CVT Transmission Discussion

[drm4633]

Originally Posted by subiesailor

I have no interest in owning any other AT other than CVT. Which case no CVT I might as well go back to all MT cars which I had till just recently.

I second this. I absolutely have grown to like it. It took a few miles to get used to merging on the freeway and pulling into traffic. For me, it was give it more gas than you normally would since I was coming from a 4.0L Jeep Cherokee Sport.

I tow a utility trailer occasionally but am also looking into getting a popup or small travel trailer soon. Others say "why would you tow with that" and I say why not and plan to test the CVT and car to its limits.

I am betting this car will outlast my previous Jeep which has 280k when I sold it.

[beninma]

Heh.. it's all personal preference. I love the way the CVT has some engine braking.. it feels more like a Manual Transmission-equipped car rather than a conventional automatic.

I love the CVT to death, even if my 2013 is still getting crappy gas mileage with 1300 miles on the ODO. (To be fair my current tank it has barely every gotten about 20 degrees while I'm driving with some driving in single digit temps.) It is so much more smooth than a conventional automatic.

All my cars prior to my Outback were manual transmission cars.. I would previous posters, not sure I will ever buy a conventional automatic after having the CVT.

[subiesailor]

Originally Posted by drm4633

I second this. I absolutely have grown to like it. It took a few miles to get used to merging on the freeway and pulling into traffic. For me, it was give it more gas than you normally would since I was coming from a 4.0L Jeep Cherokee Sport.

I tow a utility trailer occasionally but am also looking into getting a popup or small travel trailer soon. Others say "why would you tow with that" and I say why not and plan to test the CVT and car to its limits.

I am betting this car will outlast my previous Jeep which has 280k when I sold it.

Drm -- we have two Gen4's a very early premium 2.5 CVT I recall it was on the second truck load of Gen4's delivered to the dealer. Mom was replacing her 2001 Altima and actually wanted another Altima. However she shopped three cars Altima, Camry and the new Gen4 Legacy only reason was because I had one we beat the living **** out of for 11yrs and 180,000 miles and she was always amazed by how few issues we ever had with it.

2 months of research doing multiple test drives and running numbers she called me up and said - OK I picked out the car I want now come buy it for me. Turned out to be the Legacy. It has 43,000 miles on it zero issues she loves it can't say enough good things about it. I have driven it a few times and a couple of times without her in the car ;-) the gen4 legacy still has a little bit of the scrappy nature my old 2001 Legacy had.

We then bought a late 2010 OB 2.5 Limited CVT which has towed two different trailer rigs a bunch. 1700lb 21ft racing sailboat and a 900lb 4x6 heavy utility trailer / Tent trailer. The CVT has done nothing but impress me in the towing department! Fantastic machine for light towing duty. One tip steep boat ramps or technical trail going - use Manual mode and lock it into 1st. AT mode the CVT will want to ramp up the ratios at the wrong moment giving you a near stall moment before the CVT says OOPS and kicks back down. MT mode it locks into the lowest ratio and climbs like a beast.

[flipster]

Regarding my 2013 outback: would an ECU reflash change/improve the driving characteristics? Please see the quote below:

"13k on my '12 and while I wasn't as impressed with it long term as I was hoping, the ECU reflash I had done (recall in some states) has noticeably changed the driving characteristics:to me"

I have googled the term and can't find any info on "ECU reflash"

As I mentioned, the mechanic I hired was initially sure something was wrong with the vehicle due to the powerful engine braking sensation.

thanks!

[subiesailor]

Originally Posted by flipster

Regarding my 2013 outback: would an ECU reflash change/improve the driving characteristics? Please see the quote below:

"13k on my '12 and while I wasn't as impressed with it long term as I was hoping, the ECU reflash I had done (recall in some states) has noticeably changed the driving characteristics:to me"

I have googled the term and can't find any info on "ECU reflash"

As I mentioned, the mechanic I hired was initially sure something was wrong with the vehicle due to the powerful engine braking sensation.

thanks!

Flipster a few things that seem to bother people accustomed to traditional AT's.

The fuel cut off feature gives you the sensation of added engine braking when your off the throttle for a given period of time and above I recall 15mph. Anyone who has not driven any of the newer vehicles which do this can find this behavior bother some.

Also the CVT does not shift as such the torque converter think of it as sort of a clutch if you will has a different behavior than normal AT's. Once moving the clutch remains more or less engaged and pending throttle input and speed it will allow some slip or lock down very hard 100% depending on the throttle input, vehicle speed etc. Example would be a steep hill where your giving the car a fair bit of throttle holding a constant speed and climbing - the torque converter locks down tight and gives a very similar sensation as you would have if you were driving a Manual transmission car where if you let up on the throttle a bit you get instant engine speed vs wheel turning impact vs most standard AT's do not really work like this and do not give you that direct throttle connected to the wheels feel that you have with a Manual transmission or in this example the CVT.

The CVT does not shift meaning it does not disconnect the drive power between gear selections - the CVT remains connected to the drive lines and alters the gear ratios on the fly resulting in zero jerk or pause between ratio changes - this tends to give people the sensation that the car is slow or unresponsive given many people associated hard acceleration or "forward Progress" with hard shifts or jerks as the AT disconnects and reconnects to the drive lines. CVT doesn't do that.

Give it time stop over thinking it and just drive the car. CVT's ARE VERY DIFFERENT in feel. Took me months to get use to it.

[pgh]

My 10 OB is a gem and I love the CVT. The 2nd gen CVT is even better- I had one in my 12 Impreza. To be honest, my13 Accord has hondas new in-house CVT and it is even better than the current Subaru application. The new 14 Forester XT has a heavy duty CVT and is suppose to be smoother and quieter than the regular one

[MarkShark]

Went from an '06 manual to '13 CVT. I've always been a fan of the way a manual lets me control speed without using the brakes. The CVT is better than any automatic I've driven in that regard, and never does the "wait while I hunt for a gear".

The rpm's the computer calls up are still strange to my ear. Odd to be speeding up with a constant rpm while climbing a hill. The brain just has to abandon the rpm = road speed equation!

[Green LTD]

Just wanted to add that the braking sensation lessens a little as the engine breaks in. The fuel shut off feature can be used to your advantage for sure, I take my foot off the gas long before stop lights and signs, and basically coast for free for quite a ways. I sure like mine now, was not so sure at first.

[awd-gg]

I have been driving a CVT car for 8 yrs before I get my OB (3.6R with AT).... I was worried that I won't like the AT anymore after 8 yrs of CVT... But am I wrong.... it is NOT the tranny alone, it is the entire package (Engine power + tranny)(powertrain).. while I was used to(and like) the CVT, the lack of responsiveness in that 2.5 engine just didn't cut it for me!
wonder if they plan on pairing the 3.6 with the CVT.... that would be cool!

[DieselOx]

Originally Posted by flipster

I bought a 2013 Subaru Outback Limited 2.5i 6 weeks ago.
Averaging 21 mpg with combined hiway/city driving, disappointing...

You can easily get 6 mpgs better in summer combined driving over winter: winter gas, winter roads. We get 28 combined in the summer, but have a hard time hitting 24 right now, usually around 21. Add the bump you'll get when the engine wears in, and you'll be right in line with everyone else, 26 to 28 combined, 30 to 32 highway.

We saw the mileage increase a lot for the first 5 k miles, at 15k everything seemed to settle in even more, just seems to be smoother, more power, nice mpgs. Be patient.