Give Up on CVTs

"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
01/06/2017 at 12:30 • Filed to: CVT, Subaru

That is 8 Subaru reman CVTs that we have installed in maybe the last 6 months if that long. I really want to say 4. So about 2 every month.... No CVTs are great! Let’s make every car a CVT car.

Yes I am aware for the amount of CVTs out there compared to failed ones is probably pretty low, but compound that to the fact that there isn’t another Subaru dealer in 200 miles, it seems like they go frequently. Don’t forget your shortblock will probably have to be replaced too due to oil consumption.

TAKE NOTE!!: As I tell everyone, if you want a Subaru buy a Turbo or a 6 cyl car with a proper manual or standard automatic and you won’t have issues.

DISCUSSION (64)

Chariotoflove > CaptDale - is secretly British
01/06/2017 at 12:35

Even putting reliability aside, I have never heard anyone say they liked driving a CVT, and my own experience with one in a Nissan rental was soul-suckingly depressing. Are there any good ones to drive? Shouldn’t it be possible to make one that gives a good driving experience?

HammerheadFistpunch > CaptDale - is secretly British
01/06/2017 at 12:35

Subaru seems like they’ve taken a real dive in reliability lately in the uncomfortable compromise between keeping AWD standard but being competitive on fuel.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > CaptDale - is secretly British
01/06/2017 at 12:36

People who buy CVTs have already given up in general.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > CaptDale - is secretly British
01/06/2017 at 12:36

My short block was just replaced, but the car is a 2013 outback with the 6 spd manual so I should be okay right? BTW, I’m never ever buying a subaru again.

and 100 more > CaptDale - is secretly British
01/06/2017 at 12:38

So is there a common failure point on all these? Or is it a smattering of different issues?

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > HammerheadFistpunch
01/06/2017 at 12:38

The new F engine’s not as reliable as the EJ either. At least with the EJ, you know what you were getting - a head gasket failure at 280k miles.

CaptDale - is secretly British > and 100 more
01/06/2017 at 12:42

That I am not sure. CVTs are not repairable per Subaru.... So we don’t take them apart to see and working in parts we don’t always know what happened to them.

*Though I am sure at least one of them is a Jiffy Lube Specials. Ie drain trans fluid, double fill the engine and send on its way.

NipperDawg > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
01/06/2017 at 12:43

They need to learn how to drive them. I wonder how they are all failing.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > NipperDawg
01/06/2017 at 12:49

No, they need to learn how to drive a stick.

CalzoneGolem > CaptDale - is secretly British
01/06/2017 at 12:52

Just give me a manual cvt with a big long handle to crank it up and down.

jimz > CaptDale - is secretly British
01/06/2017 at 12:53

I don’t think anyone’s CVT is repairable, tbh. at least so long as they’re steel-belt-and-pulley type. the driving/driven pulleys and belt are under so much pressure that once they’re worn out, they’re unusable. and since they’re like 75% of the cost of the transmission....

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > CaptDale - is secretly British
01/06/2017 at 12:55

My mom’s 2012 CVT Impreza Touring has been plenty reliable. Saying that CVTs belong in snowmobiles, not cars.

camarov6rs > CaptDale - is secretly British
01/06/2017 at 12:57

Always seemed you gave up on interior and general solid feeling in a Subaru to get the AWD and general reliability. Now they have generally ok interiors, AWD, decent price, and are slowly giving way on the reliability side. Hopefully they can turn this around with them separating more from the heavy industries side.

CobraJoe > Chariotoflove
01/06/2017 at 12:57

We just got a 2012 Outback with a CVT, and it’s really not bad. Once you get over the weirdness of gaining speed without the engine speed changing, it’s smoother than any other auto, it’s extremely quick responding to throttle changes (though it really only revs the engine up higher while doing the same weird trick), and it has a pretty high range of ratios. It’ll get off the line pretty quickly and highway RPMs are very low for a 4cyl large car.

Of course it gets great mileage, we’re averaging 25mpg in mixed driving, and it has paddles to “downshift” or “Upshift” if you want to “Control” it manually, but they’re actually quick to respond if you want to use them. Honestly, the only real complaint I have is that it’s not connected to a larger engine, but we’ll see if I still say that after a few months.

