CVT Compared to Traditional Automatic

The driving experience isn't really much different but they're (a CVT I mean) more efficient than a traditional automatic. The lack of noticeable RPM drops at a gear change they Buon Funerale Amigos mentioned is disconcerting at first but you get used to it. We had one in a rental last year and I liked it. You just put it in drive and go like a normal automatic.

I think it depends on the kind of driver you are—both my parents’ cars (both Subarus) have CVT’s, now, which is kind of surprising given that my mother (who follows automotive stuff surprisingly closely) was very anti-CVT as recently as a few years ago. If you like to push your car a little a CVT might not be for you—in my (very limited) experience they aren’t really as quick to respond and like to stay in that nice, efficient place even when you might not want to. My Dad’s car paddle shifters to simulate a traditional transmission, which might obviate the problem (he uses them on occasion), but I didn’t when I drove it and frankly it seems a bit silly. My Mom’s car has a mild hybrid setup where there’s an electric motor within the CVT which obviates that. I’ve been in CVT-equipped Nissans which were really loud and constantly sounded broken (even though they were in good working order), but that’s probably a Nissan problem, not a CVT problem.

I'm on my second vehicle with CVT - although they've both been Subaru Foresters, so probably not much difference between the two.

In terms of acceleration, the CVT is smoother and has better acceleration than any automatic I've ever driven except right off the line. Part of this might also be that these were turbo-charged engines, and thus attributable to turbo-lag.

My car has the flappy paddles, and a mode that will allegedly simulate an 8-speed manual or some such, but I've never used it.

With the steady power, and no clunks during acceleration it is remarkably easy to accidentally find myself quickly hitting 100+ kph (60+ mph) when just trying to get out of the clusterfuck of ninnies at the last red light.

I haven't any problems at all with my Foresters, and they have so far been my favourite vehicles I've ever owned.  I am looking at getting an Outback for my next vehicle, but if I can't swing one, I'll probably go for another Forester.

Hey! Subaru talk! I'm strongly leaning toward the littlest AWD Subaru (the Crosstrek) for my next vehicle in the next couple of months. It seems like it'll be perfect for my "drive 200 miles on the interstate, then the final 3 miles up an old, rutted, two lane mining road" field research lifestyle. I currently have an older Ford Ranger and replacing it with a new pickup is ridiculous since they've all become giant, godawfully expensive barges with terrible fuel economy. I'm planning to keep my old Ranger for hauling crap (literal and otherwise) since its not worth anything on the trade in or resale market anymore but I use the hell out of it as a truck and just buying a small car to drive.

Foresters are in the "possibly" category but Outbacks are in the "newest generation has gotten too big for my liking" category.

I test drove one back around Xmas. I'm quite a bit smaller than I look  so it was a decent fit for me (I'm only 5'8 with shoes on and mostly wear size medium shirts so I'm not very big guy).

Oh yes I drove my a bit Dad’s this winter and I definitely found myself going more quickly than I expected on arterial streets with multiple green lights. No turbo, even.