Quote:
Originally Posted by lightonthehill
Do not wonder.
For those still enamoured with less-efficient manual trannies, the Altima is available with one. And the reason the $35K Infiniti G doesn't have a CVT is not because of the horses; it is because CVTs are primarily for FWD vehicles (although JATCO has developed one for RWD vehicles), and the G is RWD.
Nothing involved with this should 'make anyone wonder.' The only thing I wonder is how the CVT improved so much between the '08 and '09 Maximas. The '09 CVT is so tight and right. And this improved '09 CVT gets 26 MPG with a 290 HP engine, where the '08 CVT got 25 MPG with a 255 HP engine.
For those who may have forgotten, federal guidelines changed at the end of the 2007 model year, and the '04 thru '08 Maximas were all re-rated at 255 HP and 25 MPG hwy at that time.
Had this '09 CVT been available sixty years ago (when I began driving), I would never have endured sixty years of frustration and disappointment with all those inefficient notchy manuals and even less efficient slushy auto trannies.
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OK. The CVT being developed for FWD first makes sense. It can probably more smartly help with torque steer and such.
But as I stated there are CVTs for all types of Heavy equipment (most of which are 4WD with transfer cases) so I don't see much of an issue developing one for a RWD.
I feel like probably 95% of people in American should be driving some sort of Auto so I am sure CVT is a great thing for them. The majority of Americans just want to turn the key and drive with as little input as possible. It's amazing to me how many manuals there are in Europe. Most taxis in germany are manual Mercedes. It's crazy.
But I have to be honest and would rather drive a manual (and although I have only been driving for 30 years) I have never thought of it as frustration.
Sure, there have been crappy manual boxes and some really good ones over that time, but I feel more in control and like part of the car more with it than any auto.
And I don't understand your saying a manual is less efficient. Since it's gear to gear everything gets transferred to the wheels. 100%. No auto in the world can claim that. Even a locked torque converter has some loss. Now for bracket racing on a strip an auto is more consistent. No question about it. With a manual, it's all on the driver. They are the ones that cause inefiiciencies in the system.
One of my fondest memories was driving a first gen VW GTI. Really boxy 5 speed, but bulletproof. I beat the crap out of that for a few years. Never an issue.
I've owned a 67 Chevelle SS396 since I was 15. The tranny in that is called a "Rock Crusher" for good reason and it would be a crime to call it smooth. It's noisy and first gear has a huge whine. The slop between gates is enormous. The throw is gigantic. But it can't be broken. And although newer cars have great horsepower compared to those old machines in the 60's the torque from a 396 would tear a modern auto to pieces.
But CVT will probably keep me from a new Maxima. I'll probably hold out with my 02 for as long as I can (even replacing that crappy 6MT for a 04 Altima one) and either pick up a 3.5 Altima or try to get a few year old G37 with a 6 speed (if I can afford it).
The day I'm too lazy to step on the clutch is the day they can seal me in the box.
Sorry for the long message, but you really hit a chord here.