So why does new TSX not use CVT?

Just curious.

The 2015 TSX 4-banger uses a new 8 speed with "lock-up torque converter instead of flywheel". I'm sure that's lovely, but is it a comment on the limits of the CVT? And, does anyone trust Honda to get a fancy new transmission right?

J.

Reply to
JRStern
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JRStern wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com:

Honda and Toyota may not trust CVTs.

I drove a rented 2014 Nissan Sentra with a CVT for a week last month. I was unimpressed with that transmission.

I read that Nissan programmed the 2014 CVT to feel like a regular geared- automatic -- complete with a PRNDL shift quadrant -- but it ended up feeling just weird. There was a disturbing vibration under certain circumstances at very low speeds, and it "shifted" at strange times.

Maybe it's something you just need to get used to, but these may be some of the reasons Honda and Toyota have shied away from CVTs.

Reply to
Tegger

But they've just gone to them for all their mainline models including my 2013 Accord. They do take a little getting used to, and I think Honda could do some more tuning on the algorithms, but I credit a lot of the extra 7mpg it now gets on the highway to the tranny ... as I credit the 3mpg *less* it now gets in the city to the tranny.

Actually it seems it sometimes does not engage properly after a start, when I put it in reverse and have to back up a steep driveway, and sometimes even for the first few moments in drive ... but so far just giving it a little gas and a little time and it's settled down, and I haven't heard of any disasters or recalls. And they've been using them in Japan for years too, I understand.

I do NOT notice that Mercedes or BMW has gone CVT. It is hard to get quick response out of my drive train but paddle shifters would fix that, I'd think, have to test drive a sport some time and see.

J.

Reply to
JRStern

On 2014-08-13 12:28 AM, JRStern wrote: > I do NOT notice that Mercedes or BMW has gone CVT. It is hard to get > quick response out of my drive train but paddle shifters would fix > that, I'd think, have to test drive a sport some time and see.

Is it actually that you don't get quick responce, or that the smooth responce of a CVT doesn't have the jerks people associate with power and speed? After 12 years of driving with a Honda CVT I've learned to be very cautious about keeping the distance from the car in front of me when the light turns green.

Reply to
Alan Bowler

You've had them in Canada that long? Harumph.

Unfortunately I've learned to keep that distance even with Honda non-CVTs, at first I associated the issue with Honda tuning for economy and emissions, and then I realized part of it is just crappy engineering. No *way* I can follow a BMW around town. My parents

1964 Buick Wildcat with the torque converter was far more responsive - and of course an ungodly gas hog by modern standards, and the factors are connected.

CVT well engineered with paddle shifters or just better algorithms should be pretty nearly as responsive as anything else, afaik, but that might negatively impact economy and emissions.

J.

Reply to
JRStern

I bought my Civic hybrid with a CVT in 2002, they were also sold in the USA at the same time. In Canada, the HCH was only sold with the CVT, in the US both the CVT and manual transmissions were offered.

Reply to
Alan Bowler

OK thanks, I'd been under the impression that the recent introduction to the Accord line was the first US use. Unless - was it offered in the US *only* on the hybrids? Actually that rings a tiny bell with me, but I never paid a lot of attention to the Honda hybrids - until this latest re-addition to the Accord line.

Somewhat off topic I was talking to someone about the BMW 3xx line, the only hybrid they have is on top of a turbo-six engine, the four cyclinder comes only with a turbo, not without a turbo, and not as a hybrid. I made the snarky remark that turbo is now old tech and hybrid is the way to go even for performance. Rumor suggests a plug-in hybrid 3xx is coming, with or without turbo - with or without gas engine, I dunno. The 3xx I'd want would follow the Honda Accord model, smaller gas engine plus electric boost, with all-electric capability of maybe 15 miles, and *not* a plug-in model.

The Honda Accord hybrid has something funky about the transmission, or was it that it had no transmission at all?

J.

Reply to
JRStern

"doesn't have a transmission" is bullshit. Of course it has a transmission. It has a mechanism that transmits power from the motor(s) to the wheels.

That it's not a CVT, or a traditional multi-geared transmission, doesn't mean it doesn't have a transmission.

If the HAH doesn't have a transmission, then neither does the Prius.

Car people are easily confused if you take them out of their comfort zone.

Anyway:

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Reply to
Elmo P. Shagnasty

We have a Subaru Outback with CVT and are relatively pleased with it. The transmission never has to "hunt" for the correct gear when ascending a hill. It's always in the right one. Also, there is no maintenance to a CVT -- no complex gearing, clutches, no oil or filter to change -- nothing. No recommended maintenance. It certainly isn't the transmission for enthusiastic driving, but I have other vehicles for that (an NSX and a Nighthawk 650cc). My wife likes her Outback just fine with the CVT.

By the way, it does have paddle shifters and a "manual" mode, but aside from trying it once, it's kind of silly.

- Russ in SB

Just curious.

The 2015 TSX 4-banger uses a new 8 speed with "lock-up torque converter instead of flywheel". I'm sure that's lovely, but is it a comment on the limits of the CVT? And, does anyone trust Honda to get a fancy new transmission right?

J.

Reply to
rll_sb

Ummmm.....no.

There's plenty of complexity to a modern CVT, it's just different than what you're used to.

As for "no oil or filter to change," lots of manufacturers say the exact same thing about their non-CVT auto transmissions. "Lifetime fluid," they'll say. Well, absolutely: when the fluid no longer can adequately do its job, the transmission's life is over.

That's way, WAY different than saying "changing the transmission oil won't do anything to help extend the life of the transmission".

Toyota claims "lifetime fluid" on their Prius transmission. Sure. Uh-huh. I hear you.

Reply to
Elmo P. Shagnasty

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