What do you guys think about CVTs ?

[dorifuto.boi]

The ECU causes the CVT to "simulate shifting" on the CR-Z also, as it does on any previous car.

i HATE this. it doesn't allow max acceleration because the engine isn't turning at max torque at all times.

someone told me that they do it because people complain that if they don't feel the "shifting", they feel the car is slow. because apparently the first cvt car didn't have the shifting effect and people complained

[rd118403]

Honda's CVT does not simulate shifting unless you tell it to (by placing it into sport mode and upshifting or downshifting with the paddles shifters).

My wife also used to have a FWD A4 with a CVT, and just like the Honda you can actually accelerate while never going above 2,000 rpm. Although you accelerate slowly, it's nice to have that type of control with your right foot.

Regarding the paddle shifters: I don't really like the way the upshifts feel, but the downshifting while coming up to a fast turn is awesome. Definitely a desireable feature, and a lot of fun. I still prefer a manual shifter, but if that's not an option the paddle shifters are a decent alternative.

[jasongullickson]

I was decidedly against the CVT before I drove the car. I've previously owned a first-gen Insight with a manual transmission and loved it.

That said it only took me about 10 minutes with the CSV in the CR-Z to change my mind. In full-auto mode it feels like you have one gear and an engine with a huge rev. range (like an electric car or motorcycle) and control is excellent. I'm not completely sold on the "manual mode" but there is definitely something attractive to being able to "fix" the ratio at one of seven positions...

One thing I would like to know is how much of the CVT's behavior is controlled mechanically and how much can be tweaked via software changes. I can imagine some very cool tuning applications of a transmission that can behave like an on-the-fly programmable fixed-speed transmission...

The biggest question I have is how much power (and abuse) can the CVT handle. If (when) mods become available to increase the output of this engine/motor combo are we going to hit some torque limit with the CSV that is higher in the six-speed manual?

[crzsuzuka]

I feel as if the CVT is perfect for what I want in a car at this moment!

[JnC]

I also thought the rapid fire downshifts while under braking were quite fun in an F1 sort of way.

I would have gotten the CVT if I didn't have a second car that was a manual, and I wasn't concerned about picking up bad habits.

[Ol'Man Driver]

Originally Posted by dorifuto.boi

...i HATE this. it doesn't allow max acceleration because the engine isn't turning at max torque at all times...

Sorry, not the torque-"output" from the engine, but the torque-"input" to the wheels makes the acceleration. The torque at the wheels is the better, the closer the engine can work to the max power-"output".
With a manual transmission you have several gears to achieve this (the more, the better from a physical point of view), to choose the most fitting ratio from the engine to the wheels.
In this sense, a CVT has an unlimited number of ratios, it can drive a car at nearly any possible speed with max power output. For the CR-Z, the CVT must turn up the engine to 6000 rpm for max power (kick-down), hold this rpm continuously adapting the ratio for max acceleration.
Consider that the CR-Z has its max torque at 1000-1500 rpm and imagine the acceleration you can have at this point.
I would have ordered my CR-Z with CVT because I have been driving CVT now for 6 years in my Mercedes, but unfortunately Honda does not deliver it to Europe, because they want to give the CR-Z a kind of sportive touch which is not compatible with an automatic transmission here in Europe.
So I have the 6MT now, but it is ok (back to the roots).
Hopefully my English was good enough to explain what I mean.

[crzsuzuka]

That was very easy to understand and straight to the point. Make me feel even better now that I have ordered a CVT.

[bizzybear]

personally i think the 6MT would be much easier to tune and add power to... which is probably the only reason i'm staying away from the CVT... that and the hideously high shifter... i'd replace that to have something similar to the M-series SMG shifter on the BMW's... sounds weird but that has a lot to do with my decision, probably more than adding power...

[JnC]

Adding aftermarket power may be harder to do with the CVT. It depends on how much torque it can handle.

[Ecotune]

I agree with bizzy i got the 6spd for the tuning and its hella fun to drive! soo smooth. I cant wait for some parts to come out for the US market