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How sporty in this new Continuously Variable Transaxle II transmission?

27 messages,  Last post on Mar 30, 2010 at 4:18 PM

You are in the Dodge Caliber Forum.

What is this discussion about? Dodge Caliber, Transmission, Wagon

Messages Page 2 of 3

#9 of 27 CVT - '03 Saturn Vue by krony

Mar 25, 2007 (5:37 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 27 CVT internal pressures by litesong1

May 04, 2007 (5:28 pm)

Replying to: litesong1 (Jan 31, 2007 11:24 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 27 Patriot CVT/mileage by djp_63

May 08, 2007 (10:00 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

#12 of 27 CVT drivability by bigtsr

May 27, 2007 (4:51 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.

#13 of 27 Re: Patriot CVT/mileage [djp_63] by tarmac_bikeguy

Jul 11, 2007 (3:36 pm)

Replying to: djp_63 (May 08, 2007 10:00 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?

#14 of 27 Re: CVT drivability [bigtsr] by daveydodge

Jul 12, 2007 (5:29 am)

Replying to: bigtsr (May 27, 2007 4:51 am)
So what is your mpg's before and after the TSB#18-031-07? My Caliber was delivered to me in August of 2006 and I am getting just over 28 mpg on my SXT 2.0L CVT with Mobile One Synthetic and about 70% highway driving....Should I have the TSB#18-031-07 done on my car? Should all calibers have this done built before November of 2006? I now have almost 19,000 miles with no problems as we speak. The dealer finally has 5 Calibers sitting on his lot for the first time since last Fall where I ordered mine from!!

#15 of 27 Re: CVT drivability [daveydodge] by caliberchic

Jul 12, 2007 (11:16 am)

Replying to: daveydodge (Jul 12, 2007 5:29 am)
I had the TSB done on my SXT 1.8 two days ago, hubby reports better acceleration however we haven't drive it much to report on the MPG. We also had a consistent stalling problem when in neutral the dealer said it was to fix that issue as well. We'll see about that.
 
PS Ours was built in April 2006, my other Caliber which I bought this year has none of those problems.

#16 of 27 Re: CVT drivability [daveydodge] by bigtsr

Jul 12, 2007 (7:15 pm)

Replying to: daveydodge (Jul 12, 2007 5:29 am)
Before the TSB I was getting 24-25 mpg US in the city
where most of my driving is normally done after it
has risen to 27-29 mpg US.
Acceleration has gone from ho hum to chirp the tires
I'm out of here.
Lately I have been driving about 70% expressway
at 65-70 mph and average for the mix is at 31.516
mpg US.
I don't know if you NEED the TSB done but if you
read the criteria justifying the TSB and your car
was built before April 28,2007 it is elgible.
Other than that if your happy with it the way
it is now why bother.

#17 of 27 Re: CVT drivability [bigtsr] by daveydodge

Jul 13, 2007 (5:24 am)

Replying to: bigtsr (Jul 12, 2007 7:15 pm)
Thank you Bigstr for the info....my Caliber went into production on June 6,2006 and I received it August 8th, 2006. I will ask the dealer about it but yes mine is running fine...thanks again for the info!

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