Just traded CVT for manual and now have a new (unanticipated) problem...
Just to be clear, when I traded my CVT I was just starting to learn how to drive it so that it felt "normal" while keeping the rpms low and getting great fuel economy. I must admit I started to get a little greedy because, all the while, I was both conscious and envious of the the fact that people were consistently getting better results with the manual transmission (based on the forum fuel consumption log). Since a manual also gives much better control over how one utilizes the power available from the engine at any given time (allowing for more "performance" when and if required) I figured I would try and "have my cake and eat it too" by trading in my CVT.
Now that I've switched to the manual I find that, after driving to work (and back) twice, I get about the same mileage. While, admittedly the car has less than 200km on it and I have yet to ascertain the accuracy of the MPG indicator (I won't know until I've gone full tank and can do my own calculation), this is still a little disappointing. It seems to me that, in order to do better than the CVT, I'm going to have to be extra conscious of my shift points and rpm, particularly on hills. Unfortunately this creates a new, un-forseen and potentially significant problem.
The CVT is programmed to go to lowest possible rpm that is safe for the engine when climbing a hill. When I climb a hill with the manual I have to balance trying to get low rpms with not lugging the engine. I tend to err on the side of not lugging the engine since it won't do me much good to get good fuel economy if I add unnecessary and premature wear on the engine. I now have to wonder if people have been getting better fuel economy with their manuals at the expense of extra wear and tear on the engine. I guess that's what you get for trying to "have it all".
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