CVT Transmission

OldGuy · 02-19-2010, 10:43 AM

My Altima Coupe has the CVT transmission. There are no gear changes as the Altima picks up and decreases speed and rpm's. It is smooth and just glides right along. The 7 speed automatic in my 370z has the conventional automatic transmission. While the gear bumps, both up and down are not rough or harsh, they certainly are noticeable (not complaining as the gear changes sort of connect me to the car's goings on as I drive it, so it's no big deal). But I wonder if the CVT would be feasible for the Z. Would it detract from the performance and 0-60 mph times, etc. For those of us Z owners who are less interested in a few seconds of performance time and more interested in style and nice ride (like me), might the CVT be an attractive alternative. Am I missing something?

nogoodname · 02-19-2010, 10:48 AM

The CVT lacks the excitement. It's just so boring. Nissan would never put that in their performance cars. Good thing Infiniti's don't have CVT's.

Modshack · 02-19-2010, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nogoodname

The CVT lacks the excitement. It's just so boring. Nissan would never put that in their performance cars. Good thing Infiniti's don't have CVT's.

I hate CVT's and would never buy a car with that type of transmission.. No other Nissans for me as long as that's the default trans for many models..

They may be efficient and smooth, but they are Boooorrrrriiinnnggg

CBRich · 02-19-2010, 11:23 AM

One major problem is that the current crop of CVT transmissions can only handle a certain amount of torque. And that number is not very high.

Pharmacist · 02-19-2010, 11:23 AM

also it seems CVT transmissions cannot handle too much torque and are very delicate. if you want smoothness and comfort you should've bought a lexus. oh wait, their throttle sticks. ok, go with a cadillac

OldGuy · 02-19-2010, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pharmacist

also it seems CVT transmissions cannot handle too much torque and are very delicate. if you want smoothness and comfort you should've bought a lexus. oh wait, their throttle sticks. ok, go with a cadillac

The 370z's beautiful styling and feel more than make up for the "shifting bumps." As I said before, it's actually good in a way as it enables you to feel in touch with the car's performance.
My question is answered. Primary reason CVT transmission is not for the Z is that it can't handle the torque of the Z's power and is not as exciting.

CBRich · 02-19-2010, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pharmacist

also it seems CVT transmissions cannot handle too much torque and are very delicate. if you want smoothness and comfort you should've bought a lexus. oh wait, their throttle sticks. ok, go with a cadillac

11:23 on the dot, eh? I think I beat you to the punch.

antman22 · 02-19-2010, 11:48 AM

im not entirely familiar with CVT's, but would they be able to handle the "spirited" nature of the typical driving the most Z's would encounter? I could imagine a CVT breaking pretty quickly...

CBRich · 02-19-2010, 11:52 AM

They have torque limitations but I wouldn't say they would break easily with spirited driving. The Altima is marketed as a sporty sedan and utilizes one. I'm sure Nissan knew the car would be driven that way at certain times.

Endgame · 02-19-2010, 12:18 PM

Maxima is marketed as the 4DSC (4 Door Sports Car) and it has a CVT if I am not mistaken. I have driven the Max and liked it; it is exciting enough, but just not for the Z....

Vegasboricua · 02-19-2010, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nogoodname

The CVT lacks the excitement. It's just so boring. Nissan would never put that in their performance cars. Good thing Infiniti's don't have CVT's.

The only experience with the CVT i've had is my previous 2 cars 07 and 08 sentra. Even for an automatic I would say it does take the fun out of driving. About how much power they can handle? I wouldn't know. I would only reccomend getting a car with CVT if your not going to do anything to it, and use it as a daily driver or family car.

Other then that I wouldn't reccomend that tranny for the Z I think the current tranny is built way better then a rinky dink CVT

Just my 2 cents

HKYStormFront · 02-19-2010, 01:19 PM

only CVT's that nissan makes that i know of right now are for FWD anyway...

travisjb · 02-19-2010, 01:40 PM

they are great for a certain segment of driver, but prob not most of this crowd

i've used them on rental cars and it was fine for driving around in a rental car... i would recommend one to my 90-year old grandma for sure

Vegasboricua · 02-19-2010, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HKYStormFront

only CVT's that nissan makes that i know of right now are for FWD anyway...

