CVTs are going to kill someone

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

I love my Wife's new X5, except that I still do not like the transmission selector.

In a regular automatic transmission, It is Park-Reverse-Neutral-Drive-and then options for lower "gears". All of the automatics operate like this. Maybe the direction was different, but usually, it operated from a top down (steering column) or front to back (center console style).

In the CVT, pushing the control "forward" gives you reverse, backwards gives you forward and you push a button on top for park.

What German moron came up with this design?

J P Stein · 02-23-2012, 06:05 AM

Probably one that assumes you'll read the directions. He obviously doesn't know the American male.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

Yep. But there is a difference between "knowing" and instincts. For example, on the BMW, the gas tank filler is on the passenger side of the vehicle. If i only owned BMWs, this wouldn't be a problem. But I also own a vehicle with the filler on the driver side.

On the transmission, more than once I've thought I put the X5 in park, but I acutally put it in reverse. I don't drive the X5 that often. This will be better over time, but I get the feeling that this exact "feature" will eventually hurt someone.

Remember the "Audi 5000" sudden acceleration issue? It turned out to be a combination of poor pedal design and operator error. But when the design varies off the "norm", people get hurt.

It is kind of funny. One of the issues I had with the Mercedes E series I rented in San Diego was the Stalk control for the transmission not being intuitive. The X5 control is essentially identical, except it is positioned on the console instead of the steering column.

masraum · 02-23-2012, 07:33 AM

Weird. Yeah, it's not about reading the instructions, it's about sticking with the virtually global standard.

What I really think is odd, and I haven't actually driven a CVT car, is that when they came out with CVT transmissions, they made them work in steps to make them sound more like regular transmissions so people were more comfortable. I would think that a truly CVT would be great. You floor it and the thing runs your gearing so the engine is at it's peak output, slow down and it stays at the peak efficiency. No rpm steps, just smooth transitions from one rpm to another.

Evans, Marv · 02-23-2012, 08:13 AM

The gear shift in my wife's car has the selection in the usual order. The CVT transmission also operates like Steve thinks one should. She's the one who chose the car, and I'd never driven a car with a CVT or even paid attention they had them before we bought hers. I thought driving it would be wierd, but turned out to feel normal after the first few minutes. When you think about, that's the way an "automatic" transmission should feel and operate. It matches the RPMs to the work needed for the situation, and I've never seen it over 2,500 RPMs except when I've put the accelerator down to pass or something similar. Of course not knowing anything about cars, she doesn't think anything about it. If this transmission doesn't take an early crap in the future, I'd get another if I wanted an automatic.

cairns · 02-23-2012, 08:28 AM

Our X5 is the same way. It took me a little while to get used to it but now it feels natural.

Flieger · Flieger's Garage

Yes, that is the plan. Once the drivers who cannot use a manual gearbox die off it will leave the Autobahn open again for the true sports cars.

Seriously, though, I like the filler on the passenger side. It means I have more room when opening my door and getting out of the car at the pump.

Noah930 · Noah930's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by turbocarrera

In the context of the op, how could a cvt kill someone? Wouldn't it take an irresponsible driver to do that?

I can see a scenario where a driver thinks he/she has put the car into park (with the motor still running, such as when you're in the driveway at home and realize you've forgotten something on top of the washing machine or front hall table), and exits while taking the foot off the brake pedal. The car's actually in reverse (or whatever) and starts moving on its own. Driver dives back into the front seat and stabs at a pedal. Unfortunately they've gotten a foot-full of throttle, not brake. And now their kid (who was riding a tricycle behind their parent's car) is a road crayon.

Call it irresponsible. Call it being flustered. Call it being an F'n idiot. But it's a tragedy, nonetheless. I think that's what the OP was talking about.

krystar · 02-23-2012, 08:50 AM

yea Jag redesigned their new auto transmission system, they changed to a rotary control so people wouldn't assume things from a "forward/back" shifter.

kaisen · 02-23-2012, 08:53 AM

Which model of X5 has a CVT??

I don't think they do. They have 6 speed automatics, and 8 speed automatics. No CVT.

jyl · jyl's Garage

With the traditional P R N D L sequence, with "P" being all the way forward, "L" all the way backwards, you have to go through "R" and "N" to get to "D". Sometimes a lazy or distracted driver who is aiming for "D" instead limp-wrists the shifter to "R" and goes backwards instead of forwards. Crunch! (Yes, it happens, I've done it.)

With the BMW system, you go directly from "P" to either "R" or "D". I can see the argument for this system.

At least they kept "reverse = push forward" and "drive = pull backward".

cairns · 02-23-2012, 09:25 AM

Quote:

I don't think they do. They have 6 speed automatics, and 8 speed automatics. No CVT.

Correct. They just have a weird shifter.

intakexhaust · intakexhaust's Garage

Whiners gov loving show me how to drive?? My granny can figure out a 3 pedal Model T and she knows there's no clutch! My granny can also figure iDrive is a push button drone but you guys complain about CVT selectors? Don't be so busy texting and just drive the damn thing.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noah930

I can see a scenario where a driver thinks he/she has put the car into park (with the motor still running, such as when you're in the driveway at home and realize you've forgotten something on top of the washing machine or front hall table), and exits while taking the foot off the brake pedal. The car's actually in reverse (or whatever) and starts moving on its own. Driver dives back into the front seat and stabs at a pedal. Unfortunately they've gotten a foot-full of throttle, not brake. And now their kid (who was riding a tricycle behind their parent's car) is a road crayon.

Call it irresponsible. Call it being flustered. Call it being an F'n idiot. But it's a tragedy, nonetheless. I think that's what the OP was talking about.

This is exactly what I'm talking about.

VaSteve · 02-24-2012, 03:16 AM

Quote:

Which model of X5 has a CVT??

I don't think they do. They have 6 speed automatics, and 8 speed automatics. No CVT.

My either. I'm glad someone brought that up.

My. E46 has steptronic. Midway through the model life they changed the level from "forward to drop a gear" to "backwards to drop a gear". The club magazines had instructions on how to rewire it. That'd be like going from a 901 to a 915 in the same chassis.

Also good to see cvts now operate in steps. I drove one in 2004 and it didn't. I had no idea how fast I was going.