CVT vs Manual

skellatorboy · May 25, 2009, 12:09 PM

Lately i have been looking for a 2009 lancer GTS. I can get a CVT for under invoice, but the only manual they have is much more because of the sound and sun package and Navigation. I really wanted a manual because the 0-60 is faster. How much faster is the 0-60 of the manual compared to the CVT? I also live in Las Vegas which has heavy traffic, and might not want to shift all day in stop and go traffic. Thanks for your opinions

jer301 · May 31, 2009, 02:16 PM

Manual will have a faster 0-60 time b/c it will launch from start faster than the CVT. I have the CVT and Have been driving it at the local autocross events for 6 months now. I did not buy the CVT w/ the intention of autocrossing it. It just ended up that way. The car is doing very well in its class though. See the following results from april:

http://gulfcoastregion.proboards.com...lay&thread=368

I took second in Novice (Damn R32 just has too much power, he would have won street tire class if he wasn't in novice). I would say if you care more for faster 0-60 time, buy a manual. If you buy the CVT and drive it in manual mode, and shift at the recommended speeds in the owners manual. As far as living in the city, that's why I bought the CVT. I really have no complaints about the CVT tranny since I've been driving it.

three29 · Jun 6, 2009, 02:35 PM

well in my opinion a manual on a lancer is the only way to go.. somehow driving the cvt takes a bit of fun out of driving the lancer, and although im no manual expert and certainly dont autocross or anything, I would say the shifting is very good on our cars relative to other manual cars ive driven

jer301 · Jun 8, 2009, 06:44 PM

I would definately like to drive the manual as a comparision. I do think it might be faster, but I don't agree about the cvt taking the fun out. Driving in sport mode is very similar to driving a manual transmission w/o the clutch. The only bad comment I've ever heard about a manual is that 1st gear isn't that powerful but I haven't driven one so I don't know for sure. I know when I drive the CVT in sport mode on the track, I usually take 1st gear to about 5500 rpm's then shift to second gear. Then stay there till i have to downshift (our tracks don't have any long straitaways so most of the cars at the events stay in 2nd gear). this keeps me around 4100 rpms (max torque).

three29,
have you had any issues with 1st gear?

kalpakiotis · Jun 9, 2009, 06:00 AM

I don't think there is a problem with first gear for launching....i dont like it when downshifting, but then again i havn't met a car where i like the 2 to 1 transition yet.

absolute · Jun 9, 2009, 11:36 AM

i just think first gear lacks power until 2500ish..then it kicks in. but my RRM light weight crank pulley helps w/ that, pulls thur the gears quicker

but after that point, no complaints =P

but compared to CVT its definatly faster...CVT gear changes are too slow too since its not the SST or aka twin clutch

three29 · Jun 12, 2009, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jer301

I would definately like to drive the manual as a comparision. I do think it might be faster, but I don't agree about the cvt taking the fun out. Driving in sport mode is very similar to driving a manual transmission w/o the clutch. The only bad comment I've ever heard about a manual is that 1st gear isn't that powerful but I haven't driven one so I don't know for sure. I know when I drive the CVT in sport mode on the track, I usually take 1st gear to about 5500 rpm's then shift to second gear. Then stay there till i have to downshift (our tracks don't have any long straitaways so most of the cars at the events stay in 2nd gear). this keeps me around 4100 rpms (max torque).

three29,
have you had any issues with 1st gear?

issues with first gear? hmm other than sometimes its hard to get into even when im coasting at the right speeds.. kind of have to double pump the clutch in neutral sometimes (i guess this is somewhat related to kalpa's post about the 2-1 shift). as for the comments about 1st gear not being that powerful, i would say its definetly more powerful than the cvt even with the *first gear* ratio setting. that being said, our cars are econo cars, and arent meant to be powerful in the first place haha