Overall, I’d rate it as a 7. Works well, a bit weird sounding, longevitiy is yet to be seen, but I’d still rather have a manual.

ttyymmnn > Chariotoflove
01/06/2017 at 12:58

When looking for a new DD for my wife, we test drove a 2016 Civic with a CVT. I hated it. Can’t really explain why. Maybe if my kids grow up driving CVTs they’ll not know any different. We ended up with a 2013 Civic, which is, I believe, the last year they put a traditional trans in it.

CobraJoe > CaptDale - is secretly British
01/06/2017 at 12:59

Might I ask which years/models these are from? We just got a 2012 Outback with a CVT and I couldn’t find any specific complaints about transmission on my searches for problems with the car. (Though I am still worried about longevity of the CVT).

NipperDawg > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
01/06/2017 at 13:00

Not all of us can physically do it. I guess then I shall just let my elderly mother die alone of starvation since I can no longer physically drive a stick.

CaptDale - is secretly British > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
01/06/2017 at 13:01

Well yeah the manuals are great. As I tell everyone, if you want a Subaru buy a Turbo or a 6 cyl car with a proper manual or standard automatic and you won’t have issues.

Dave the car guy , still here > CaptDale - is secretly British
01/06/2017 at 13:02

Any CVT is a fail. Working in a Chevy shop I cringe when somebody calls about CVT parts for Saturns. Pretty soon I figure the last of the Saturn CVT cars will all be scrap metal .

CaptDale - is secretly British > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
01/06/2017 at 13:02

Kinja'd!!!

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > NipperDawg
01/06/2017 at 13:03

Evolution, bruh.

NipperDawg > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
01/06/2017 at 13:06

Same can be said about CVT’s, and i’m not your Bro.

TheHondaBro > CaptDale - is secretly British
01/06/2017 at 13:07

I can’t even afford to look at that image.

and 100 more > CaptDale - is secretly British
01/06/2017 at 13:09

Does Subaru have their own transmission division, or do they outsource from JATCO like Chrysler does?

Yes, Subaru does their own, apparently.

E92M3 > CaptDale - is secretly British
01/06/2017 at 13:10

I really don’t get why so many people buy Subaru’s, and many are repeat buyers who had powertrain failure on their first one before 100k miles.

CaptDale - is secretly British > HammerheadFistpunch
01/06/2017 at 13:10

As I tell everyone, if you want a Subaru buy a Turbo or a 6 cyl car with a proper manual or standard automatic and you won’t have issues.

CaptDale - is secretly British > Dave the car guy , still here
01/06/2017 at 13:13

Lol, we don’t get those here surprisingly.

CaptDale - is secretly British > CobraJoe
01/06/2017 at 13:16

We have had anything from ‘11 to brand new as far as I can recall.

CaptDale - is secretly British > CalzoneGolem
01/06/2017 at 13:17

That sounds awful

CaptDale - is secretly British > Chariotoflove
01/06/2017 at 13:17

Nope. I drove a CVT Forester for a week.... I want that week back. I’d almost rather walk.

Chariotoflove > CobraJoe
01/06/2017 at 13:24

I do think it’s hard to separate the driving experience of the engine from the trans. So, maybe it was the annoying whine and lousy performance of the Altima’s engine that put me off as much as the CVT? Not sure.

CobraJoe > CalzoneGolem
01/06/2017 at 13:24

Kinja'd!!!

There you go!

CaptDale - is secretly British > E92M3
01/06/2017 at 13:25

They are decent cars, but the customer service is through the roof for most people.

CalzoneGolem > CaptDale - is secretly British
01/06/2017 at 13:27

Infinitely adjustable manual transmission? Yeah forget that noise.

CaptDale - is secretly British > and 100 more
01/06/2017 at 13:27

That I do not know. As far as I know they are built by Subaru.

CalzoneGolem > CobraJoe
01/06/2017 at 13:28

Rex Sheldon > CaptDale - is secretly British
01/06/2017 at 13:28

Hey! Your Subaru parts department looks like like mine with that stack of short blocks!!! I think I currently have a total of 10 or 12 lined up waiting to be installed.

Chariotoflove > ttyymmnn
01/06/2017 at 13:29

I’m suspecting that CVTs are usually paired with low performance engines in models for maximum economy, and that gives them an even worse rap for driving enjoyment. That and the whine. But since our kids won’t know the sound of a V8, and rarely the sound of a V6, maybe the noise sounding “wrong” won’t matter to them.

ateamfan42 > Chariotoflove
01/06/2017 at 13:32

I’ve driven a couple of CVTs, and I can’t say I “liked” them, but then again I hate all automatics with the fiery passion of 1000 suns.

