Topic: Northern Exposure: Subaru's Lineartronic CVT vs 6-Speed Manual in the WRX

[aquadorhj]

The 5.5 0-60 would be a deal beaker for me unless you could tune that nonsense out of it.

Subie probably does that to preserve the tranny. Im sure you could tune it to the high heavens but you would probably start breaking stuff (read: expensive, Subaru CVT stuff.)

i don't think i actually ever cracked into 5 second range....    probably a few times in 6's....

[Weels]

Justin, as a fellow Justin, I felt the need to join just to assure you of something: The CVT WRX is indeed slower than the WRX. Quite a bit slower too.

From car and driver:
"At the test track, this CVT-equipped WRX lagged the stick version, the quarter-mile taking 14.3 seconds at 99 mph, or 0.7 second and 3 mph behind the manual. Unable to launch the auto WRX as hard as the manual, we saw the zero-to-60 time stretch from 4.8 seconds to 5.5 seconds. When you brake-torque the automatic, the engine revs up to 2500 rpm and the transmission goes into a sort of maximum-acceleration mode, whereby it drops the shifting charade and acts like the CVT that it is. Once you’re off, the engine reaches 6400 rpm in the lowest ratio and remains there as speed rises, until it dips to a steady 6200 rpm beyond 60 mph."

Otherwise, the intro was gold!

And that's just it.  To get that 4.8 number required a hellaciously nasty/abusive clutch dump that i'd never subject my own car to

[Fobroader]

The 5.5 0-60 would be a deal beaker for me unless you could tune that nonsense out of it.

Subie probably does that to preserve the tranny. Im sure you could tune it to the high heavens but you would probably start breaking stuff (read: expensive, Subaru CVT stuff.)

i don't think i actually ever cracked into 5 second range....    probably a few times in 6's....

My buddy has a Cobb programmer on his WRX that has a "launch control" feature, just holds the RPM at a operator described limit. He set it at 4K and basically dumped the clutch  with me in the car, that poor thing, the noises it made. Sure, the thing shot off like an F14 off of a carrier, but man, that would be an expensive feature to use all the time.

[Snowman]

Justin, as a fellow Justin, I felt the need to join just to assure you of something: The CVT WRX is indeed slower than the WRX. Quite a bit slower too.

From car and driver:
"At the test track, this CVT-equipped WRX lagged the stick version, the quarter-mile taking 14.3 seconds at 99 mph, or 0.7 second and 3 mph behind the manual. Unable to launch the auto WRX as hard as the manual, we saw the zero-to-60 time stretch from 4.8 seconds to 5.5 seconds. When you brake-torque the automatic, the engine revs up to 2500 rpm and the transmission goes into a sort of maximum-acceleration mode, whereby it drops the shifting charade and acts like the CVT that it is. Once you’re off, the engine reaches 6400 rpm in the lowest ratio and remains there as speed rises, until it dips to a steady 6200 rpm beyond 60 mph."

Otherwise, the intro was gold!

And that's just it.  To get that 4.8 number required a hellaciously nasty/abusive clutch dump that i'd never subject my own car to

You don't dump a clutch on a WRX to launch it properly. Its a slip release.

[Snowman]

The 5.5 0-60 would be a deal beaker for me unless you could tune that nonsense out of it.

Subie probably does that to preserve the tranny. Im sure you could tune it to the high heavens but you would probably start breaking stuff (read: expensive, Subaru CVT stuff.)

i don't think i actually ever cracked into 5 second range....    probably a few times in 6's....

My buddy has a Cobb programmer on his WRX that has a "launch control" feature, just holds the RPM at a operator described limit. He set it at 4K and basically dumped the clutch  with me in the car, that poor thing, the noises it made. Sure, the thing shot off like an F14 off of a carrier, but man, that would be an expensive feature to use all the time.

I had the same in my STi, your buddy is doing it wrong.

[Weels]

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i remember reading in whatever C&D it was that they had beat the $hit out of it to get that 4.8

[Fobroader]

The 5.5 0-60 would be a deal beaker for me unless you could tune that nonsense out of it.

Subie probably does that to preserve the tranny. Im sure you could tune it to the high heavens but you would probably start breaking stuff (read: expensive, Subaru CVT stuff.)

i don't think i actually ever cracked into 5 second range....    probably a few times in 6's....

My buddy has a Cobb programmer on his WRX that has a "launch control" feature, just holds the RPM at a operator described limit. He set it at 4K and basically dumped the clutch  with me in the car, that poor thing, the noises it made. Sure, the thing shot off like an F14 off of a carrier, but man, that would be an expensive feature to use all the time.

I had the same in my STi, your buddy is doing it wrong.

He told me thats what it told him to do....I have no idea, never read the instructions for the thing, but it seemed like a highly violent thing very capable of breaking....well everything.

[Snowman]

If you slip the clutch there is no beating, just wear.

[Fobroader]

If you slip the clutch there is no beating, just wear.

Wont the thing just bog though. I remember noticing that on the WRX and STi I have driven, it was bog or clutch burn hell.

[Noto]

The 5.5 0-60 would be a deal beaker for me unless you could tune that nonsense out of it.

1) I suspect you could;
2) I suspect they ran it in S# mode; Subaru has stated time and time again that "Sport" (non-sharp) is actually the fastest 'mode', but # gives you a bit more fun with the 8-'speeds'.

