Subaru Receives Major Award for Promotion of Continuously Variable Transmission Rights

"Ash78, voting early and often" (ash78) 05/09/2019 at 09:51 • Filed to: Taketheoutsideline, Satire

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Subaru Motors was honored at the National Association of Transmission Awareness (NATA) Wednesday with an award celebrating their work towards encouraging acceptance of the Continuously Variable Transmission, or CVT.

The mysterious CVT, also affectionately known as Satan’s Box

NATA President Sy Sperling presented the award, stating “Subaru’s push for mainstream acceptance of CVTs demonstrates their commitment that the two traditionally dominant transmissions – planetary automatics and clutch-based manuals – should not be the only driving forces in the automotive world. Amid a plethora of options, we commend Subaru’s support of the notion that fixed gear ratios are not the only acceptable form of transmitting a motor’s power to the wheels.”

Subaru’s engineering team graciously accepted the award at Washington, DC’s Kennedy Center Wednesday night, with Chief Engineer Shinjuku Eki explaining (via a translator), “10 or 15 years ago, these transmissions were on the fringe of car society. However, thanks to Subaru’s work, as well as from other companies such as Nissan, we have overtaken the manual transmission as the #2 choice of consumers in 2019.”

Dr. Eki proudly shares his award Thursday morning with the Subaru Transmission Engineering Team.

While Subaru’s success was not solely due to their own efforts – manual transmissions were already declining before the CVT was introduced – their work has still been key to an important shift in cultural perceptions.

The automotive enthusiast community, which leans heavily toward the traditional manual, has not been as encouraging.

“Look, we all know that manuals are the most engaging way to drive,” claims Marty Fryer of the Colorado-based club Citizens Against CVTs . “And I’ll even drive a dual clutch automatic from time to time. But for CVTs to even think they’re as good as a slushbox [traditional automatic] is a joke. It’s just not right. Fixed gear ratios are a normal thing in every automotive culture since the beginning of time.”

Colorado has long been a battleground for CVTs, especially since it represents over 97% of all Subarus sold worldwide. That cultural clash makes it the most likely flashpoint for pro- and anti-CVT groups alike.

“The CVT people even wanted to take down the big statue of a gearshift at the base of Pike’s Peak,” Fryer continued. “Even though almost all of the hillclimbers are using fancier transmissions these days, there’s no reason we can’t honor our history.”

“The manual transmission is not our history,” contends Kellen Wheeler, 23, of Denver. “Every car I’ve ever driven has been a CVT. I don’t have the first clue about manual transmissions and I don’t see any reason to learn. They just seem like forced labor, and we should not be honoring such a dark time in our nation’s automotive history.”

“Not my transmission, bro!” chants Denver’s Kellen Wheeler at a recent pro-CVT event.

Despite the ongoing controversy, the majority of the nation’s car buyers are pro-CVT. In a recent Gallup poll, 73% of all American say they would “definitely consider” or “have no problem with” a CVT-equipped car. That number jumps to 94% for respondents under the age of 25.

NATA President Sperling prefers to take a more moderate approach to the discussion.

“I don’t think people should be so obsessed with which shafts are going in and out of what, or at what speed or ratio. As the old saying goes ‘Every transmission has a fluid, and they all stink’,” adding “At the end of the day, the car is moving forward and we’re here to celebrate that.”

TorqueToYield > Ash78, voting early and often 05/09/2019 at 09:59

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Subaru’s 4EAT was terrible (but reliable). The CVT is better in every way (other than reliability)

functionoverfashion > Ash78, voting early and often 05/09/2019 at 10:01

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Really it’s the last paragraph that did it for me.

412GTI > Ash78, voting early and often 05/09/2019 at 10:04

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!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Idk why but I lost it after this line. Good writing! 

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > TorqueToYield 05/09/2019 at 10:12

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How does “less reliable” = “better in every way”?

404 - User No Longer Available > Ash78, voting early and often 05/09/2019 at 10:14

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<— this cannot end well in Japan.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > Ash78, voting early and often 05/09/2019 at 10:14

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Y ou’ve got some seriously funny talent for writing.

Maxima Speed > Ash78, voting early and often 05/09/2019 at 10:15

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#Triggered

Shift24 > 412GTI 05/09/2019 at 10:16

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I always thought it was Oregon but who knew?  

Wacko > Ash78, voting early and often 05/09/2019 at 10:17

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What i hat e about my 2017 foresters CVT is that they gave it fake shifts.....

Unlike my 2014 Pathfinder

I am now CVT only, our 2 cars, my snowmobile and my Side by side.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Ash78, voting early and often 05/09/2019 at 10:18

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Nicely done. 

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Ash78, voting early and often 05/09/2019 at 10:33

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Just Jeepin' > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time 05/09/2019 at 11:08

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As importantly, one hell of a work ethic.

TorqueToYield > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 05/09/2019 at 11:29

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better in every way to drive

and really given the 4EAT was used for like 20 years give the CVT 20 years and it’ll be more reliable, less moving parts, simpler mechanics.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > TorqueToYield 05/09/2019 at 12:02

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I’ve yet to find a CVT that resembled anything decent to drive.

When you’re cruising along they’re ok, but listening to the engine drone when a ccelerating normally, or listening to it scream when you try to accelerate quickly is not enjoyable to me.

CVTs have already been around for more than 20 years in passenger vehicles......

Darkbrador > Ash78, voting early and often 05/09/2019 at 13:21

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Excellent. You’re good ! 

DG007 > Ash78, voting early and often 05/09/2019 at 18:48

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CVT guarantees that you won’t last 250K. Actually, you will be lucky to hit 100K. People don’t know the dirty secrets.

Other sleazy introduction to the same effect on longevity is the small turbo engines. All around bad business.

If you know better, avoid CVT and turbo like plague. 

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Ash78, voting early and often 05/10/2019 at 13:03

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If someone started publishing The Onion for car enthusiasts, this story would belong in those pages.

just-a-scratch > Ash78, voting early and often 05/10/2019 at 13:24

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This article is terrible. It spreads the influence and message of hate groups by their inclusion. Citizens Against CVTs is just the political action group/lobbying arm of the Choo se Clutch Clan.

The CCC is just a bunch of backward thinking people who can’t understand the needs for driveline diversity. Including their message is just an effort for false equivalence.

I expect a higher level of quality on an offshoot off-topic subforum/blog.

Ash78, voting early and often > just-a-scratch 05/10/2019 at 15:09

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Wait, Choose Clutch Clan? They’re part of that Alt-Leftpedal movement I’ve been hearing about, right?

Speaking of the CCC, I just did some googling and it turns out that FDR actually started it! Surprising.

wafflesnfalafel > just-a-scratch 05/11/2019 at 18:53

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you might just win the internet today