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Nissan Altima CVT

84 messages,  Last post on Nov 20, 2009 at 11:10 PM

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What is this discussion about? Nissan Altima, Transmission, Sedan


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#40 of 84
Re: Altima shopping - CVT tranny issues - pls help [jd10013] by wantanaltima
Mar 15, 2009 (7:36 am)
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Replying to: jd10013 (Mar 15, 2009 7:26 am)

Funny you mention getting a manual tranny. I've never driven stick and have tried but didn't like it. The fact that I really love this car has made me start thinking again about taking lessons! lol.
 
I totally agree with you about internet hype and I take everything with a grain of salt.
 
Regarding the Extended warranty, i agree for the Altima it's probably a good buy. A friend of mine who knows tonnes about cars and knows that I'd probably buy the Altima even if I knew there were inherent problems with it suggested getting the extended warranty too. I very well may try to do that and haggle the guy on the price. I'm in Canada so I'm not sure how much they will haggle on the price of that like they do in the US. I will definitely try though...that's just my nature.
 
Thank you so much for the info so far. I really appreciate it. Any other insights are gladly welcomed as it sounds like we think on the same wavelength.
#41 of 84
Re: Altima shopping - CVT tranny issues - pls help [wantanaltima] by jd10013
Mar 15, 2009 (2:21 pm)
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Replying to: wantanaltima (Mar 15, 2009 7:36 am)

No need to go as far as learning how to drive a stick. think of it this way with the CVT. It's totally optional on nissans part. they still use autos on their trucks and suv's. they have perfectly good automatic transmission on the shelf. If the CVT were flawed, or there were know problems with it, or problems with its long term reliability................................ Nissan would just go back to an auto trans. they have plenty already, and could switch over in in a matter of weeks. It's not as though their stuck with using CVT's. And personally, I just can't imagine they're risk the future of the company for no reason.
 
another thing you might want to know about CVT' is, nissan is not the first company to use them. ford used them before, as has subaru. and I believe both toyota and honda offer them in foreign markets. Nissan is simply the first company to make widespread use of them in the all so important North American market. the CVT is neither new, nor revolutionary. The only two factors that have held them back are finding a material for the belt that will hold up in higher torque and HP cars, and public acceptance. Nissan solved the first, and is working on the second.
 
as for warranties, the transmission is just one reason to get one. anything on a car can cost a fortune to fix. even something as simple as a power window motor can run $600 to fix. A blown head gasket can run $1600. so much depends on the car. you could have a $25 doallar part that requires 15 hours of labor to replace, and end up running 3k to do. I could go on, but I'm sure you get the point.
 
As for the cost, I could be wrong, as I'm not a car salesman; but I believe the finance people get a financial incentive to sell those things. I'm also pretty sure there is a HUGE mark up on them. Hence why the dealerships love to sell them. but If you hold out and bargain hard, you should be able to get a platinum 10yr 100k extended warranty for somewhere between 1000 and 1500. yea, thats a good chunk of money. but having spent nearly 20k on the car, 10 years of worry free driving makes it seem like a good deal to me.
#42 of 84
replace CVT tran. with manual tran. by nexusprime
Apr 15, 2009 (1:27 pm)
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Hello,
 
I have an Altima 2.5s 2008 with CVT tran. and I would like to change this one with manual tran
 
Could someone give me informations about the cost and if it posibile to be done.
 
Thanks
#43 of 84
Re: replace CVT tran. with manual tran. [nexusprime] by madpistol
Apr 15, 2009 (4:52 pm)
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Replying to: nexusprime (Apr 15, 2009 1:27 pm)

It's not worth the money. You would have to have the shifter, tranny, and clutch installed. You'd be better off selling your current car and buying one with a manual transmission.
#44 of 84
Re: Love the CVT [karpediem] by dajani
Apr 16, 2009 (11:25 am)
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Replying to: karpediem (Mar 24, 2008 8:32 pm)

I just purchased the Altima V6 SE last week and it drives nice and smooth with a lots of power and low rpm.
#45 of 84
Re: Love the CVT [dajani] by greengoddess
Apr 16, 2009 (11:37 am)
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Replying to: dajani (Apr 16, 2009 11:25 am)

The V6 runs much more smoothly than the 4 cyl. I did not experience jerkiness at low speeds or vibration at highway cruising speeds.
 
