What makes a car “fun to drive” to you?

[inuvik]

I drive my CVT like a manual also, downshifting into “B” which is now called “L” all the time. No Ds mode for the 2014-2015’s. These CVT’s hate heat and dirty fluid so hyper-vigilance on fluid and filter changes would be highly recommended.

[newtomit]

I drive my CVT like a manual also, downshifting into “B” which is now called “L” all the time. No Ds mode for the 2014-2015’s. These CVT’s hate heat and dirty fluid so hyper-vigilance on fluid and filter changes would be highly recommended.

I’m confused. Isn’t B mode engine braking, which should only be used to go downhill or uphill?

[inuvik]

“B” is the same as “L”. They just renamed it. You can do 70 in “B”. Put in “L” next time at a stop and just floor it and leave it in “L” until you hit 60 then upshift into “D” without letting off the throttle. Scoots along quite nicely.

[MetroMPG]

I'm with those who say a manual makes any vehicle fun (or at least "interesting") to drive.

Good handling characteristics are a nice bonus.

I had a chance to drive an Audi R8 a couple of months ago and I turned it down because it had the auto box. But I'd jump at the chance to drive a dump truck if it had a stick.

Having said that, I also get a kick out of Toyota's hybrid system. There's so much going on there between the engine, electric motors and planetary gearset transmission, it's fun figuring out how to get the most of it (speaking of MPG of course).

[newtomit]

“B” is the same as “L”. They just renamed it. You can do 70 in “B”. Put in “L” next time at a stop and just floor it and leave it in “L” until you hit 60 then upshift into “D” without letting off the throttle. Scoots along quite nicely.

I have B in my car as well, but from my understanding, it’s engine braking mode that makes the car slower for going downhill?

[inuvik]

I have B in my car as well, but from my understanding, it’s engine braking mode that makes the car slower for going downhill?

They just call it that. It's just the lower gear range in the 2 speed CVT.

[Marklovski]

I drive my CVT like a manual also, downshifting into “B” which is now called “L” all the time. No Ds mode for the 2014-2015’s. These CVT’s hate heat and dirty fluid so hyper-vigilance on fluid and filter changes would be highly recommended.

Is there any research on how not changing ratios vs changing ratios effect life of the tranny.

[newtomit]

Is there any research on how not changing ratios vs changing ratios effect life of the tranny.

I’d like to know this also. I don’t think engine braking should be use frequently when not necessary, because otherwise they wouldn’t make D and B modes.

[Fummins]

Is there any research on how not changing ratios vs changing ratios effect life of the tranny.

Doubtful, at least for the cvt's in these cars. Our first failure was in a car that was used only on the highway 60-70mph. It failed at 300,000kms. Every other one I saw was used at lower speed, and more stop and go use, they failed about 100,000kms earlier. The longest lasting one is around 350,000kms so far, it was mainly used on the highway for the first 3 years or so and now in the city.

So saying a highway only car will kill the cvt is load of ****. The only failure I've seen really was a bearing that turns the second the engine is started so I'll leave that at that.

I’d like to know this also. I don’t think engine braking should be use frequently when not necessary, because otherwise they wouldn’t make D and B modes.

This is based on what? Do you have any backing to your claim or???

Heat and dirty fluid kill anything that has oil in it. Not just cvt's. It's not rocket appliances.

[newtomit]

This is based on what? Do you have any backing to your claim or???

Nope, no backing. And I did not make any claim? I don't know anything about the effect of changing ratios on the life of the transmission, that's why I wanted to see what knowledge inuvik has. According to the manual, it says B mode "is for use when light engine braking at high-speed is needed, or driving up very steep hills and for engine braking at low speeds when descending steep gradients."