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- RDX Aspec Adv.
Exactly. Let's bash skyactiv because of GM's early DI engines! Derp.
Mazda says "no" to CVTs
- Thread starter banjos-n-beer
- Start date
Exactly. Let's bash skyactiv because of GM's early DI engines! Derp.
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- 2014 QX70 AWD
lol. our CRV's CVT has some sort of TSB/recall or whatever out for it... haven't taken it to the dealer for the service though...
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- RDX Aspec Adv.
I wonder if it's similar to the one Mazda put out because they installed bad parts and transmissions were dying because of it...let's not knock the CRV's CVT just for a TSB...glass houses and all that.
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- 2014 QX70 AWD
i think it has to do with the programming.... and there are countless complaints about the excessive vibration from the power train, which ours always experiences.
After dropping off the CX-5 at the dealership today, my dad drove me home in his 2015 Accord with the CVT. While trying to merge on the highway, I noticed how the engine/exhaust was humming up and down and up and down, like it was trying to hunt for the correct gear ratio but never really settled on one until he was done merging. Meh, that was just weird. Other people probably would not have noticed because the Accord is pretty quiet inside, but I did and I didn't like it.
Digressing into the memory vault for a moment, when I bought my 2003 SE-R, I really wanted the Spec-V with the Manual.
My wife doesn't drive a shift, so I had to settle for the automatic. Sigh.
Even so, back then it was a bit of a sleeper. Altima engine in a Sentra made for a quick car.
My son was just coming out of University then and was trying to get on his feet, so I pretty much gave him that car.
He ended up moving out of province, and I never saw the car again. I'm still a little pissed to this day that I didn't get it back.
As for the 2000-2001 Maxima, I think you're right about it being the 3.0L, and not the 3.3L. I wasn't sure anymore what it had.
Nissan introduced the 3.5L engine across it's product line in 2001, and they are still using versions of that engine today.
My 2002 Pathfinder has that engine, and it's bulletproof.
GJ-Molestor
Banned
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- 2011 BMW 528i, 2015 Mazda 6, 1995 Nissan Maxima Manual
I agree, I was really excited to buy this Sentra, and perhaps I actually should have bought it over the Maxima because it had less mileage, but there was a big rusted hole in the drivers door and no one was buying the car for some reason so I decided against it. The car just needed to be a manual, or else I wouldnt even think of buying a car this old and this cheap.
The 3L engine i have is a variant of your 3.5, they are all under the VQ name and it is a lovely family of motors. I really cant say enough good things about this Maxima - I am
Enjoying every minute with it. While the 2001+ 3.5L would have been nice, I feel like its simply too much power for a FWD chassis by that point. Even with my 3L i get a little bit of torque steer during hard acceleration in first or second gear. I just cant say enough good things about this manual, I can feel that its very efficient. I am getting about 9-10.5L/100KM in mostly suburb driving, the same as my old Honda Accord 5 speed with as much coasting in between the red lights as possible and speeding maybe half the time. I upshift at 3000RPM most of the time.
As for your situation with the Sentra, its a damn shame you had to settle with an auto. I would have forced the wifey to learn manual, lol. You should definitely call up your son and find out how your Sentra is doing because I would be curious to know too.
I actually took apart my airbox a couple days ago so I can clean the throttle body. I focused around the edges of the butterfly valve with a screwdriver covered in a microfibre cloth, and I cleaned the edges of the throttle body itself and WOW, what a difference that made. Greatly improved low end torque and throttle response before 3000RPM which is important for me because I specifically wanted a manual so I can short shift and save fuel when I dont feel like speeding. Anyways, very happy with this car and Ive omitted any ideas of selling my Maxima by this point. As a matter of fact, I think Im going to go take it out for a drive right now...
In the near term, I think CVTs are going to decline a little bit in favor of the new 8-10 speed transmissions because of ratio spread. Nissan's old CVT and Subaru's CVT have a ratio spread of about 6:1, that's roughly equivalent to a 6-speed auto transmission. In Honda's CVT, the ratio spread is 6.5:1, and in Nissan's current CVT it's 7:1. But ZF's 9-speed and Honda's 10-speed autos have a ratio spread of 9.8:1, which is wide enough that there is no need to compromise performance off the line in favor of highway fuel economy or vice versa.
You don't know my wife...lol. No way was the manual going to happen.
Like I said, my son took the car out of province (down east), and eventually sold it. He got married, had a kid, etc. Needed a bigger car. Oh well. That's life.
If Mazda goes 7-10 speed automatic, key is to get the ratios right along with "its brains".
Don't like gearboxes that are constantly confused as to what gear it should be in
GJ-Molestor
Banned
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- 2011 BMW 528i, 2015 Mazda 6, 1995 Nissan Maxima Manual
Mazda's skyactiv transmission is very well tuned. based on what we've seen from the brand so far, they are certainly capable of building a close ratio transmission that won't hunt for gears.
(iagree) and hope so
I agree the current transmission is very well tuned. I especially love the fact that they keep the torque converter locked up most of the time once you're rolling. It takes the slush out of slushbox. It took a few years for other manufacturers to follow suit. I also appreciate its willingness to downshift, which is important with naturally aspirated engines that don't make any torque at cruising RPM.
The ideal would be to add more ratios including a lower first gear and taller top gear, but tune it such that it behaves the same as the current 6-speed. They could drop a few tenths in 0-60/0-100 and gain 1-2 MPG on the highway. I believe Mazda can do this, it's just a matter of when.
The ideal would be to add more ratios including a lower first gear and taller top gear, but tune it such that it behaves the same as the current 6-speed. They could drop a few tenths in 0-60/0-100 and gain 1-2 MPG on the highway. I believe Mazda can do this, it's just a matter of when.
read this here:
https://blog.caranddriver.com/mazdas-gasoline-skyactiv-x-spcci-engine-explained/
specifically:
They won't since the uptake is too small which probably doesn't justify the costs
Don't rain on my parade!
I actually think this could be one of Mazda's 'weaknesses'. You look at a similar company like Subaru and they've done well by embracing the fringe, embracing being different (though they are progressively moving mainstream as they've built market share).
Mazda needs to get their diesel to North America, keep designing some of the best looking vehicles out there, and embrace fringe drivers that like things like wagons and manual transmissions etc.
Eat up all the market share VW lost from TDI fanatics, support us loons who like wagons, the enthusiasts who want manuals, the affordable sports car junkies that have made the Miata the best selling sports car in history. Embrace your core strengths.
