Just wondering how the CVT owners feel about the CVT on the street. Off road, I know it can have trouble. But for just driving on the street, do you love it, hate it, or find it to be tolerable?
MrMischief
Haven't even had the Jeep a week yet but I have not really noticed anything bad about how my CVT works. I have the Autostick version if it matters.
I read a lot of horror stories about the CVT and how it shifts so I fully expected to hate it when I test drove the Jeep for the 1st time. I had no issue and am still trying to determine just what it is people have such issues with?
I drive pretty conservative though so perhaps that is part of it? I have noticed if you floor it to say pull onto the highway it sort of pauses to laugh at you and ask "are you sure?" before taking off but no big deal to me. Other than that it seems fairly normal to me.
My concerns with the CVT are durability and longevity. No idea how closely related, if at all, to the Honda CVT's these are but have a Sister who has lived the Odyseey CVT nightmare.
I read a lot of horror stories about the CVT and how it shifts so I fully expected to hate it when I test drove the Jeep for the 1st time. I had no issue and am still trying to determine just what it is people have such issues with?
I drive pretty conservative though so perhaps that is part of it? I have noticed if you floor it to say pull onto the highway it sort of pauses to laugh at you and ask "are you sure?" before taking off but no big deal to me. Other than that it seems fairly normal to me.
My concerns with the CVT are durability and longevity. No idea how closely related, if at all, to the Honda CVT's these are but have a Sister who has lived the Odyseey CVT nightmare.
I've driven vehicle that had properly tuned CVT's and honestly it was hard to tell the difference between that and a standard auto tranny. We have an Altima here at work that we have to take on business trips and it may even be the identical Jatco unit, I don't know, but it drives and responds great, and runs very quiet.
In the Patriot however, it's a different story. My wife had a CVT on lease, I have a 5 speed, the noise difference was very noticeable between the 2, as well as the sketchy acceleration with the CVT. Hers is gone now and we don't miss it at all.
In the Patriot however, it's a different story. My wife had a CVT on lease, I have a 5 speed, the noise difference was very noticeable between the 2, as well as the sketchy acceleration with the CVT. Hers is gone now and we don't miss it at all.
Interesting how it seems the tuning might be the problem. Can you tell if the noise you're hearing is the transmission or is it that you hear the motor more because it's at a higher RPM? Maybe the awd makes it more noisy then a FWD only configuration would be?
The CVT was a concern when we were looking at Patriots, but now that we have it we don't know what the big complaint was. The engine does rev high when accelerating, but in normal driving it is quiet. I do like the low gearing for off-roading, it has worked well for us. I would fall in the camp of it is a non-factor in any future buying decision, I've had worse transmissions (2005 Lincoln LS, 2004 Aztek).
I voted: Whatever; it does what it does and it's okay, neither good nor bad.
Im happy with the cvt, when you learn to drive with that tranny, you can find how to keep your gas and get better milage! LOL
the bad part: sometimes (not always) how the cvt manage the engine power (torque).
But in a global thought, Im happy
Im happy with the cvt, when you learn to drive with that tranny, you can find how to keep your gas and get better milage! LOL
the bad part: sometimes (not always) how the cvt manage the engine power (torque).
But in a global thought, Im happy
I voted Nothing is either good or bad, but thinking makes it so...oh wait...that's William Shakespeare...
I like my CVT. I had to vote "Love it, my next car . . ." but in reality, its a slight preference, not a 'must have' deal maker or breaker. All things being equal, I'd prefer the CVT. It takes only a little getting used to and like NHPatriot above, I'm fairly conservative in my driving style. That said, Ignatz will get up and go when I tell him to. I think the smoothness of the shifting helps with the fuel economy, particularly climbing hills when a conventional automatic pauses and surges, the CVT just notches up the RPMs a tad.
After 30,000 miles I guess I've just gotten used to it. It still seems like an odd way to propel a car but whatevs.....:zzz:
I think this is probably the reason some people complain. It took some getting used to it after having a Chevy Trailblazer for 7 years. Once I got it into my head that the improvement in MPG was worth losing the "need for speed" I was ok with it. Why, I actually even drive the speed limit now. What a concept.
epper:
The CVT is fine, but I do miss having a low range transfer case. I have the FDII, so it gets lower gearing for off road, but that also hurts my mileage. In my Tracker I have a transfer case, so can select 4wd High or 4wd Low, which gets me the lower gears for off road, but when not in 4x4 it gets better mileage than the Jeep. Mileage is similar to what I see folks with the FDI are getting.
I like how smooth it is. It seems to have plenty of power, and is completely smooth. It makes for decent acceleration in complete comfort. I will say though if I baby it, the CVT seems to make the Jeep feel gutless and way under powered, especially if I decide mid acceleration that you want more. I don't baby it any more, but I don't hot rod it either... and it is very responsive and quite enjoyable
so is Hitzy just whining, or is noise really an issue for the CVT? I understand motor noise at full throttle will seem to be louder then normal since it will just hold the high RPM. But what about just cruising down the interstate at say 80 mph, is it loud then? in my test drives it doesn't seem loud, but my daily driver is a Wrangler that's missing the top and doors. Compared to that the Patriot rides like a caddy and is very quiet inside.
