CVT in the city?

[bright_one]

About the CVT transmission...i don't think i quite understand it, but i wonder if it is the sort of thing that is useful or not if the bulk of your driving is stop light to stop sign, stuck in city traffic kind of driving, with short bursts of getting to drive at the speed limit. That's the main reason why I don't want a manny transmission, because it would just be too much work in the city, but i wonder if a CVT makes sense for city driving.

[ilusha55]

CVT is as good for city driving as the automatic transmission on the S model (apart if you don't want any shifts in your driving experience). I don’t think it will save you a lot of fuel but it definitely brings up the fun for me.

Are you considering S or SL?

[bright_one]

I'm thinking the SL, mainly for the ipod input on the stereo, and what seems like better interior lighting and keyless entry and nicer seats. i don't need bluetooth or keyless start, but having the door open before i get to the car and having a well-lit interior is important to me because i do most of my driving late at night/early morning.

[ilusha55]

With CVT i do 100% city driving and i get about 25 mpg, and really dont think i could do worse than that. With highway it brings the mileage to 30 something.

CVT is made for city driving, in my opinion, you couldn't do better if you don't want to shift gears.

[electech]

I agree, the CVT is the perfect transmission for the city. Heck, I love mine anywhere!!! I like the way you can step out very slowly and ease up to speed with the CVT. Heck, a lot of times, I am puttering along at only 1200 to 1300 rpm!! I love the transmission, go for it, you won't be sorry!!

[BenDupre]

CVT is the transmission of the future. It IS what manual and automatic transmissions try to be. It has an infinite range of ratios so therefore whatever the conditions are, the transmission can be in the perfect ratio for that condition.

One thing the CVT gives you is complete electronic control. You can essentially remap the entire behavior with software changes.

This is, of course, both the CVTs strong and weak point. Strong when programmed well and weak when not. The other weak point is the design of the belt. Manufacturers have been perfecting the design of the CVT for 20 years and it has only recently reached a level of reliability suitable for automotive applications.

Strictly in the Versa's case, the profiles mapped to the CVT are taller than the ratios in the 6 speed. This pays off in highway and city driving. The CVT, just like the 6sp can be driven well and driven badly. If you just drive normally and don't try to race the car it will perform to the best of it's programming. But it's meant to give you the power when you ask fo it, you just have to remember that power and economy are at opposite ends of the continuum.

Ben

[rwanttaja]

About the CVT transmission...i don't think i quite understand it, but i wonder if it is the sort of thing that is useful or not if the bulk of your driving is stop light to stop sign, stuck in city traffic kind of driving, with short bursts of getting to drive at the speed limit. That's the main reason why I don't want a manny transmission, because it would just be too much work in the city, but i wonder if a CVT makes sense for city driving.

I'm mostly commuting in stop-and-go traffic, and the CVT is working quite nicely. Occasionally, I can get a bit of a jerk from it, but its rare and not a hazard.

The nice thing about CVT is that you don't get the "hunting" of a standard automatic transmission when the traffic is moving at approximately the normal shift speed. A normal auto transmission might upshift to the next gear, then downshift when traffic slows slightly, only to upshift when the traffic gets going again or you go down a slight slope.

In contrast, the CVT just pushes the car along. The Tach needle will rise and fall, but the car is totally smooth.

Ron

[FlightNurse]

The CVT is work of wonder, I love it and love how the engines torque really works well the CVT. It does take some time getting use on how to drive it which took me 2 days, I well not go back to a conventional Transmisson again. We have a 05 Altima SE with the 5spd auto (very nice trans) but after getting my Versa with the CVT, out have informed the nissan dealer to let us know when they start getting the 07 Altima SE's in as we will trade the 05 for the 07...

Tony

[philmcneal]

when does the engine start making noise at a certain rpm?

does the car "creep" like a normal automatic when you lift your foot off the brake?

[FlightNurse]

for my car the engine makes like a electrical hum when first started, its very quiet.

At a stop light, if I can my foot off the brake, the car well start rolling forward, I haven't seen what it well get to yet.

Tony

[rwanttaja]

when does the engine start making noise at a certain rpm?

does the car "creep" like a normal automatic when you lift your foot off the brake?

I've noticed that mine makes noticable engine noise is during a sustained 3000 RPM. The only place it's apparent is climbing a fairly long, steep hill... hitting 3000 during acceleration doesn't produce the deep hum that the hill does.

It does creep in idle if you don't hold the brake on.

Ron

[jgus2399]

I read through this stream and thought I'd get some information on the CVT from anyone here. Mine also does about 3000 rpm up a long steep hill; however, when I get to the top things happen I can't explain. It comes back to 1500 rpm until I start to go down the other side. I take my foot off the accelerator and it jumps back up to 3000 rpm. That's a good thing, it's downshifting to slow me down. But how does it know to do that. Is someone going to tell me there is an electronic computer gizmo in there that sends a signal when I go down hill and my foot is off the accelerator?

[BenDupre]

It is well within the capability of the speed sensors in the CVT to assess the demand required for all driving conditions and respond with the appropriate amount of torque (even if that's negative). That's it's job: it's not MAGIC.

Ben

[electech]

It is all in the software on the onboard computer. It knows the speed, throttle position and rpm. If you start going down a steep hill and start gaining speed but the throttle postition is nearly closed, it can figure the rest out. Never having had a CVT before, I was under the impression that it would free wheel too. I figured the OD off button was there for just that purpose. I was pleasantly suprised to see the speed remain in check coming down the mountains here and now I don't see why there is even an OD off button!!

[philmcneal]

and now I don't see why there is even an OD off button!!

Well I would see the use for one, more control. If I know I have to stop on the bottom of the hill then I would disable OD and enable engine braking, however, if I know I can still travel for a long time even after the road has flatten out then I perfer OD to be on and minimize engine braking as much as possible. Since I'm trying to use so little fuel, to cover a large amount of potenial distance.