do you like or dislike CVT?

Augustus · 03-06-2012, 09:28 AM

It depends on the car & the driver's expectations.

My other car (wife's DD) is a 2010 Subaru Outback 2.5. It has a CVT. It's fine. Good fuel economy and makes for a smooth & extremely uneventful ride. 60k miles on it now, but perfectly reliable thus far. If you've never driven a CVT, it's like an amusement-park go-kart or a golf cart; just revs & increasing speed, no shifting. It also kind of feels like driving a manual with a completely shot clutch. I'd encourage you to go test drive something with a CVT, as it's definitely a different experience than driving anything with gears. It's fine and good in an obviously non-sporty family car like an Outback.

But for any car that has sporty intentions, I think it's a mistake. CVT's aren't meant for performance, they're designed to maximize MPG. So that's at odds with anything that's trying to be sporty. When you floor it, the rev's meander up near redline and the car gradually accelerates. There is no 'kick-down'. There's no rev-matching. There's no downshifting for the perfect gear for a perfect corner exit. There's no emotion. It takes the term 'slushbox' to a whole new level.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
What do you like/dislike about your exhaust?	cycy89	Intake/Exhaust	51	03-19-2012 03:01 AM
What do you like/dislike about your exhaust PART 2	cycy89	Intake/Exhaust	13	03-14-2012 06:13 PM

03-06-2012, 09:28 AM	#1 (permalink)
Augustus Base Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Illinois Posts: 146 Drives: 2011 370Z Touring M6 Rep Power: 15	It depends on the car & the driver's expectations. My other car (wife's DD) is a 2010 Subaru Outback 2.5. It has a CVT. It's fine. Good fuel economy and makes for a smooth & extremely uneventful ride. 60k miles on it now, but perfectly reliable thus far. If you've never driven a CVT, it's like an amusement-park go-kart or a golf cart; just revs & increasing speed, no shifting. It also kind of feels like driving a manual with a completely shot clutch. I'd encourage you to go test drive something with a CVT, as it's definitely a different experience than driving anything with gears. It's fine and good in an obviously non-sporty family car like an Outback. But for any car that has sporty intentions, I think it's a mistake. CVT's aren't meant for performance, they're designed to maximize MPG. So that's at odds with anything that's trying to be sporty. When you floor it, the rev's meander up near redline and the car gradually accelerates. There is no 'kick-down'. There's no rev-matching. There's no downshifting for the perfect gear for a perfect corner exit. There's no emotion. It takes the term 'slushbox' to a whole new level.