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Thread ID: 139043 2015-03-01 02:54:00 Help me choose a new(ish) car Tony (4941) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
1395397 2015-03-01 09:37:00 High ground clearance is probably good on some of the driveways up here in the Waitaks. :)

The Legacy's definitely isn't low; the Outback's is definitely a bit higher :)
Nick G (16709)
1395398 2015-03-01 10:33:00 Well CVT might be great in some cars I don't know. In the 1500 corolla I drive though it feels like there's a rubber band between the throttle and the wheels. You put your foot down and all you are greeted with is a surge in revs and no apparent power until after a slight delay then the speed starts to pick up. It's a truly weird sensation. You need to put the car into "S" if you have a requirement to take off fast from a standing start or the same thing happens. I'd assume S means sport but all the manual helpfully tells you is to use S for more engine braking.

The CVT transmission works on the principle of a wide V belt between two split pulleys with variable width. One pulley will open (widen) while the other closes thereby altering the effective diameter & therefore the ratio. There is always a delay as the belt takes a little time to adapt to the new pulley size. Originally CVT was used in Dutch DAF cars, it worked Ok but because they used conventional rubber belts they had to be replaced frequently. Honda developed a steel link belt which could run in oil. This made it far more reliable, but still has the delay. The transmission is compact which makes it suitable for small cars. The CVT was popular on Massey Harris & John Deere combine harvesters in the 1950's.
mzee (3324)
1395399 2015-03-01 17:59:00 The Legacy's definitely isn't low; the Outback's is definitely a bit higher :)I've just realized they are 2500cc - too much for my needs I think. Tony (4941)
1395400 2015-03-01 18:39:00 I read somewhere recently that on no occasion should you ever tow anything if you have a CVT box as it voids the warranty if you do. Can't find the article now though. As for the whole auto manual thing. My wife and I would both never drive an auto by choice but we don't live in a big city, we drove our manual in Christchurch for the last 2 1/2 years with no issues. Its only Asia that has this auto fixation. Go to Europe and autos are a rarity compared to manuals. gary67 (56)
1395401 2015-03-01 18:54:00 I read somewhere recently that on no occasion should you ever tow anything if you have a CVT box as it voids the warranty if you do. Can't find the article now though. As for the whole auto manual thing. My wife and I would both never drive an auto by choice but we don't live in a big city, we drove our manual in Christchurch for the last 2 1/2 years with no issues. Its only Asia that has this auto fixation. Go to Europe and autos are a rarity compared to manuals.My inclination is to go manual, but I can't really make a logical case for it. Automatic transmissions are so much more sophisticated than they used to be that the old arguments against them have pretty much disappeared. Leaving aside CVT, are there problems towing with an automatic? Tony (4941)
1395402 2015-03-01 19:44:00 My inclination is to go manual, but I can't really make a logical case for it. Automatic transmissions are so much more sophisticated than they used to be that the old arguments against them have pretty much disappeared. Leaving aside CVT, are there problems towing with an automatic?an oil cooler for the trans would be a must for towing. Today's autos a more fuel efficient then the same manual car the majority of the time plod (107)
1395403 2015-03-01 19:46:00 an oil cooler for the trans would be a must for towing. Today's autos a more fuel efficient then the same manual car the majority of the timeEven if I'm just talking about the occasional trailer to the tip? Tony (4941)
1395404 2015-03-01 19:52:00 Hyundai i40 may be worth a look if it's in budget. Alex B (15479)
1395405 2015-03-01 20:24:00 Even if I'm just talking about the occasional trailer to the tip?Be fine. I was meaning the boat or caravan plod (107)
1395406 2015-03-01 20:36:00 What's your budget? inphinity (7274)
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