[BerryJo]

I have been reading about the automatic transmission in the HR-V and have seen many disparaging remarks about it...wondered why people do not like it. Also have never used a paddle shifter - what am I missing? My TSX has a wanna-be manual shift approximator (I think I made THAT word up) which I haven't used in the 10 years I've owned it!!

Can you all enlighten me on this topic???
Thanks! :nerd::nerd::nerd:

 

[Alladat1]

My concern also -

I have been reading about the automatic transmission in the HR-V and have seen many disparaging remarks about it...wondered why people do not like it. Also have never used a paddle shifter - what am I missing? My TSX has a wanna-be manual shift approximator (I think I made THAT word up) which I haven't used in the 10 years I've owned it!!

Can you all enlighten me on this topic???
Thanks! :nerd::nerd::nerd:

This is from another new thread:
"I have never driven a CVT before and the tinny sound when accelerating was unusual, but a minor point."

I have never driven a car with a CVT before.

I used to use the sport shift in my RSX all the time.

 

[Bicepeak]

This is from another new thread:
"I have never driven a CVT before and the tinny sound when accelerating was unusual, but a minor point."

I have never driven a car with a CVT before.

I used to use the sport shift in my RSX all the time.

I have seen reviews that said it was very noisy at higher revs. I was tempted for a bit to go with CVT because of it's better mpg, but changed my mind after reading these reviews.

 

[idearat]

I've driven (but not owned) several paddle-shift cars, and found them mostly useless distractions. A well-designed automatic will respond appropriately to the pedal; the paddles just give you the sense of a little more control. A poor approximation of a manual, which immerses you in the drive and gives you actual control, and is all I'll own, as long as they keep making them.

But I may have a slight bias....

 

[JerseyPirate]

CVT's are just odd to drive. The smooth acceleration and lack of shifting to me takes away from the driving experience. I won't be buying a vehicle with a CVT engine.

 

[BerryJo]

Thanks...

I'm used to an automatic and not so in tune with engine noise - so I'll probably not even notice the difference! Nice to know that it helps with gas mileage.

 

[Topspot]

CVT's are just odd to drive. The smooth acceleration and lack of shifting to me takes away from the driving experience. I won't be buying a vehicle with a CVT engine.

You may be correct, but CVTs are here to stay and almost a requirement with today's over regulation of just about everything. With the new EPA gas mileage requirements, CVTs are just one way manufacturers are finding to increase gas mileage to meet the regulations.

 

[slimstrike]

The smooth acceleration and lack of shifting to me takes away from the driving experience.

From the flip side, this is why I like the CVT in my civic. I like to drive from point a to b and listen to my music, not worry about shifting or how the car sounds normally. To each their own.

 

[CdnColin]

The 2015 CRV is having a vibration issue with some of its CVT's. I am following this closely as it may be a similar concern for the HRV. Having a different engine may make this a non-issue for the HRV, let's hope.

 

[peteswensson]

I drive a 1991 Civic station wagon with a manual transmission. At 226,000 miles, it is getting long in the tooth and I am looking for a replacement. I have test driven the Honda Fit with a CVT, and the Subaru Impreza with a CVT. The Subaru CVT was not very responsive, but the Honda CVT was quick to accelerate when pushed, and very smooth. Yes, it was loud when accelerating hard, but I felt that was mostly the engine. I actually took along a digital sound recorder to measure loudness. (Loudness in the Fit is about the same as the '91 Civic SW on rough, worn pavement, but much quieter on smooth pavement or when idling at a signal.)


I found that cruising at 70 mph the CVT was running at 2400 rpm, while my 1991 Civic would be stuck at 3200 rpm, no matter whether it was working hard or not. Hence the much improved gas mileage from a CVT -- it adjusts to the actual workload demand.


I live in Olympia, WA, where traffic never is really bad, but whenever I visit Seattle or Portland, I get caught in miles of creep and beep. All that feathering of the clutch pedal in stop-and-go is a huge hassle with a manual transmission, especially on hills.


I am looking forward to driving a CVT, and so far I feel Honda has a pretty good version.

 

[ratboy]

I live in Olympia, WA, where traffic never is really bad, but whenever I visit Seattle or Portland, I get caught in miles of creep and beep. All that feathering of the clutch pedal in stop-and-go is a huge hassle with a manual transmission, especially on hills.

I hear you. When driving up to Seattle for work, I always seem to get stuck in nasty traffic between Tacoma and Federal Way. Eventually traffic start flowing again, I get a bit farther north, and the real nightmare begins. Seattle traffic is almost as bad as Los Angeles traffic. My current vehicle has an automatic, and I sometimes imagine what a pain in the butt that stop and go driving would be like with a manual. I'll stick with an auto on my next car (or consider CVT after test drive).

 

[idearat]

Much as I like being fully engaged with a manual transmission, I will say that the CVT concept really appeals to me philosophically, as it allows the engine to be at the most efficient RPM for any phase of the drive... right in the power band for acceleration, and minimum fuel burn for cruise. This is how we fly airplanes, with concepts like max climb rate vs. economy cruise power settings, and if the engine quits (or in a sailplane) max glide vs. max endurance airspeed.

Also I've always hated the automatic transmission shift jerk, especially when you're right at the borderline speed and it keeps shifting up and down. I pride myself on smoothness, and with an automatic there's a limit to how smooth you can be, unless you're prepared to adjust your speed / throttle to avoid the borderline areas. A good CVT should theoretically eliminate all of that.

That said, give me a manual and a clutch every time... until the car learns to drive itself and I'm completely uncoupled from the process, another mere passenger. Which is depressingly close to reality.

 

[Kanban]

so is there a cvt, an automatic and a manual?

 

[Bicepeak]

so is there a cvt, an automatic and a manual?

No automatic.

 

[jocoleman]

Much as I like being fully engaged with a manual transmission, I will say that the CVT concept really appeals to me philosophically, as it allows the engine to be at the most efficient RPM for any phase of the drive... right in the power band for acceleration, and minimum fuel burn for cruise. This is how we fly airplanes, with concepts like max climb rate vs. economy cruise power settings, and if the engine quits (or in a sailplane) max glide vs. max endurance airspeed.

Also I've always hated the automatic transmission shift jerk, especially when you're right at the borderline speed and it keeps shifting up and down. I pride myself on smoothness, and with an automatic there's a limit to how smooth you can be, unless you're prepared to adjust your speed / throttle to avoid the borderline areas. A good CVT should theoretically eliminate all of that.

That said, give me a manual and a clutch every time... until the car learns to drive itself and I'm completely uncoupled from the process, another mere passenger. Which is depressingly close to reality.

100% agree, except my wife doesn't drive manual, doesn't want to learn... so Im stuck with the CVT, at least it will be easier in stop and go traffic and more fuel efficient

 

[Ex-cape]

Not that we share vehicles much at all, but I am fortunate that my wife can and enjoys diving a manual, despite doing it infrequently.

 

[MNhrv]

HaHa
At our house my husband drives a CRV automatic & I drive a Mazda3 hatch manual(zoom, zoom)!

 

[Pbhonda]

CVT's are just odd to drive. The smooth acceleration and lack of shifting to me takes away from the driving experience. I won't be buying a vehicle with a CVT engine.

No sense being on a forum that all the cars have the CVT LOL