I know that ZF makes transmissions for a crap ton of vehicles... And Aisin makes another crap ton of transmissions for other vehicles.
But when it comes to me comparing mid-size sedan to mid-sized sedan: No CVT for me. Which is unfortunate - because I wouldn't mind having a Subaru Forester, Legacy, or Outback. Or a more economical Accord (The new 10spd auto isn't an option until you step into the 2.0L Turbo engine on the Sport trim - and that's like a $4500 price increase over the same car with the CVT. :-( So - I'm looking at a Camry with it's 8-spd auto instead.
Now the leather seats are splitting and cracking, the headliner started falling down, the exhaust is shot, again. The passenger window won't go down, I think a front wheel bearing is growling, and it's starting to rust. My wife's Lexus is close in age and over 200K miles. It still looks like it did the day we bought it.
All that said, my next car will probably be another Audi.
...I would have went with an RX350 instead of the Escape. In fact, I just might when the Ford warranty runs out.
I'm not a mechanic, so there is no way in Hades that I would burden myself with an Audi unless I hit the lottery and had a garage full of cars. At that point, I might take a look at an R8.
Audi has actually been much more reliable they they were historically.I had a 2015 Ford Edge on lease for 3 years, and when it came time to turn it in I went Ford again and bought a 2017 Escape. Mostly because the wife is short and the Escape is a lot easier for her to drive. I needed a 2nd "beater" car, so looking for something reliable but cheap, I went with a 2009 Lexus ES350 with 139,000 miles on it. It has 160,000 on it now and I honestly would rather take it on a road trip than our new Escape. The thing is damn impressive. Comfortable, quick and boringly reliable. If I had known that they were this good, I would have went with an RX350 instead of the Escape. In fact, I just might when the Ford warranty runs out.
I'm not a mechanic, so there is no way in Hades that I would burden myself with an Audi unless I hit the lottery and had a garage full of cars. At that point, I might take a look at an R8.
What about the CVT don't you like?
My wife is REAL high on Subaru. *I* like everything about them BUT the transmission. And lately, they've been having issues.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jensen...ssions-not-just-extend-warranty/#24aae5beab27
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jensen...ranties-on-1-5-million-vehicles/#4c0aeaf679dc
Subaru Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) - Lemon Law Case
My wife drives an 2007 RX350 with over 200K. Best vehicle we've ever owned. Boringly reliable is the perfect description. But beyond near bulletproof reliability is how well everything holds up. We bought it in 2010 with 30K miles. The interior looks like the day we bought it, and my wife is NOT a neat freak about her car's interior. Everytime I slide underneath it to change oil and look around, I expect to see a drop of leaking oil, power steering fluid, something, maybe a spot of rust somewhere on the undercarriage... Nope. Nothin.
There is one flaw I know of with the engine. And since your ES350 has the same engine, make sure yours got fixed. There were a pair of rubber hoses on the backside of the motor that carried engine oil for the variable valve timing. There was a recall for the part, and most got fixed. BUT, there was a very similar part on the front side of the motor that wasn't recalled. If yours leaked oil, Lexus would replace it for free. The problem is that very few leaked before they failed. Catastrophically. When ours began leaking my wife was driving home from somewhere in Michigan with her mom and sister. She didn't notice the oil slick that was forming on the back window. When she got home, there just over a quart of oil in it. Another few miles, and I'd be calling it the worst car I've ever owned.
All Toyota 3.5 V6s from 2005-2009 are like this. Make sure yours had the rubber lines replaced with metal ones.
Thanks, I'll check into it!
I'm not an auto expert, but there must be some reason many makers are going towards the CVT.
Government gas mileage mandates are the only reason that CVTs exist. Same with this glut of 4 banger turbo engines replacing perfectly good V6 engines for a tiny increase in fuel mileage.
And in my experience, the fuel mileage advantage is BS. My Ecoboost escape gets no better gas mileage than my 2015 Edge with a 3.5 V6. I'd pay a premium to get an Escape with a good V6.
Our Forester is rated at 27/33 with 29 combined. What's the Edge with 3.5 V6 get? Just curious.
I agree wholeheartedly.Engines, by their nature, run more efficiently at certain points in the speed range, based on load and other factors.
A Continuously Variable Transmission allows the engine to run at the optimum speed at all times. It really is the most efficient way to transmit power.
The problem lies in the link system, or belt drive, or chain drive, or whatever means you're going to use. It's just not as robust as gears.
In my opinion, a car should be more than just a way to convey a person from A to B in the most efficient manner. It should be an experience that brings you some amount of happiness. Especially if you have a long commute.
Engines, by their nature, run more efficiently at certain points in the speed range, based on load and other factors.
A Continuously Variable Transmission allows the engine to run at the optimum speed at all times. It really is the most efficient way to transmit power.
The problem lies in the link system, or belt drive, or chain drive, or whatever means you're going to use. It's just not as robust as gears.
In my opinion, a car should be more than just a way to convey a person from A to B in the most efficient manner. It should be an experience that brings you some amount of happiness. Especially if you have a long commute.
In my opinion, a car should be more than just a way to convey a person from A to B in the most efficient manner. It should be an experience that brings you some amount of happiness. Especially if you have a long commute.
I have always felt that the vehicle you drive is an extension of your personality. What you drive can say a lot about the person driving it. I like driving a car that puts a smile on my face every time I get in it.
That's true. They say that if you don't look back at your car when you park it to go into the store, you bought the wrong one.