I will say the 2010 Compass I rented was pretty noisy compared to my 2011 FDII. In fact, my Patriot is probably the quietest vehicle on the highway that I have owned.
I don't know if it is extra sound deadening for the 2011, or if it is because it's a Latitude X... but this thing is pretty quiet, and I am very pleased.
I don't know if it is extra sound deadening for the 2011, or if it is because it's a Latitude X... but this thing is pretty quiet, and I am very pleased.
I don't find my Patriot w/ CVT to be any noisier accelerating or cruising along than any other 4cyl vehicle I have driven. They all buzz and make noise as you accelerate. Less power means they need higher RPM's to get the vehicle going.
I drove a Caliber before my Jeep so I'm used to it, but after taking my my 2011 CVT jeep on the Pacific Coast Highway, over hills and windy curves, I wouldn't ever go back to a conventional slushbox--not for a drive like that. It's be a CVT or a little sporty roadster with a manual. It was abslutely beautiful for cruising on 101. On the slightly milder stretches I could set he cruise and there'd be no jarring upshifts or downshifts or lugging of the engine, and without shifting gears to distract me I could enjoy the scenery better. In particular I loved how the CVT handles fairly steep downhill grades with cruise turned on--it gradually "gears" down and uses engine braking so as to not overshoot your set speed. No worrying about coasting too fast and having to brake or a jarring downshift.
I had a similar experience driving an identical route through the Qu'Appelle Valley in Saskatchewan in two different rental vehcles on two different occasions--once in a 2009 Toyota Matrix witha "normal" automatic and again the following year in a 2010 Nissan Sentra with a Jatco CVT similar to the one in the PM/MK chrysler cars. The CVT Sentra was WAY BETTER on the hills for reasons similar to my recent Jeep holiday.
By the way, if you are considering the Matrix, stop. It is a very disappointing little car considering it comes from Toyota, especially if you do not go with a higher trim level. The engine is buzzy and weak and on the slightest uphill grade or even a headwind the thing wll drop or two gears. It is noiser than you'd expect and the interior is cheap. Speaking as a former Caliber owner that is saying something. If the Caliber is suposedly such a bad car then the Matrix is miserable too. My caliber was a noisy, a bit slow and had a spartan interior, but at least it could go up a hill without hiccuping--and the interior wasn't both cheap AND flimsy like standard-issue Toyota Matrix.
These new DCTs with 6 or more speeds I still have to try out though...perhaps they'll make a good replacement...but I do hope (however unlikely) that CVTs will make an apearance in future Chrysler cars especially in small 4cyl models where the power curve isn't as flat. I've noticed a marked improvement in CVT tuning between the 2011 and 2007 years and know Nissan has made them pretty crisp so they shouldn't be discounted...
I had a similar experience driving an identical route through the Qu'Appelle Valley in Saskatchewan in two different rental vehcles on two different occasions--once in a 2009 Toyota Matrix witha "normal" automatic and again the following year in a 2010 Nissan Sentra with a Jatco CVT similar to the one in the PM/MK chrysler cars. The CVT Sentra was WAY BETTER on the hills for reasons similar to my recent Jeep holiday.
By the way, if you are considering the Matrix, stop. It is a very disappointing little car considering it comes from Toyota, especially if you do not go with a higher trim level. The engine is buzzy and weak and on the slightest uphill grade or even a headwind the thing wll drop or two gears. It is noiser than you'd expect and the interior is cheap. Speaking as a former Caliber owner that is saying something. If the Caliber is suposedly such a bad car then the Matrix is miserable too. My caliber was a noisy, a bit slow and had a spartan interior, but at least it could go up a hill without hiccuping--and the interior wasn't both cheap AND flimsy like standard-issue Toyota Matrix.
These new DCTs with 6 or more speeds I still have to try out though...perhaps they'll make a good replacement...but I do hope (however unlikely) that CVTs will make an apearance in future Chrysler cars especially in small 4cyl models where the power curve isn't as flat. I've noticed a marked improvement in CVT tuning between the 2011 and 2007 years and know Nissan has made them pretty crisp so they shouldn't be discounted...
I have driven the 2.4 in a couple of cars and they seemed much faster and responsive. The CVT has a "rubber band" feeling that makes the 4 banger seem underpowered. With a regular tranny it seems kind of peppy.
It is what it is and wouldn't keep me from buying another Pat but I would enjoy it allot more if it didn't have the CVT.
It is what it is and wouldn't keep me from buying another Pat but I would enjoy it allot more if it didn't have the CVT.
When I used to drive my ex-wife's Compass with the CVT I really liked it. I liked that I could watch the tach and hold power right at 2K until I reached the speed I wanted to go. I like the CVT much better than a conventional shifting automatic transmission. With the kind of gutless, low torque motors these days the constant shifting of conventional automatics drives me insane.
