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How sporty in this new Continuously Variable Transaxle II transmission?

23 messages,  Last post on Nov 04, 2009 at 5:58 AM

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#4 of 23 Re: How sporty in this new Continuously Variable Transaxle II transmission? [yoder88] by habalanche Jan 06, 2007 (1:48 pm)
Replying to: yoder88 (Jan 06, 2007 8:53 am) The R/T has autostick so if you like a stick shift you sort of have it,and if you want an automatic you have that too.I use the autostick and my wife simply puts it in drve and goes. Replies to this message: yoder88 (Jan 07, 2007 3:21 pm)
#5 of 23 Re: How sporty in this new Continuously Variable Transaxle II transmission? [habalanche] by yoder88 Jan 07, 2007 (3:21 pm)
Replying to: habalanche (Jan 06, 2007 1:48 pm) Thanks
#6 of 23 I'm not sure by caliberchic Jan 23, 2007 (6:28 pm)
I didn't want to gamble on that transission, I opted for the 5 speed. I had heard previously it some what felt like how a snowmobile shifts. Not sure if that's true or not as I haven't riden a snowmobile nor an automatic Caliber. Replies to this message: litesong1 (Jan 31, 2007 10:24 am) litesong1 (May 04, 2007 4:28 pm)
#7 of 23 Re: I'm not sure [caliberchic] by litesong1 Jan 31, 2007 (10:24 am)
Replying to: caliberchic (Jan 23, 2007 6:28 pm) I've had the CVT 2liter since September 2006. CVT sportiness is none existent. Tho the Carbon fiber Graphite pulley(far stronger than steel) shifts continually, you can't feel it. Its elegantly smooth giving a magic carpet ride. Ascents thru hills & mountains pull well because the CVT is always in the perfect gear. But its acceleration is computer controlled & is terrible from 0 to 20mph. Past rubberized pulleys had bad reliability. Tho the Carbon graphite is strong, I believe Jatco(who makes CVTs for Caliber & Nissan Versa), has given extra reliability to the CVT by reducing stress at starting speeds. Pushing the gas pedal very hard above 35mph overcomes a holding economy detante on the pedal(is not in Calibers built after November 2006). Acceleration becomes more brisk, tho economy is greatly sacrificed. Yes, the CVT is not for pretend auto racers. To get the last bit of CVT economy, you must be very very easy on the gas pedal(I mean rrrreeeeaaaaallllllllyyyyy easy). If you drive as you would other transmissions the CVT will take large chucks out of your MPG. My Caliber is tuned very nicely, & I have gotten as high as 35mpg(vvveeerrryyyy easy driving). But this cold winter, short drives, & lots of cooldowns between gas fillings, & mileage has dropped to 26-7mpg. But the CVT is a revelation! Throw the other auto transmissions away. You don't need a wallowing big car anymore for sensually genteel pleasurable driving. Replies to this message: litesong1 (May 04, 2007 4:28 pm)
#9 of 23 CVT - '03 Saturn Vue by krony Mar 25, 2007 (4:37 am)
I had a CVT on my '03 Saturn Vue and hated it. After a while I got used to the 'no shifting' but never really liked it.   The fuel mileage claims are a hoax. We never got better mileage on the CVT, especially on the highway (20mpg city/23-25 mpg hwy). I was expecting lower engine rpm and higher mileage on the highway.   I eventually traded it off because of the poor transmission dynamics that Saturn claimed was normal. (By the way you can no longer get a CVT on a Vue...) Maybe over time other manufacturers can imrove it to make it better. Would like to see what the Nissan CVT's drive like.
#10 of 23 CVT internal pressures by litesong1 May 04, 2007 (4:28 pm)
Replying to: litesong1 (Jan 31, 2007 10:24 am) This is an update of my Jan.31,2007 post. Under hard acceleration, CVT internal hydraulic pressures approach 1000 pounds per square inch. If you feather foot the Caliber CVT, pressures will be much reduced. For that reason, feather footing the Caliber CVT should give you extra MPG...above the extra MPG feather footing gives with other vehicles.   During the winter some of my tanks of gas dropped to 25-27MPG, dragging my average down to 28.4MPG. With the warming spring weather & summer mix gasoline, my average has risen to 29.5MPG. By my first year of ownership(September 28, 2007), I hope my average will be into the low 30 MPG range. May not sound impressive, but Caliber owners are having a bad time getting anywhere near EPA averages.
#11 of 23 Patriot CVT/mileage by djp_63 May 08, 2007 (9:00 am)
I have a Jeep Patriot with the same drive-line as the Caliber. The CVT has grown on me, and I have to say the more I drive, the more I am impressed. My very first tankfuls are yielding 27+ MPG. Not bad for a 3000 pound vehicle with great power for a 4 cylinder. I hope the mileage climbs past 30 as it breaks in and after the addition of synthetic oil. My only concern is the reliability of the CVT.   DJP Replies to this message: tarmac_bikeguy (Jul 11, 2007 2:36 pm)
#12 of 23 CVT drivability by bigtsr May 27, 2007 (3:51 am)
I have enjoyed driving my SXT 2.0L/CVT Caliber since I picked up in August 06,however it took a lot of getting aclimatized to the CVT after regular 4 spd automatic. I adapted to the less than spectacular acceleration from 0-25 mph thinking this was how it was going to be from day one. Well I saw TSB# 18-031-07 read the characteristics profile,printed it out and had my dealer perform the procedure next oil change. What a difference it has made,the car accelerates smoothly now with no dead spot or hesitation 0-25 mph and mpg has risen by 10-11% with my same driving style. Definitely a plus for those whose Caliber was built previous to May 07. Replies to this message: daveydodge (Jul 12, 2007 4:29 am) caliberchic (Jul 12, 2007 10:16 am) bigtsr (Jul 12, 2007 6:15 pm) daveydodge (Jul 13, 2007 4:24 am)
#13 of 23 Re: Patriot CVT/mileage [djp_63] by tarmac_bikeguy Jul 11, 2007 (2:36 pm)
Replying to: djp_63 (May 08, 2007 9:00 am) Just took delivery last week on my Patriot with auto trans. Can't seem to break the 20mpg mark yet. Dealer says I need to get to about 3,000 miles before I start seeing advertised mpg and that mpg gauge isn't that accurate?? Going to do manual calculation at next fill-up.   Spent last 2 days driving around for work, outside air temp 95 to 100 degrees and got around 17mpg. Second day a little cooler out, 90 to 95, plus some highway driving and got about 17.5 mpg. Not sure if heat affected mpg or if there's something wrong?   How are you able to get such good mileage?? and are you still getting it?

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