Yeah, that reads like someone who hasn’t experienced a nice modern automatic. ZF transmissions are magic, smooth when cruising and then shift hard like a DCT when you push them. Some even work with launch modes and they slip the clutches to eek out that extra performance
What’s the reasoning behind CVTs being the only non-manual transmissions you’d consider?
They lack the nice feel of manuals and the reliability of modern automatics. Have you tried an 8HP or 9G-Tronic? Either one will last you a long time and shift so smooth during relaxed driving that you can’t tell it’s going through gears.
AmbientChaos@sh.itjust.works 16 hours ago
Psythik@lemmy.world 14 hours ago
Because the idea of keeping the engine at the ideal rev range regardless of your speed appeals to me. Gears have powerbands, CVTs are always in the sweet spot. How can you do any better than that?
boonhet@sopuli.xyz 14 hours ago
With 8 or 9 speeds, you still never really leave that ideal torque band while driving, no modern engine is so peaky that you’re off peak torque after 100 rpm. The rubber banding sounds/feels weird to me too, even though it’s not inherently bad.
Turbo cars in particular have very long flat torque curves.
Also, what IS the sweet spot? Just like on an auto, it’s software that determines what ratio to use in a CVT. Software is not infallible. Sure they test it, but at the end of the day there’s several factors to balance. There is no “ideal”.
Seriously. If you’re looking for a new car, don’t discount them. Research them. They swap the ZF 8HP into monstrous builds now because of its ability to take shit and its ability to put power into the wheels. ZF engineers managed to make it shift better, have more gears, be more fuel efficient… and at the same time, be more reliable AND contain fewer parts than their outgoing 6 speed. The 9G-tronic is just as good if not better, but only available in Mercedes and very few other cars (Nissan 400Z, Astons). I had one and it made my 2 liter 143kW diesel feel faster than my current remapped 3 liter diesel around 200ish kW.
For my next automotive mishap, I’m considering either the ZF or Aisin 8 speed mated to a V8. Haven’t tried the newer Aisin box yet, but the 6 speed in my first gen Cayenne S was the most solid part of the car lol. I’ve got two terrible ideas and one great idea lined up but since the great idea is a Lexus, it means twice the fuel consumption and less comfort than the horrible ideas. The Lexy is also available as a hybrid with CVT and more power but everyone said its the worse car despite being way more expensive than the 8 speed auto non-hybrid
GamingChairModel@lemmy.world 14 hours ago
Isn’t that basically true of automatics with 8+ gears, too?
Zedd_Prophecy@lemmy.world 11 hours ago
My wife has a versa with a cvt. You couldn’t convince me with 10 gallons of rare whiskey that it’s ever in the sweet spot…