What I will say is that if someone held a gun to my head and forced me to drive an automatic transmission, I’d probably choose a CVT over a conventional auto. At least with the CVT I’m not swearing at the car to shift (when it refuses to do so) and not yelling at it to stop shifting (when it should stay in the same gear). The “constant RPMs” characteristic might not sound cool, but it does mean continuous operation at the engine’s peak efficency, which is a good thing for performance.

Mach-inator > Chariotoflove
01/06/2017 at 13:42

The one used in the new Civic is probably the best on the market currently as it can change its ratio much quicker than the others. The ones made by Jatco (aka Nissan) are awful. Sadly, Subaru uses Jatco CVTs.

TahoeSTi > E92M3
01/06/2017 at 13:46

Because Turbo AWD Manual Transmissions. Hell even my Outback will run the 1/4 sub 14sec and it still has almost 9" of ground clearance. The low center of gravity makes Subarus a blast to drive in the snow.

I’ve had to pull an awd ford explorer out of my drive with my STi ....Subaru’s just don’t get stuck as often.

..That said the CVT’s and new motors are Crap. Glad the new STi isn’t getting that new POS.

CaptDale - is secretly British > Rex Sheldon
01/06/2017 at 14:03

All of those minus 1 are for stock. That is how many we do... I actually have 3 more behind it on shelves. So 10 in stock and 1 billed on an RO waiting to be installed.

*all of out lines share 1 department. We cater to them all from one building.

S65 > CaptDale - is secretly British
01/06/2017 at 14:05

My mother wanted a CVT Outback, how bad are they?

TheRealBicycleBuck > E92M3
01/06/2017 at 14:06

My mom owned three without a problem. The fourth one, a 2014 model, just lost its transmission.

CaptDale - is secretly British > S65
01/06/2017 at 14:07

JUST DON’T! Seriously don’t but a cvt or a N/A 4 cyl.

As I tell everyone, if you want a Subaru buy a Turbo or a 6 cyl car with a proper manual or standard automatic and you won’t have issues.

CobraJoe > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock
01/06/2017 at 14:11

Aren’t all subarus snowmobiles?

Chariotoflove > Mach-inator
01/06/2017 at 14:12

I certainly hope they are better than the Nissan I experienced.

TheRealBicycleBuck > CaptDale - is secretly British
01/06/2017 at 14:23

Except if the dealership overfills it with oil. Like my WRX.

CaptDale - is secretly British > TheRealBicycleBuck
01/06/2017 at 14:26

Well that is human error, not manufacturing SHIT!

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > ttyymmnn
01/06/2017 at 14:43

That’s a bummer to hear. I was watching some review videos and the sport mode looked like a decent compromise.

Ceedge > CaptDale - is secretly British
01/06/2017 at 14:47

As someone with a CVT Impreza this makes me quite concerned. It also drives like ass.

CaptDale - is secretly British > Ceedge
01/06/2017 at 14:49

Well yeah, they are gutless.

ttyymmnn > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
01/06/2017 at 15:06

Your mileage may vary. We were driving the base model.

Steve in Manhattan > CaptDale - is secretly British
01/06/2017 at 15:07

Is this mostly Subaru? Rented a CVT Civic a couple years back and, while I knew it wasn’t something I’d want to live with, it wasn’t too bad to drive.

Rex Sheldon > CaptDale - is secretly British
01/06/2017 at 15:41

All 10 or 12 of mine are special ordered for short block replacement under the oil consumption issue. I don’t really have the ability to stock them just because.

CaptDale - is secretly British > Rex Sheldon
01/06/2017 at 16:12

They came up on the smart stock from Parts Eye and we were doing them so frequently that we have enough stock to do 3 jobs without having to order any parts. It is handy, but takes up a lot of space.

CaptDale - is secretly British > Steve in Manhattan
01/06/2017 at 16:14

I mean if I was just buying an appliance it wouldn’t be terrible, but not something I would want to live with if I had to enjoy it too.

Steve in Manhattan > CaptDale - is secretly British
01/06/2017 at 16:16

I miss my ‘91 CRX Si ...