I dunno, what other compact car under $35k gives you 5.5s 0-60?  There aren't many.

Hey Snowman, by the way, when you get to Palm Springs, go for a drive through the Box Canyon.  A few twisties and beautiful scenery.  By the way, the Tarmac is perfectly paved and smooth (or it was, last year)
http://vimeo.com/33385838

[Snowman]

If you slip the clutch there is no beating, just wear.

Wont the thing just bog though. I remember noticing that on the WRX and STi I have driven, it was bog or clutch burn hell.

No bogging because the turbo remains spooled up.

Trick is to bring the RPM's to 4000 (easy to hold with launch control) then start to slip the clutch slowly. Once you feel the car start to grab let the clutch out smoothly (like pulling your foot off a pile of shat that you stepped in) while applying full throttle. Gone.

[Fobroader]

If you slip the clutch there is no beating, just wear.

Wont the thing just bog though. I remember noticing that on the WRX and STi I have driven, it was bog or clutch burn hell.

No boggin because the turbo remains spooled up.

Trick is to bring the RPM's to 4000 (easy to hold with launch control) then start to slip the clutch slowly. Once you feel the car start to grab let the clutch out smoothly (like pulling your foot off a pile of shat that you stepped in) while applying full throttle. Gone.

He did a clutch drop like a 16 year old in dads corvette. Thanks for the tip, I will relay it to him!! 

[Snowman]

The 5.5 0-60 would be a deal beaker for me unless you could tune that nonsense out of it.

1) I suspect you could;
2) I suspect they ran it in S# mode; Subaru has stated time and time again that "Sport" (non-sharp) is actually the fastest 'mode', but # gives you a bit more fun with the 8-'speeds'.

I dunno, what other compact car under $35k gives you 5.5s 0-60?  There aren't many.

Hey Snowman, by the way, when you get to Palm Springs, go for a drive through the Box Canyon.  A few twisties and beautiful scenery.  By the way, the Tarmac is perfectly paved and smooth (or it was, last year)
http://vimeo.com/33385838

Thanks and on our list to do.. ..but it will though the windshield of a 2014 Toyota Highlander 

[Snowman]

you have to slip @ 5000RPM

Depends on turbo and tune 

[DriverJeff]

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i remember reading in whatever C&D it was that they had beat the $hit out of it to get that 4.8

Yeah, I read that too.  Something like 14 consecutive launches.  But I also remember them saying that it felt no different on the 14th than it did on the 1st and that when asked, the Subaru tech who told them to do the launch that way in the first place assured them it was designed to take it. Still, does make me cringe thinking of doing it repeatedly in my own car. 

[Snowman]

you have to slip @ 5000RPM

Depends on turbo and tune 

You tune sucked, remember? 

I recall reeling you in with ease with my Clark Turner custom tune @ 18.5 psi 

  I backed off because we were in a single file and I was behind and you were spitting up stones  . If were were lined up side-by-side it would have been a different outcome 

[dirtyjeffer]

You were cross-shopping a Rio5 and a Civic SI?  WHAT?

i wasn't initially looking at the Rio5...i wanted a fully equipped vehicle, so i started with the usual suspects in the $35k range...i then saw that the Civic Si also came very well equipped, and was about $27k, so i considered that one, but then ruled it out since you couldn't get an auto with it...had the current WRX been available at that time, i might have even bought it...in any case, while still in my searching phase, i had a Rio5 as a rental and actually thought it was a decent little car...i knew they had a top trim available, so i went to check it out...i liked it enough to buy one...it wasn't what i was originally looking for, but it had all the features i wanted...i was only really initially looking at larger cars because that's what you had to buy to get something "fully loaded"...instead, Kia offers the Rio5 fully equipped and i saved $15k...it's a win win situation.

[Snowman]

you have to slip @ 5000RPM

Depends on turbo and tune 

You tune sucked, remember? 

I recall reeling you in with ease with my Clark Turner custom tune @ 18.5 psi 

  I backed off because we were in a single file and I was behind and you were spitting up stones  . If were were lined up side-by-side it would have been a different outcome 

Whatever you say buddy. ;-)

Well now that you have got all soft and drive a sensible old mans car we will never know 

[DriverJeff]

you have to slip @ 5000RPM

Depends on turbo and tune 

You tune sucked, remember? 

I recall reeling you in with ease with my Clark Turner custom tune @ 18.5 psi 

  I backed off because we were in a single file and I was behind and you were spitting up stones  . If were were lined up side-by-side it would have been a different outcome 

Whatever you say buddy. ;-)

Well now that you have got all soft and drive a sensible old mans car we will never know 

Yeah and you ride the train and are afraid to take your fast car out in anything other than mild, sunny weather.

[rrocket]

you have to slip @ 5000RPM

Depends on turbo and tune 

You tune sucked, remember? 

I recall reeling you in with ease with my Clark Turner custom tune @ 18.5 psi 

  I backed off because we were in a single file and I was behind and you were spitting up stones  . If were were lined up side-by-side it would have been a different outcome 

Whatever you say buddy. ;-)

Well now that you have got all soft and drive a sensible old mans car we will never know 

Yeah and you ride the train and are afraid to take your fast car out in anything other than mild, sunny weather.

I hate to think what everyone will think of me if I ever get an LS600h!!