That being said though, I prefer my 5 speed in the Patriot.
That being said though, I prefer my 5 speed in the Patriot.
I don't like or dislike it
I rented a Dodge Caliber about a half dozen or more times before I bought my 2008 Dodge Caliber SXT. The only thing I dislike about the CVT (at least in the 2.0L Caliber) is that if you're going uphill you have issues accelerating. This may be isolated to the 2.0L Dodge Caliber and Jeep Compass. It may be different for the 2.4L Patriot with the CVTII which I am looking to buy.
The only issue I had with my CVT in my 2008 Caliber is the module apparently came loose; the trans overheat light came on on a trip to Laughlin. It had to be reseated and reprogrammed. Unfortunately the lifetime power train warranty didn't cover that but the engine and transmission itself.
I rented a Dodge Caliber about a half dozen or more times before I bought my 2008 Dodge Caliber SXT. The only thing I dislike about the CVT (at least in the 2.0L Caliber) is that if you're going uphill you have issues accelerating. This may be isolated to the 2.0L Dodge Caliber and Jeep Compass. It may be different for the 2.4L Patriot with the CVTII which I am looking to buy.
The only issue I had with my CVT in my 2008 Caliber is the module apparently came loose; the trans overheat light came on on a trip to Laughlin. It had to be reseated and reprogrammed. Unfortunately the lifetime power train warranty didn't cover that but the engine and transmission itself.
Personally I haven't had any issues with my CVT and have put 125,000KM on it so far in just over two years. I love the fuel economy and it is the smoothest transmission I have ever owned.
I drove a Dodge Journey last weekend which had the V6 with a traditional six speed automatic and on the highway I have to say I preferred the CVT. I found the Journey needs better shift points because it would wait a long time before it would down shift going up hill where the CVT will start reacting almost immediately.
I drove a Dodge Journey last weekend which had the V6 with a traditional six speed automatic and on the highway I have to say I preferred the CVT. I found the Journey needs better shift points because it would wait a long time before it would down shift going up hill where the CVT will start reacting almost immediately.
Had one in my Compass, was not a fan. hated the slow response in accelerating and it felt like it was robbing power from the engine. I see now the differance in having a CVT vs the 5 speed. Love the 5 speed cant go wrong. I decide what gear I'm in and that the best part.
I see a couple complaints about acceleration. First off, its a good-sized vehicle to be pulled around by a mere 2.4 engine. Second, gradual depression of the gas pedal will give you better results than a pedal-to-the-metal approach. Try it!
As to the original question, if I was car shopping and narrowed my choice to 2 otherwise identical vechiles, I'd choose the one with the CVT if (and only if) it had autostick.
As to the original question, if I was car shopping and narrowed my choice to 2 otherwise identical vechiles, I'd choose the one with the CVT if (and only if) it had autostick.
I don't minded but the reason why I really hated is the fact that number one it cannot be serviced and the thought of having to replace the CVT at a cost of $5-7k at the dealer it scares me.
I've done a lot of research and I have yet to find any company other than AMCO that rebuilds or knows how to work on the CVT. They sale rebuild kits but no one seems to know how to work on it or JATCO is not actively trying to teach how to rebuilt it
I've done a lot of research and I have yet to find any company other than AMCO that rebuilds or knows how to work on the CVT. They sale rebuild kits but no one seems to know how to work on it or JATCO is not actively trying to teach how to rebuilt it
Since this thread was resurrected, I would like to bore you with a trip through memory lane.
My first automatic transmission vehicle was a 1967 DAF 44 manufactured by DAF in Eindhoven, Holland. The DAF had the world's first CVT which they called Variomatic (hence my user name).
The transmission consisted of a centrifugal clutch driving two variable pitch pulleys each connected by a rubber belt to a fixed pulley on each rear wheel. The front pulleys' pitch was actuated by engine vacuum.
I have to tell you that I loved it! It worked flawlessly, and had a characteristic whine as the gearing went up or down.
The car was powered by a 2 cylinder, aircooled flat engine. The front suspension had a transverse single leafspring and the rear suspension was independent with coils.
If you want more details, you can Google it.
Oh and BTW, I also love my Patriot's CVT!:smiley_thumbs_up:
My first automatic transmission vehicle was a 1967 DAF 44 manufactured by DAF in Eindhoven, Holland. The DAF had the world's first CVT which they called Variomatic (hence my user name).
The transmission consisted of a centrifugal clutch driving two variable pitch pulleys each connected by a rubber belt to a fixed pulley on each rear wheel. The front pulleys' pitch was actuated by engine vacuum.
I have to tell you that I loved it! It worked flawlessly, and had a characteristic whine as the gearing went up or down.
The car was powered by a 2 cylinder, aircooled flat engine. The front suspension had a transverse single leafspring and the rear suspension was independent with coils.
If you want more details, you can Google it.
Oh and BTW, I also love my Patriot's CVT!:smiley_thumbs_up:
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