You are here: Forums Sedans Nissan Altima Nissan Altima CVT

Nissan Altima CVT

73 messages,  Last post on Oct 24, 2009 at 10:52 PM

You are in the Nissan Altima Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens

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

Messages Page 6 of 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Prev Next Last

Go To Msg # Search This Discussion

#50 of 73 Re: 2009 Nissan Coupe [chilady] by wantanaltima Apr 27, 2009 (1:53 pm)
Replying to: chilady (Apr 27, 2009 12:30 pm) I just bought a 2009 Altima Sedan that has the CVT. I did a lot of research before getting it b/c of the known CVT issues. Whatever you do, don't bother asking a dealer about it. The 2 that I asked just looked like a deer in the headlights and denied ever hearing anything about issues with the CVT.   I did my own research and Edmunds was one place. It basically comes down to this. I believe it's the 3rd generation of the CVT. It's been in some of the Nissan fleet since 2003 when they introduced it in the 2003 Murano. THere were known issues with it breaking down around 120,000 kms which is just after the warranty period. To quell any issues, you could consider getting the extended warranty.   Some people complain about noises at lot speeds. That's just the CVT tranny doing it's thing and it's not really loud at all. A test drive will show you that. I've had mine for a month now and have zero complaints.
#51 of 73 Re: 2009 Nissan Coupe [chilady] by dajani Apr 28, 2009 (6:55 am)
Replying to: chilady (Apr 27, 2009 12:30 pm) Test drive the V6 SE Coupe and V6 SE Sedan. I bought a V6 SE sedan with CVT tranny and I love it. I do not like the Altima 2.5 with the 4 cylinder engine. Nissan is offering $1000 cash bonus plus 2.9% till April 30, 2009.
#52 of 73 Re: Love the CVT [madpistol] by victrolajazz Apr 28, 2009 (12:54 pm)
Replying to: madpistol (Apr 18, 2009 8:19 am) "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."   This may be true with the 4 cylinders, but I find my 3.5 V-6 to have tremendous pull at all speeds. I love the CVT--in fact it was the reason I decided on a Nissan. I had had experience with a CVT when I test drove a Saturn several years earlier, and altho I didn't particularly care for the car itself, I liked the utter smoothness of the transmission. Also, in the Saturn any desired increase in speed was accompanied by a tremendous revving of the engine almost to 6,000 RPM. None of this is present in the Nissan--the engine seems to be able to increase speed without having to scream itself to death.   "3rd (future) generation CVT: engines designed for CVT, MUCH quicker acceleration, more linear power delivery" There's just one problem--with the influence of the government pushing for lower emissions and higher gas mileage, we may enter another era similar to the 70's when cars actually lost ground in the areas of horsepower and performance. The more powerful V-6 may not be made available in all the models that it is currently available in. In fact, I average 24-26 MPG in my car consistenly. Replies to this message: madpistol (Apr 28, 2009 9:03 pm)
#53 of 73 Re: 2009 Nissan Coupe [chilady] by jd10013 Apr 28, 2009 (1:52 pm)
Replying to: chilady (Apr 27, 2009 12:30 pm) what problems have you been reading about? yea, it feels and handles differently than any other trans you've driven, but those arn't problems.
#54 of 73 Re: Love the CVT [victrolajazz] by madpistol Apr 28, 2009 (9:03 pm)
Replying to: victrolajazz (Apr 28, 2009 12:54 pm) "This may be true with the 4 cylinders, but I find my 3.5 V-6 to have tremendous pull at all speeds. I love the CVT--in fact it was the reason I decided on a Nissan. I had had experience with a CVT when I test drove a Saturn several years earlier, and altho I didn't particularly care for the car itself, I liked the utter smoothness of the transmission."   The 4-cyl pulls plenty hard about 80% of the time. The only time where you get any remote feeling of hesitation is when you're below around 1500 RPM's and accelerating slowly. Push it up to 2000 RPM's, and acceleration is much much quicker and easier to modulate. At less than 1500 RPM's the engine feels very lethargic.   I've test driven the V6 model as well, and you are correct. It has great power and pull. However, the power curve is far from linear. The engine still has the majority of its grunt in the higher RPM's. If you pair the engine with a manual transmission, it feels much more powerful... The engine was designed to work with a manual transmission first, and the CVT was designed around the engine. If Nissan was smart, they'd design the engine to have a much broader power band and make full use of the CVT. As it stands, even the V6, while powerful, does not take full advantage of the CVT.   I seriously doubt we're going to revert to an era of 4-cyl's and V6's only. If anything, engines will continue to get bigger and more fuel efficient. I would expect the 4-cyl to gradually disappear again in favor of much more refined, torque rich V6's. That's what lexus chose to do with their IS250, and last I checked, that car was a huge success.
#55 of 73 Worried... Normal? by armygirlcrys Jul 18, 2009 (9:14 pm)
I just bought the 2008 Altima 4 cyl. that has CVT.... I was freaking out thinking my tranny was going to go. After researching on here and elsewhere I see that CVT works way different than conventional transmissions. My question is... Should my car really be redlining and not switching gears?! I punched the gas today the RPMs kept going higher and higher and no switch in gears. I was hitting 5500-6000 RPMs and nothing. It shifts normally when I'm just cruising, but if I give that car any good bit of gas... it just revs and revs. Now I read that this is normal, but to what extent?! Really, 5500 RPMs is high and still no switch. Someone please help me so I know whether to return this thing and get my car back before it's too late. Replies to this message: jd10013 (Jul 19, 2009 2:46 pm) madpistol (Jul 29, 2009 10:36 pm)
#56 of 73 Re: Worried... Normal? [armygirlcrys] by jd10013 Jul 19, 2009 (2:46 pm)
Replying to: armygirlcrys (Jul 18, 2009 9:14 pm) it depends. if you have it in manual mode, it wont easily switch out of gear. But, if you have it in drive, then it should switch gears between 2-4k rpms. the only exception to this is if you are gunning it pretty hard. In that case it will function kind of like an overdrive so you can quickly accelerate. for example, if your trying to pass somebody, or merge into traffic you don't need your transmission gearing down and slowing you up.   no if your just moderately accelerating and it won't switch gears, and your in drive (not manual mode), then you need to get it looked at.
#57 of 73 CVT tranny by alfre Jul 28, 2009 (6:58 pm)
Have test drove 5 CVT altimas and a bunch of it's competitors (both manual and auto trannies) and so far altima's is the best in my opinion. Feels good, kicks a good punch (i have been driving a manual 08 civic coupe) and seems realy smooth on acceleration.
#59 of 73 Re: Worried... Normal? [armygirlcrys] by madpistol Jul 29, 2009 (10:36 pm)
Replying to: armygirlcrys (Jul 18, 2009 9:14 pm) Your car is completely fine armygirlcrys. Pushing the accelerator hard will cause the revs to rise to around 6000RPM by 60MPH, and it will stay there until you let off the gas. That's the best engine range for acceleration if you're gunning it. If you're just driving it normally, the RPM's should top out around 3000RPM, and if you're just feathering the throttle, it won't go higher than 2000 RPM (until you exceed 60MPH)   It's weird, I know, but it's very good for both fuel economy and power. There's nothing wrong with your car. I promise

Messages Page 6 of 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Prev Next Last

Go To Msg # Search This Discussion

You are here: Forums Sedans Nissan Altima Nissan Altima CVT