You made a great choice. I wish you years of great fun and operation in your new car.
#46 of 84
Re: Love the CVT [greengoddess] by godeacs
Apr 17, 2009 (3:58 pm)
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Replying to: greengoddess (Apr 16, 2009 11:37 am)

What is this "jerkiness at low speeds or vibration at highway cruising speeds" that you speak of??? I've been driving the 4 cyl CVT (08 Altima 2.5) for 18 months now and have not experienced any of that! It was the best 4 cyl engine of many that I checked out before buying (Sonata, Accord, CR-V, Camry, RAV-4) - smooth, yet responsive with plenty of pick-up when needed.
 
BTW, before that I drove a Maxima (V6) for 6+ years and am so glad that I "downsized" - a lot better fuel economy. Plus, I don't miss that torque when accelerating.....
#47 of 84
Re: Love the CVT [godeacs] by madpistol
Apr 18, 2009 (8:19 am)
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Replying to: godeacs (Apr 17, 2009 3:58 pm)

I don't experience the vibration at high speed. I'm not sure what most people are talking about there.
 
However, I do get some jerkiness at speeds under 40mph. My guess is it's just because the CVT has a limited number of set ratios at lower RPMs. I know it's the CVT "shift-logic" because if you move it over to manual mode and shift it that way, the engine is very smooth and pretty refined feeling. There's absolutely no jerking in manual mode other than what you feel when you shift between ratios.
 
(Now enter theory stuff)
 
I believe that with the next generation of Altima we'll see both engines get significantly redesigned. Now that Nissan has established that CVT-based vehicles are what they wish to pursue, I think they're going to start designing their engines around this. As of right now, they're currently designing the CVT to be compatible with their chosen engines. However, if you design the ENGINE to also be compatible with the CVT, the refinement will reach a whole new level.
 
The current engines are very content with a manual gearbox, but a little sluggish with the CVT. That's because the engines aren't designed to take advantage of a CVT's gearless system. In other words, the engines have very specific power bands, and thus, it only feels energetic when the engine is in that power band. I believe we're going to see more torque and horsepower from lower RPMs and the peak will be far lower in the rev-band as well. That way, cars will feel much more energetic from a stop AND there won't be a "flat line" on power between 2000-3000RPMs (in the 4-cyl). This should also eliminate jerkiness from the lower revs, as the CVT won't have to shift as much to keep the power up.
 
1st generation CVT: high rev acceleration, rubber-band feeling
 
2nd (current) generation CVT: smoother acceleration, higher horsepower engines
 
3rd (future) generation CVT: engines designed for CVT, MUCH quicker acceleration, more linear power delivery.
 
This is only speculation, but if you're a fan of CVT based Nissan cars, I think it's about to get a lot better in the 3rd generation. The first 2 generations were test beds to see if it would work. Now that Nissan knows it works (and is selling well) they should invest a lot more in their powerplants this time around. Only time will tell though.
#48 of 84
CVT is a great transmission by altimacoupe08
Apr 26, 2009 (10:44 pm)
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Have owned a 2008 Altima Coupe V6 SE since it had 5 miles on it, now has 21,000 miles. The car drives like I would imagine a slot car driving, just push on the throttle 0 to 100 mph (freeway on ramp) and you would never know that the transmisson found another ratio except for the tach movement.
 
The only thing that I have found disappointing in the Altima Coupe is the electronics. My 2000 Ford Expedition's electronics were much better in the fact that the drivers seat, inside rear view mirror, and outside rear view mirrors could be set and would adjust according to which remote control was used. Am also disappointed in the navigation system, it cannot find housing tracks that have been in existance for 10 plus years! For the price of it, it should be up to date one would assume.
#49 of 84
2009 Nissan Coupe by chilady
Apr 27, 2009 (12:30 pm)
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I have been a Nissan customer for years. I've had a 1999 Nissan Altima, a 2003 Nissan Altima and now drive a 2006 Nissan Frontier. I'm looking into a new 2009 Nissan Altima Coupe but have been reading so much about the problems with the CVT on this car. Any suggestions??? Get another Frontier or get the Altima Coupe? I love this car but very unsure about this new transmission. I've never had a problem with a Nissan, that's why I have stayed with them and don't want to start having any problems now. HELP!!!!
 
Chilady

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