Howdy, I've on this forum since May 2006. I put 93000+ miles on a 2007 5MT (1st gen)- traded it in on a 2013 5MT (2nd gen) which now has 40000+ miles on it. Sorta thinking about a getting a 2019 Fit (3rd gen) with some new bells and whistles/safety stuff and pondering whether to go with a CVT with paddle shifters or a 6MT. Been driving stick since the late 1950s - enjoy the control, engine braking of the MT (not to mention the theft deterrent effect of an MT car). But intrigued about the CVT with paddle shifters. MT cars are really scarce these days. Opinions, comments - pro and con on the choices......

 

Uh oh, here we go again. Another manual or CVT thread

Just go and test drive one and see if it's something you'd like.

If you do a lot of highway driving, the CVT has lower RPMs at highway speed.

 

I owned the GK with 6MT for 3 years and don't regret one bit switching to the CVT model last year. And also... the CVT does engine braking automatically as soon as you let off the gas.... at least mine does... not sure about the 2018's or later models. I have the 2016 ex-l with paddles. Also, you will appreciate the low rpms on the hwy. As for the paddles, I use them rarely... and when I use them it's to overtake on the hwy or when descending long/steep hills.

 

 

 

lol that should be on a T-Shirt

 

I drove a CVT CR-V last week.
I hated the thing so much I almost wished it had regular automatic transmission...

Go test drive one. I guess they are not too bad since people buy them.

 

 

As for a test drive. It takes about 15 minutes of driving before the CVT starts to really show off that it can be fun. Fit's warm up much slower than I would have ever expected. With my ScanGauge2, I can keep track of water and CVT temps. Until the CVT is over about 90, it paddle shifts much like an old auto would feel when moving a shift lever or using bump shifting. Once the trans is warmed up, it hits gears without any mushiness. Also I believe the fake gear ratios are very much the same as the 6MT in 1-6, but the paddle shift has a 7th gear. (7th back to full CVT will still drop RPM's even more on the highway.)

Same story... 3 years of 6mt and I never look back. My #1 reason for the CVT in my 2018 EX was the lower RPM, then it turned out I love the paddles.. In my 2015, I spent 3+ years with a 6MT and a majority of my 50,000+ miles were on the high way. I LOVE the lower rpm on the interstate. And if I need more rpm, I can touch the paddle at any time. Oddly, if you re in regular "drive" you can use the paddles, but if you don't shift for a few seconds, it goes right back to regular drive. The only way the car stays in paddle mode is if you are in "sport"

Might be, but I am yet to hear about issues in a Fit.

 

Buy a stick!

What did you end up doing anyways?

 

CVT unless you like shifting.

 

Still waiting to try a 6MT. Really scarce!

 

I eould go stick lesd to go wronge and cvt trsns aint cheap if they go wronge plus i like smashing though gears do i would go manual haha

 

Worst thing about a stick is freeway stop & go traffic. There are times I wish I had an automatic, but not the CVT. Just a good old 6 speed auto.

 

That's what we used to think -- until last summer, when my wife's 2000 Jeep Cherokee, with a 5-speed stick, got boosted -- right out of our parking lot at home! They didn't get far -- the cops called us a couple of days later to say that they'd ditched it, and it had been towed to a garage. Vandalized -- ignition switch was ripped out, probably with a dent puller, and with no way to turn on the ignition, there was also no easy way to close the windows!

We had it towed home... and they tried to steal it again! It couldn't be strted, of course, but they may have been complete idiots and thought they could push-start it. Failing in this, they just left it in the parking lot, near the entrance.

We ended up junking it -- it had around 260K miles on it and was pretty much used up, but it still ran well!

So a manual gearbox may not have as much deterrent effect as we think! Just one data point, of course. They found out quickly that it's tough being the baddest homey in the 'hood when word gets around that you can't drive a stick.... ha, that Cherokee was a beast to drive, until you got used to it....

Urb

 

Here's another data point! My 1992 Nissan Sentra SE-R with a 5-speed manual was stolen off a busy street one night - got it back a week later with a torn out interior and a tapping engine!

The first thief to come along may not know how to drive a manual, but the second might!

 

Why not wait for the 2010 redesign?

 

How does a Continuously Variable Transmission shift? Faux paddle shifters.

CVT is the worst pick. MT being the best and a regular auto being second best.

CVT really stands for Crappy Version of Transmission. Worst reliability and most expensive to repair. BTW, when the chain/metal belt goes kaboom the whole tranny is littered with metal.

That said, a low torque application, like the Fit, is where the CVT does the least amount of harm and Honda's CVTs have been better than average. Still anyone who gets a CVT when they could have gotten a MT does not have a life worth living -- now you know.

 

Try my commute (Lynn to Waltham, MA) for a few days and ask your left knee if it would care to rephrase that....

Urb

 

always is a debate. very valid point!!