CVT vs 5 Spd

SpaceJeep · Dec 17, 2010

I lined up next to a Patriot last night at a set of lights and this thing took off like a bat out of hell. Well a lot faster than me anyways.

Are the CVT's that much quicker 0-60 than the 5 spds, cuz I don't think I would have been able to keep up to it unless I redlined every gear.

tiptronic · Dec 17, 2010

Yes CVT is fast , floor it & you are gone!! I used to floor my 2 litre CVT Caliber away from the lights & watch Jags & BMWs fade away in my rear view mirror. However they would catch up with me half a mile up the road as I slacked off the gas at about 70mph!!

SpaceJeep · Dec 17, 2010

Our 1st gear is totally gutless, no pull what so ever. It gets tiring seeing someone up your butt when starting off from a stand still. I have to take 1st to 3500rpm's to pull quickly away to avoid this.

GRUMPN · Dec 17, 2010

Sure the CVT is quick. It should be at "red line till ya get the speed ya want" I drove both before I bought my lil rock. Absolutely hated the CVT. Every time I tried to accelerate with any aggression the thing red lined. News flash folks. The Patriot is not a stop light dragster. Just give me the secure ride, 28MPG all around average milage and sweet sound of that Hushpower and I smile and pass the gas stations. This thing is just a blast to drive. Ric

xiaodawei · Dec 17, 2010

I've had similar experiences with my CVT. I put a post on 08/03 in the 'Engine & Drivetrain' forum with an explanatory link:
The following web link gives a good description of how a CVT works http://auto.howstuffworks.com/cvt5.htm
...Extract from the article:
When you step on the gas pedal of a car with a continuously variable transmission, you notice the difference immediately. The engine revs up toward the rpms at which it produces the most power, and then it stays there. But the car doesn't react immediately. Then, a moment later, the transmission kicks in, accelerating the car slowly, steadily and without any shifts. In theory, a car with a CVT should reach 60 mph (100 km/hr) 25-percent faster than the same car with the same engine and a manual transmission [ref]. That's because the CVT converts every point on the engine's operating curve to a corresponding point on its own operating curve.

Wooden Dog disagreed though:

Wooden Dog said:
" In theory, a car with a CVT should reach 60 mph (100 km/hr) 25-percent faster than the same car with the same engine and a manual transmission [ref]. That's because the CVT converts every point on the engine's operating curve to a corresponding point on its own operating curve."

Not in this world.

Wooden Dog · Dec 18, 2010

I can't find the data just now, but every 0-60 test I've seen showed the 5-speed marginally quicker. Wouldn't matter to me, I want a manual transmission, no CVT, no Auto.

Weatherman · Dec 18, 2010

Having owned both of them now, Id have to say that my 5 speed definitely had better accelleration. The CVT "FEELS" faster when you floor it, but I think that has alot to do with the engine screaming more han actually going faster. I could make the 5 speed haul ass, and that just came from experience driving manuals. Of course, not having to drop into second and floor it just to merge into traffic here has its perks

RHill · Dec 18, 2010

The CVT used to have an advantage in that the limited lifetime powertrain warranty covered it and didn't cover the clutch on the five speed manual. My 1987 Cherokee had the original clutch in it when I sold it with 145,000 miles, so I hope to get good life out of the clutch in my Patriot.

If I had it to do over again, I might get the CVT. With the manual control of the CVT, the left right shift thingy, I seem to recall that it had about six speeds available. There seems to be a bit more gap between 4th and 5th than I like with the manual and sometimes I want to upshift from 5th, but there is no 6th.

If I were to be buying another Patriot, I'd look closely at the CVT. Plus, my wife could drive it.

UA_who · Dec 18, 2010

I've found that as long as you power brake the CVT at the line, then the computer seems to know what you want to do. When the light turns green it's instant redline and good acceleration. Just good though. The Patriot is still underpowered compared to most vehicles.

Wooden Dog · Dec 18, 2010

UA_who said:
I've found that as long as you power brake the CVT at the line, then the computer seems to know what you want to do. When the light turns green it's instant redline and good acceleration. Just good though. The Patriot is still underpowered compared to most vehicles.

Actually, the Patriot's power is pretty similar to the other small crossovers in 4 cylinder form.

Ben73 · Dec 18, 2010

My CVT Patriot is the slowest car I have ever driven.... EVER
What the hell was I thinking when i bought it!!!

Had it for 9 months and I already want to sell it to buy a V8.
I think about buying other cars, mostly v8's every single day. I'm on car websites every second day looking for cars I like that are for sale in my price range... even though I can't sell the Patriot till it's payed off...... so another 3 years of depressing motoring.

Can't stand the stupid CVT. It makes a terrible loud noise, but you don't go anywhere fast.

There is mothing wrong with the Patriot. It is fine if you are into that sort of thing... but I am not.
I have no idea why I bought it, I seriously cannot even remember why I wanted it now.

XPADREX · Dec 18, 2010

I bought the Patriot for my wife- but I drive it on the occassional Saturday these days when I have to work and she doesn't- and I dig the CVT.

I find the acceleration to be more than acceptable, the vehicle gets decent mileage, plus it's neat.

I've also been around CVTs in a variety of 2-wheeled conveyances, so I'm used to the "magic auto" feeling.