Totally forgot sentras were FWD for a second lol. Feels like i been driving RWD forever but I havent. lol

Pharmacist · 02-19-2010, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HKYStormFront

only CVT's that nissan makes that i know of right now are for FWD anyway...

yeah but it wont take them much engineering to come up with a rwd version. all it would take is to come up with a new case, and some rearrangement of the internal components, and you have a rwd version.

02-19-2010, 10:43 AM	#1 (permalink)
OldGuy Base Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Greensburg PA Posts: 899 Drives: '09370Z Red Base A7 Rep Power: 16	CVT Transmission My Altima Coupe has the CVT transmission. There are no gear changes as the Altima picks up and decreases speed and rpm's. It is smooth and just glides right along. The 7 speed automatic in my 370z has the conventional automatic transmission. While the gear bumps, both up and down are not rough or harsh, they certainly are noticeable (not complaining as the gear changes sort of connect me to the car's goings on as I drive it, so it's no big deal). But I wonder if the CVT would be feasible for the Z. Would it detract from the performance and 0-60 mph times, etc. For those of us Z owners who are less interested in a few seconds of performance time and more interested in style and nice ride (like me), might the CVT be an attractive alternative. Am I missing something?

02-19-2010, 01:19 PM	#12 (permalink)
HKYStormFront A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Greer, SC Posts: 14,954 Drives: 06 Frontier SE 6spd Rep Power: 52	only CVT's that nissan makes that i know of right now are for FWD anyway... __________________ Patrick // 06 Frontier 6spd Nismosis // Mods: Uprev Tuned @ Z1 Motorsports: 257whp & 292 ft lbs 09 Pontiac G8 GXP // M6 // Sunroof // Tint... For now

02-19-2010, 01:40 PM	#13 (permalink)
travisjb A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: GSO Posts: 2,803 Drives: VIR Rep Power: 188	they are great for a certain segment of driver, but prob not most of this crowd i've used them on rental cars and it was fine for driving around in a rental car... i would recommend one to my 90-year old grandma for sure __________________ 2009 370Z #104 For Sale

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02-19-2010, 10:48 AM	#2 (permalink)
nogoodname Lifetime Premium Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Montreal Posts: 22,357 Drives: E46 M3 Rep Power: 1765	The CVT lacks the excitement. It's just so boring. Nissan would never put that in their performance cars. Good thing Infiniti's don't have CVT's.

02-19-2010, 11:23 AM	#4 (permalink)
CBRich A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: SC Posts: 2,464 Drives: 370Z Rep Power: 544	One major problem is that the current crop of CVT transmissions can only handle a certain amount of torque. And that number is not very high.

02-19-2010, 11:23 AM	#5 (permalink)
Pharmacist A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 1,249 Drives: 09 370z Sport 6MT Rep Power: 18	also it seems CVT transmissions cannot handle too much torque and are very delicate. if you want smoothness and comfort you should've bought a lexus. oh wait, their throttle sticks. ok, go with a cadillac

02-19-2010, 11:48 AM	#8 (permalink)
antman22 Track Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Dallas TX Posts: 597 Drives: 09 PG 370z 7AT Rep Power: 16	im not entirely familiar with CVT's, but would they be able to handle the "spirited" nature of the typical driving the most Z's would encounter? I could imagine a CVT breaking pretty quickly...

02-19-2010, 11:52 AM	#9 (permalink)
CBRich A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: SC Posts: 2,464 Drives: 370Z Rep Power: 544	They have torque limitations but I wouldn't say they would break easily with spirited driving. The Altima is marketed as a sporty sedan and utilizes one. I'm sure Nissan knew the car would be driven that way at certain times.

02-19-2010, 12:18 PM	#10 (permalink)
Endgame A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Phoenix Posts: 1,613 Drives: Nothing Now! Rep Power: 224	Maxima is marketed as the 4DSC (4 Door Sports Car) and it has a CVT if I am not mistaken. I have driven the Max and liked it; it is exciting enough, but just not for the Z....