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Midsize Sedans 2.0

18218 messages,  Last post on May 23, 2013 at 3:51 PM

You are in the Sedans Forum.

What is this discussion about? Hyundai Sonata, Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, Volkswagen Passat, Mazda MAZDA6, Ford Fusion, Chevrolet Malibu, Kia Optima, Car Comparisons, Sedan

Messages Page 1695 of 1823

#16936 of 18218 Re: CVT [nyccarguy] by benjaminh

Sep 26, 2012 (11:08 pm)

Replying to: nyccarguy (Sep 26, 2012 8:32 pm)
nycarguy: I think some earlier Altimas with the cvt did have trouble. Specifically the belt, which as you might imagine has big stresses placed on it, could wear out. As you know, it's not a regular belt, but a very high tech "super belt." I think the Nissan CVTs are now more reliable.
 
Honda has developed a new and supposedly better belt for its new earth dreams CVT. Here's a short link to a Honda site with a press release about it:
 
http://world.honda.com/news/2012/4120405New-CVT-Midsize-Vehicles/index.html
 
"....Key features of new CVT for midsize vehicles
 
    The newly developed high-efficiency electric oil pump, high-strength belt and exclusive CVT oil raise transmission efficiency to enhance fuel economy.
    The wide ratio range offers cruising with enhanced torque in the lower rpm range, thereby enhancing fuel economy. At the same time, the wide ratio range increases drive power during off-the-line acceleration to help realize an exhilarating and sporty driving feel."
 
Honda's "G-shift" design and software apparently much reduces the acceleration lag that you can get with Nissan's cvt. In other words, if you floor it in a 2013 Honda Accord cvt it's supposed to respond pretty quickly.
 
Honda has probably spent a billion or two dollars developing this transmission. The belt on the new Honda unit is supposed to be something of a breakthrough for strength and durability. Right now I think they are making the belts in Japan, but they are about to start producing them in Ohio.
 
I think the Honda CVTs will be quite durable, but I would probably buy an extended warranty just in case....

#16937 of 18218 Nissan video on their Xtronic CVT by benjaminh

Sep 26, 2012 (11:07 pm)

Kinda cool:
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ze06Hxem2PU
 
I think Honda's CVT is probably fairly similar.

#16938 of 18218 article on Accord cvt by benjaminh

Sep 27, 2012 (4:15 am)

http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1079054_2013-honda-accord-attention-to-g-fo- rces-yields-a-better-cvt
 
While that itself impressed us, what's the most noteworthy in the Accord's CVT is how quickly it can respond and bring revs up when needed. For instance, a number of CVTs (including the one in the 2013 Nissan Altima, surprisingly) will feel completely flat-footed and off their game if you roll around a corner at 15 mph with your foot off the gas and then accelerate at full throttle. The time to tap into full thrust is delayed for a surprising time. But in the Accord, it very quickly raises revs all the way up to the Accord's 6,600-rpm redline. Pull off the same test, dipping into half throttle out of the corner, and it very quickly finds the right ratio for the throttle opening—feeling a lot like downshifting and with no slow, muddled ramp-up.
 
How did Honda achieve this far better (we think) CVT calibration when rivals like Nissan have been working at it for so long? According to the project leader, Honda's CVT isn't much different in the mechanical design, but Honda put a lot of time into oil pressure control and electrical systems, along with the control software.

#16939 of 18218 Re: article on Accord cvt [benjaminh] by m6user

Sep 27, 2012 (8:10 am)

Replying to: benjaminh (Sep 27, 2012 4:15 am)
Appreciate the info and enthusiasm for Honda you provide but could you bold or italicize and add quotes when you are directly cutting and pasting. Really would like to differentiate between your actual comments versus copying of reference material. Tks.

#16940 of 18218 Re: article on Accord cvt [m6user] by benjaminh

Sep 27, 2012 (10:07 am)

Replying to: m6user (Sep 27, 2012 8:10 am)
Sure. Usually do add quotes but forgot that time...

#16941 of 18218 Check out Automobile Magazine's most recent comparison of compact cars by gr8mazda3

Sep 27, 2012 (12:50 pm)

Since the title of this Forum is "Midsize Sedans 2.0", I thought this article might be interesting to some of you. One car class smaller, but plenty of 2.0 liter engines compared. Spoiler: Mazda 3 owners will be happy.
 
http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/driven/1208_2012_2013_compact_sedan_compari- son/fuel_economy.html
 
Copy and paste the address if the link is not live.

#16942 of 18218 Mazda 3 wins it... by cski

Sep 27, 2012 (3:57 pm)

My wife had a black 2004 Mazda 6 Sport-wagon V6. I drove a 2003 Mazda Protege LX, simply because I had a 40 mile each way commute and needed the fuel economy over space. The wife had both the girls and worked full time so she got the sweet ride.
 
 Both cars drove awesome, but there were quality problems. The 6 kept having A/C problems and was plagued with wheel bearing issues, bent rims, and occasionally refused to start for no apparent reason. We found out later that the battery was bad. Our roads here in Northern VA are really good so I can't attribute the wheel issues to potholes, frost heaves, and all the other rust belt/great lakes area road problems. (no offense..I am from Buffalo).
 
The Protege' did NOT have ABS, but DID have summer tires. OMG. I almost died in that car. It hydroplaned at 60 mph on interstate 95 at the "mixing bowl"....slamming into two walls. Can you say med-evac? My first helicopter ride.
 
I think Mazda makes great cars, we probably had bad luck. I think I will pass on Mazda as long as I live though.

#16943 of 18218 Re: Mazda 3 wins it... [cski] by rayainsw

Sep 27, 2012 (4:04 pm)

Replying to: cski (Sep 27, 2012 3:57 pm)
' My first helicopter ride. '
Really glad it was not your last...
- Ray
Medevac = really bad, typically.......

#16944 of 18218 Re: Mazda 3 wins it... [cski] by benjaminh

Sep 27, 2012 (4:28 pm)

Replying to: cski (Sep 27, 2012 3:57 pm)
Scary story! So glad you made it through ok.
 
Cars are significantly safer than they were even 10 years ago, and that's a good thing...

#16945 of 18218 Re: Mazda 3 wins it... [benjaminh] by cski

Sep 27, 2012 (5:46 pm)

Replying to: benjaminh (Sep 27, 2012 4:28 pm)
I had my right arm broken in two places, a broken rib from the seat-belt, lacerations of the face (looked worse than it was)...and I got to have black and blue marks in the shape of a seat-belt across my chest and gut.
Saved my life. The car still ran afterward. They drove it onto the back of the flatbed I was told.
 
I so didn't even ask if the car (Protege')had ABS when I bought it. The EX had it, but the LX and the lowly DX did not. I mean come on....it was 2003!
 
So much for making automotive assumptions that all cars have our safety as priority one.
 

Messages Page 1695 of 1823

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