I've come to the conclusion that the CVT makes the Patriot seem slow, when in reality it's deceptively fast. Light pedal pressure and I was up to 70 mph on our freeway in no time- I "matted it" once, and it really took off.

The Patriot isn't a sports car, nor is it marketed as such. It's simply one of the most fuel efficient 4WD conveyances for people commuting in all sorts of weather, sold at an exceptionally inexpensive price compared to its competition.

My GL1800 does 0 - 60 in 3.77 seconds- so I reckon I'm not all that awed by most 4 wheeled conveyances- I just expect them to be competent, which this machine certainly is.

Belveder · Dec 18, 2010

1st gear gutless but lots of torq

SPACEJEEP said:
Our 1st gear is totally gutless, no pull what so ever. It gets tiring seeing someone up your butt when starting off from a stand still. I have to take 1st to 3500rpm's to pull quickly away to avoid this.

jeep isn't design to burn the rubber at the lights but to give you enough power when under heavy load,when I'm fully loaded ,4 passengers roof box and car full of gear the Patriot still seems to be very potent automobile,it's all matter how the gears are designed to perform,Patriot's a wilderness animal

GRUMPN · Dec 20, 2010

Ben73 Just give it a little time. Gas here just went to $3.05. Trust me there is a direct connection to that number and how much you're gonna like the Riot.:doh: Ric

Hitzy · Dec 20, 2010

Personally, I would never buy anything with a CVT transmission, but that's just me.
We have a Nissan Altima for a work car when doing business visits, nice car for sure, but to chimp out and mate it to a CVT makes no sense to me.

jepstr67 · Dec 20, 2010

If you don't have a Sprint booster to eliminate the Drive by wire lag, the 5 speed is very disappointing. http://www.sprintboostersales.com/detail.cfm?year=2007&make=Jeep&model=Patriot&engine=Gas

BTW, I see they have turned my idea I gave them into a marketable product. Mine just fits in line with the accelerator pedal. I suggested they makea switch so you could turn it on and off. They took it a step further and gave it 3 settings.

Ya, it's expensive, but I wouldn't bother getting a 5 speed unless you intend to buy this upgrade.

xiaodawei · Dec 20, 2010

I drove a stick shift in the UK for 30 years and they're still common over there. I drove an auto on my first visit to the US, then subsequently sold my manual car and bought an auto. I've been with autos ever since and would not dream of using anything else - just unnecessary effort. My Pat has the CVT and I like it and have no issues with it. Sure it's different and takes getting used to. I had a v6 Mustang auto before the Pat and I don't miss it one little bit and I did over 190,000 mls in that thing.
It's just horses for courses. People who like stick shifts wouldn't be seen dead in anything else. People like me wouldn't touch a stick shift with a long pole.

jepstr67 · Dec 20, 2010

Respectfully, I have to disagree. Early on when I was younger (and foolish) I went so far as to convert manual transmission Jeeps to automatics. Now, not only am I mad at myself for doing it, (I still have the Jeeps) but I'm seriously considering changing them back!

MB · Dec 20, 2010

I think it's pretty ridiculous to be mad that your 4 cycl Patriot isn't blowing away every car at a red light. Obviously the Patriot wasn't designed for that. I have the CVT on my Patriot and I love it. I like the extra sound the engine puts out and I have no problem accelerating quickly. If your previous car was a V8 or a larger V6 your going to be disappointed when the jerk next to you floors it. The Patriot makes up for it in many other ways. For one definitely is the MPG.

One other thing I don't understand. If you don't like your Patriot and want to get rid of it. Why are you complaining on a Patriot Owner forum?

AntDragon · Dec 20, 2010

GRUMPN said:
Every time I tried to accelerate with any aggression the thing red lined. News flash folks. The Patriot is not a stop light dragster. Just give me the secure ride, 28MPG all around average milage and sweet sound of that Hushpower and I smile and pass the gas stations. This thing is just a blast to drive. Ric

Ok Grumpy, do you think you're in a drag race every time you start driving? Never had a need to go above 4,000rpm though I've spun it to 5K to get away/around certain drivers. I don't even need to bring it past 3K but I like getting ahead when I can and 4K is plenty.

And when will drivers stop comparing I4s to V6s and V8s...Patriots are ~$20K 4-door SUV/4x4s. Not +$35K - $1,000,000 1,000HP 2WD sportscars?! Are some people just that obsessed with having the fastest thing on the planet, and at any price they feel they should pay?

Though my 4-speed Avenger with the same 2.4L World Engine does feel a little faster at times...it is only in some situations that it does. However it puts out a bit more power than many other I4s on the market, Toyota's 1,000lbs heavier Rav-4 comes standard with a I4 with only a few more HP/lb-torque, no wonder there's a V6 option.. Honda Element is +3600lbs with 166HP, so Jeep's offerings are fairly comptetive albiet limited. I'm not trying to race anyone so I've never put any of my vehicles to the limit.

CVT vs 5 Spd

SpaceJeep

tiptronic

SpaceJeep

GRUMPN

xiaodawei

Wooden Dog

Weatherman

RHill

UA_who

Wooden Dog

Ben73

XPADREX

Belveder

GRUMPN

Hitzy

jepstr67

xiaodawei

jepstr67

MB

AntDragon

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