3.5 SE CVT or 2.5 S MT ?

[SanoSuKe]

Just wondering which one would you guys choose, you can reply with the reason if ya want.

[funkee]

3.5 cvt for three reasons:

- you get 100+hp
- you get manual mode
- stock 3.5 cvt is faster than stock 3.5 mt

Now if you ever choose to go turbo, you could probably get to the 400hp mark in both the 3.5 cvt and the 2.5 mt. The 3.5 cvt's gains are limited to the transmission, but you can go 5-6 psi with no problem. The thing is, to get to 400hp out of a 2.5, you're going to invest a lot more money than what you would pay for a 3.5 and a turbo.

[Ranga14]

3.5 cvt for three reasons:

- you get 100+hp
- you get manual mode
- stock 3.5 cvt is faster than stock 3.5 mt

Now if you ever choose to go turbo, you could probably get to the 400hp mark in both the 3.5 cvt and the 2.5 mt. The 3.5 cvt's gains are limited to the transmission, but you can go 5-6 psi with no problem. The thing is, to get to 400hp out of a 2.5, you're going to invest a lot more money than what you would pay for a 3.5 and a turbo.

This is only true to an extent. Off the line the 3.5 CVT could be faster than the 3.5 MT but once you get to higher speeds the MT will spank the CVT.

As for which route to go. It really depends on your preference and what you want to do with it? The 3.5 CVT can only be modded so far. Believe me, I've done every performance mod you can think of and taken the car to its limit but my advice would be to only do n/a mods to a 3.5 CVT. With boosting, it is really hit or miss with the CVT. There's a 50/50 chance that the transmission won't hold up over a long period of time. I never went so far as upgrading the CVT itself (upgraded torque converter) so I couldn't say for sure how well it would do there. But from my own experience (unless you're up for an MT swap), don't waste the money on turboing a CVT. It's simply not worth it.

[SanoSuKe]

Great replies! def changed my mind a little bit :P

[h66kEM]

I also agree that with the right driver a 3.5 MT is the way to go. I cant fathom driving a AT "sports" car anyways. Just doesnt seem right. As soon as I get the STS put in, (plus a ton of other mods) as Im still running stock, I will be ready for an import show or a friendly showdown on the highway. Good times.

[Ranga14]

I also agree that with the right driver a 3.5 MT is the way to go. I cant fathom driving a AT "sports" car anyways. Just doesnt seem right. As soon as I get the STS put in, (plus a ton of other mods) as Im still running stock, I will be ready for an import show or a friendly showdown on the highway. Good times.

Maybe you should come back to TX for a meet and we can have a tussle.

[IBCoupe]

...or a friendly showdown on the highway.

Please don't.

[wade001]

of the 2? I'd choose the 6spd. It's a lot more fun and your free to mod to your hearts content. A good driver with a MT will almost always be faster then one with the CVT. Also, most people end up regretting buying a CVT over the 6spd unless they only care about getting from pt. A to pt. B

[SanoSuKe]

going to the dealer tomorrow and gonna try both...the last MT I drove was a PT Cruiser LOL.

[wade001]

It wont be a hard decision if your big on driving experience IMO

[funkee]

of the 2? I'd choose the 6spd. It's a lot more fun and your free to mod to your hearts content. A good driver with a MT will almost always be faster then one with the CVT. Also, most people end up regretting buying a CVT over the 6spd unless they only care about getting from pt. A to pt. B

Do you know how a CVT transmission works?

CVT transmissions can make any gear ratio, allowing you to achieve great mileage during normal driving and maximum torque at open throttle. The CVT transmission literally sits just short of red-line after you put the pedal down. There is no shifting, so there is no delay. The reason turbos at higher than 6 psi are ill-advised, is because the turbo would be at constant boost. At constant boost, the torque and temperatures can be harmful to the CVT belts.

A CVT will accelerate faster than a 6MT. It doesn't matter how fast you can shift and how good your shift points are. For top speed, the 6MT 3.5 will not have as low of a governor as the CVT; but this thread is a comparison of the 3.5cvt and 2.5mt.

[TaiLuu]

CVT would be better for Turbos. You won't ever have to worry about boost lag.
MT are alot funner then CVT though. Even with Manual mode.
You get better gas mileage from CVT, But you get better control over the Car with a manual transmission car.
It's Your opinion.

