ok i browsed the thread on cvt / manual etc. and didnt see this covered. so,
can the driver mode be switch to ds or to d while cruising along at random speeds, or does the car need to be at a stop to avoid breaking anything?

 

I do this occasionally but never at WOT. The one issue I've experienced is when I started out driving in manual mode 1 and when I got to about 4500/5000 RPM I bumped it into D mode. For some reason the RPMs remained at the point where I was at in M1 and kept climbing with the car only going 50-60ish if I recall correctly. In other words if I would have continued I would have reached redline at a significantly lower speed than if I was just starting out in D. It was like the CVT thought it was still in manual mode waiting for me to bump the shifter.
That alone indicates to me one should be somewhat cautious and not flog the CVT like it's a race car. It wasn't designed for that.

 

i always shift mine from D to Ds while driving at WoT or any other speed.
Even when i test drove the car the salesman had me doing the same. i do the same with manual shift and change to D or Ds at times..

if the Cvt can handle it then it shouldnt of been designed with all 3 options.

 

Whenever you want. It's fine. Don't worry about it.

 

i also do it all the time usually from D to DS no problems?

 

I will go from D to Ds when coming off the interstate onto a off ramp for braking when i have a long off ramp, then downshift with the paddle shifters. works good.

 

Transmissions are hard to break on modern cars. If you weren't supposed to, it probably wouldn't let you.

 

i shift while moving all the time

 

I agree under everyday driving. My comment above was more about the CVT working correctly and not about it failing.
Nissan's high mileage warranty on the CVT is there why? To make car buyers feel the CVT is a good tranny and that they'll back it up. I like that.
Honda, Toyota, and others to my knowledge don't specifically have a extended (non CVT) tranny warranty.
I have nothing against a properly working CVT. I have had mine in for a valve body change at 15K.
The CVT is still a work in progress and I think Nissan has done a better job than most car mfg's to bring that forward.

 

Well worded. Many folks are not CVT fans, and early CVTs were very disappointing to me. But the improved efficiency and acceleration of a perfect CVT make it worth this period of transition where the CVT is a very good tranny, but not quite yet perfect.

 

a buddy of mine test drove the new Altima CVT and said the newer CVT is much more responsive and less "slushbox" than the 7th gen

 

That is very good news. I have gradually come to love my 7th gen CVT, but know it can be better. It may well be that the CVT on the 8th gen Maxima will bring the large mass of folks here who are still not convinced of the efficiency of the CVT on board.

For those of us who grew up driving manuals, the CVT will never bring us that feel of being in complete control we had as we shifted through the gears, but it will in fact bring us better MPG and better elapsed times.

We'll just have to find a different kind of fun by either playing with the paddles and the 'sport' setting, or learning how to control this CVT via our touch on the gas pedal and our eye on the tach. Not exactly a 'wind-blown hair' kind of macho, but . . .

 

thanks to all you guys