buying a CVT to provide some feedback based on a wider range of everyday actual usage.

As you can probably tell by now, I am really pleased to have purchased a CJ 2.4l VRX CVT. The Lancer manuals (not to mention the higher performance Ralliart and Evolution) are also terrific and have their own strengths, it just depends which characteristics you value most.

[LZY_EYE]

Glad to hear you are happy.... that is the most important thing!!!!

I absolutely love my manual. My last 2 cars were autos (for reasons I had little control over)

The one place I do miss an auto is when I am stuck in the peak hour trying to get home.

I would definitely like to drive a CVT sometime and see how they go. From all reports including yours they are fantastic.

[tadz0rz]

Yeah, although i drive a manual, i test drove the CVT and was really surprised at how comfortable and economical it was.

Although i wouldnt swap my manual for an auto, if someone gave me a CJ with CVT i wouldnt say no

[Speedie]

The only gripe I have with the CVT is the zurst drone, apart from that I like it. Work said I had to have an auto but the SST is the best

[tryg]

I have a CVT as well, I would have bought a manual, but the Govt Auctions only seem to have endless autos... I thought it was horrible to begin with (like the clutch was slipping in a manual) but I have grown to like the roll-on acceleration, which seems faster than regular autos...

Glad you enjoy yours too!

[Bandit]

I must admit I have thought on more than one occasion that CVT might have been a good option.... especially after I found out the RPM they do on the highway is significantly lower than manuals. The manual really should be 6 speed and not the 5 it is....

[squala]

The CVT was a bit reluctant to accelerate at first even when you tug it to 1 and floor the accelerator. The transmission adjusted as the car loosened up. It's more responsive now. The best routine at the lights is leave in D until past 3000 rpm then tug to manual mode and shift away.

I still hear the buzz when accelerating, but it gets less and less annoying especially when the car just feels so light. It's definitely better than any 4-speed auto in terms of performance, smoothness and economy. I reckon it's the most economical 2.0 automatic you can buy today, tested to use less fuel than new Mazda3, i30, Cerato, maybe even the 2.0 Civic.

[Ozie]

i have had my VRX CVT for over 12 months, & i must say its so good!
i cannot fault it...well except the drone in Auto mode lolz....
but in Manual mode its fantastic.
its the best of both worlds!!!

[Graham]

I am also loving the CVT

I don't use the gears as much as i could but it is good when I do.

[mitsfan]

Thanks for all the constructive and informative replies. If any other CVT owners want to post their experiences feel free.

In my initial post I meant by "sustained buzz" that it is a real hoot (lots of fun) when accelerating hard. The engine noise did bother me a bit at first while it was new, but after it has run-in a bit, and also after changing the panel filter to a K&N (which deepened the engine note and also improved power and efficiency a little), I find the engine noise fine now.

[Klue2k]

can anyone shed some light if changing the gear into neutral rolling down hills and then back into drive mode will cause a lot of damage to the gearbox? sorry if its a stupid question.

[spunkybob]

I love my manual

[Bandit]

can anyone shed some light if changing the gear into neutral rolling down hills and then back into drive mode will cause a lot of damage to the gearbox? sorry if its a stupid question.

Why would you want to do that anyway?

[Klue2k]

can anyone shed some light if changing the gear into neutral rolling down hills and then back into drive mode will cause a lot of damage to the gearbox? sorry if its a stupid question.

Why would you want to do that anyway?

to save some petrol, although it probably won't save a lot. there are some roads that have a steep decline so rolling down the car in neutral then when it reaches the bottom, sticking it into drive.

[Bandit]

You are far better off leaving it in D - the car doesn't use any fuel while going down hill - and being in gear it is easier to slow down anyway. In fact, it probably uses more fuel if you put it in N as it uses fuel to keep running at idle - where, if you remain in gear, the wheels, via the gearbox will be keeping the engine running. Fuel injection is reduced if not completely turned off while the car is going downhill - the wonders of electronic injection vs mechanical injection......