Actually, when in manual shift mode 1st is at the bottom of the CVT range
and 6th is at the top of the range. If cars101 is to be believed that is:
Yep, but I wouldn't bet the house on it without seeing official specs
from Mother Soobie. Cars101 doesn't list the manual mode ratios
for 2012, but I'm quite sure that someone posted them here (in
an official-looking Subaru document) and they were as described
by soupysales -- with the a wider range in auto than in manual.
In any case, both the bottom and top ratios are ridiculously tall,
for either CVT mode and either model year. ...IMO, of course.
I started to browse euro-Soobie sites for reliable info, but rapidly
discovered that it's about to become even more complicated.
Subaru of Switzerland says their CVT-diesels will have a
7-speed
manual mode, and that Forester 2.0XT will have
8-speed paddles.
I suspect that the differences are purely software -- in which case,
the number of paddle-shifter steps and corresponding gear ratios
could be changed with nothing more than a quick reflash.
...an aftermarket opportunity?
Looby