Hi Scotti
What do you think of Subaru. It seems they have adopted the CVT for their entire line. I am looking at a 2019 Crosstrek with 60,000 for $15K for my daughters first car. They have been around a while but the CVT scares me.
Another question relates to the inline boxer engine. Typically you can over fill most engines by a quart with no problem. Are the boxers more sensitive to oil level? Does this make them more sensitive to steep grades or climbing hills?
Whatever you do don't tell my wife. {black}:sweaty:
Subaru went with CVTs across the board quite a few years ago. Late models seem to be OK but I still would not expect to get more than 100K to 150K miles out of one. (They are much better than Nissan/Jatco CVTs but not as good as Toyota's or Honda's latest.) Regular fluid changes would help - ignore Subaru's claim of "sealed/lifetime fluid". It's just the nature of the beast that a CVT is not going to last as long as a well-designed conventional automatic transmission.
I have no idea if the boxer engine is more sensitive to overfilling the oil, but that's not something that should be done anyway. Never heard of any problems with hills with those.
When my interpretation of Scotty's videos is correct, he is not a friend of the CVT systems, even not from those of Subaru.
I found a linked site with complaints/issues related to their CVT's:
"https://www.thedrive.com/car-warranty/35585/subaru-cvt-problems".
My suggestion: let her (the girl) learn to stirr a manual tranny... 😎
When I look at the reviews of the 2019 and years around it, it would scare me to buy one. Many complaining of transmission issues as little as about 20k miles.
I also had a friend telling me this morning about his 2019 Forester and the radio amplifier dying for the 3rd time, costing $600 each time. Numerous reports of that issue, it is the one with the harmon Kardon system.
They have been around a while but the CVT scares me.
It should. They're not great ones.
They're also well known for valve body failure.
The one in the Subaru Crosstrek is the smaller one,
the TR580 - different from all other models with the TR690.
https://gearsmagazine.com/magazine/worth-another-look-subaru-lineartronic-failures-faults-and-fixes/
Another question relates to the inline boxer engine
Subaru had some issues with their engines, but the 2.0 are alright.
over fill
Don't.
Are the boxers more sensitive to oil level?
Yea, especially when it drops bellow L, the consequences are severe and it's really sensitive to it.
Same with overheating.
Does this make them more sensitive to steep grades or climbing hills?
Not really, just make sure you aren't getting stuck in traffic uphill or avoid anything that's not good roads.
The CVT is more of an issue than the engine.
What is it about CVT that makes uphills or bad roads, not so good for CVT?
A CVT gets worn out when there's "slippage" between the belt and cones inside of the transmission.
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For example, starting uphill (as I said "getting stuck in traffic uphill") produced massive loads on the CVT.
On non-good roads, bumpy roads, this may cause internal slippage (due to the wheels changing their speed in a manner unrelated to the engine).
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In theory, these loads should be consumed and handled by the torque convertor (which does produce a lot of resistance), and yet owners who use their CVTs in traffic, off road, and in other demanding conditions see drastically reduced lifespans.
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That's in contrast to an automatic, where there are mechanical gears (in planetary gearsets controlled by friction packs) - here rocking back and forth, loads mainly the torque convertor, so at worst this will produce more friction dust and create heat (which is an issue on more modern trannys - as a lot lack proper cooling and run at 105C)
I don't think I'd want to buy any used vehicle that has a CVT. Might be OK to buy new if you're not going to keep it past the warranty period but in a used car it's a ticking time bomb.
I've had conventional automatic transmissions last over 300,000 miles. I doubt you'll see that with a CVT. As has been mentioned, if you really like the Crosstrek look for one with a standard transmission and teach your daughter how to drive a stick shift.
My only exception to the CVTs not being very good is Toyota's CVT transmissions. The second Gen prius from 2003-2009 used a more convention style, but those things were crazy reliable. I know many people that have gone more than 300k, and Taxi drivers were getting far more. The newer generations may not fall under the same category as a regular CVT though, but they are very reliable as well.
Just a quick search on craigslist in my area for prius over 325k miles shows a 2007 with 379k, 2008 with 410k, 2012 with 388k, and a 2016 with 360k.
In general though, I would be more scared to buy one used for sure.
Aren't the CVTs used in hybrids a different breed that is less troublesome? I would not buy a Prius or other hybrid for other reasons though.
Good question, I am not sure the difference in the cvt in the prius and other models like a corolla. I get you about not buying a hybrid, they have many more things that can go wrong. I bought my 2013 prius when it was only 3 years old and 77k miles. It was a great car, but in hindsight a good corolla would likely have served me better, and been much cheaper in the long run.