[mattyfo0z]

I'd pick the 3.5 regardless (although I would prefer to have the six speed, if I had a choice), because the 2.5 is so slow in comparison. Of course, if you're just modding your car for looks then the 2.5 would be a better choice since it would be cheaper and the cars look exactly the same.

[wade001]

of the 2? I'd choose the 6spd. It's a lot more fun and your free to mod to your hearts content. A good driver with a MT will almost always be faster then one with the CVT. Also, most people end up regretting buying a CVT over the 6spd unless they only care about getting from pt. A to pt. B

Do you know how a CVT transmission works?

CVT transmissions can make any gear ratio, allowing you to achieve great mileage during normal driving and maximum torque at open throttle. The CVT transmission literally sits just short of red-line after you put the pedal down. There is no shifting, so there is no delay. The reason turbos at higher than 6 psi are ill-advised, is because the turbo would be at constant boost. At constant boost, the torque and temperatures can be harmful to the CVT belts.

A CVT will accelerate faster than a 6MT. It doesn't matter how fast you can shift and how good your shift points are. For top speed, the 6MT 3.5 will not have as low of a governor as the CVT; but this thread is a comparison of the 3.5cvt and 2.5mt.

Yes, I do know how it works.

Turbos won't ran at constant max boost during normal driving but will give a little. The Nissan CVT's are basically designed to run at stock HP, thats why people have problems with significant HP mods. The CVT is actually a good transmission as far as design, heavy duty machines such as catapillars and heavy hauling trucks use them. Nissan can build a much better CVT if they wanted.

The CVT will not accelerate faster then the 6spd. Have you seen a 2.5 unmodded engine CVT run mid 15's in the 1/4 and sub 10 in the 1/8th?

Back to the OP. If you want out of the box acceleration go with the 3.5. you will spend more then the difference in price between the two to get the same affect with a 2.5. But there is less engine performance wise you can really do with a CVT except general mods.

[Ranga14]

the last MT I drove was a PT Cruiser LOL.

Do you know how a CVT transmission works?

CVT transmissions can make any gear ratio, allowing you to achieve great mileage during normal driving and maximum torque at open throttle. The CVT transmission literally sits just short of red-line after you put the pedal down. There is no shifting, so there is no delay. The reason turbos at higher than 6 psi are ill-advised, is because the turbo would be at constant boost. At constant boost, the torque and temperatures can be harmful to the CVT belts.

A CVT will accelerate faster than a 6MT. It doesn't matter how fast you can shift and how good your shift points are. For top speed, the 6MT 3.5 will not have as low of a governor as the CVT; but this thread is a comparison of the 3.5cvt and 2.5mt.

CVT would be better for Turbos. You won't ever have to worry about boost lag.

Theoretically this is true, PRACTICALLY, it is not and who knows if the CVT will ever hit its peak potential. Honestly, the CVT was designed for two things, 1) Saving MPG and 2) Eliminate shift shock. It wasn't designed with maximum performance in mind. Also, a CVT cannot hold a constant boost, once it red lines the boost hits its peak just as it would in an MT and it won't return until you let off the throttle and that's why it's far better to have the CVT in manual mode if you're turboed.

[6SpeedinCoupe]

The 2.5 in the altima coupe has the same transmission and engine as the sentra SER v spec you see in this video. Granted this specific sentra has a bit of a background story to it. They put a turbo on it, tuned it on E85 and tried to get it to run the quickest 1/4 mile on an all stock internal engine. Long story short they blew it up trying. However, i do know that there are slight differences between the sentra spec v 2.5 and the altima's, that being the compression ratio and redline (maybe cams too if im missing that detail). Another difference is the weight between the altima and the sentra, however the outcome would be the same if you raced this Coablt SS turbocharged. I know a lot about the Coablt SS turbo's and they are a force to be reckoned with when tuned correctly with a sufficient driver (the cobalt ss turbo puts out 300 whp with an intake, charge pipe, tune). So in other words something similar to this performance is achievable with the 2.5 altima if done correctly (in my opinion).

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTRUV-OA ... r_embedded[/youtube]

[DAAN.]

Is the CVT transmission faster than manual transmission? YES (unless the CVT design has mechanical faults affecting it at the time of the testing)

/fact , continue polemic