My new CVT - ownership experience

[wilful]

Would that the roads and traffic conditions in Cochin were like what you have...
Instead of a miserable 9 kms per litre I would have got 11 or 12.
But no major groans on that score, considering everything.

[vasudeva]

Of course City CVT is the VFM in ATs because of its high FE and overall reliability. I also wanted to buy City CVT but could not do so because of many reasons, of which only a few were related to the car itself. Regarding the ride, I think it is OK for that price, and you may get used to it. Anyway, congrats again for your wise purchase decision. Regarding tank full, if Kochi pumps do not have auto lock, then at least tell them to make your tank full. Gauges are often misleading, and they understate fuel consumption in the beginning (when tank is full) and at the end. However, I found Corolla gauge to be quite reliable as compared with Corsa which did not move much till around 100 km, and then started going down to more or less an accurate indicator.

[trrk]

Hi Wilful

> Would that the roads and traffic conditions in Cochin were like what you
> have... Instead of a miserable 9 kms per litre I would have got 11 or 12.

The roads are definitely better now from their bad state post monsoons. The traffic conditions are a mess and is not going to improve soon.

There are times when I have to wait for 5 minutes before getting on to the road from my house. It takes almost 25 minutes for a 15.5km trip to school from hy house when speeds are limited to 70kph where possible.

[trrk]

Hi Vasudeva

> Regarding the ride, I think it is OK for that price, and you may get used to it.

I do not have much of an option there other than get used to it. Cars at lower price points have better ride. I am yet to find a comfortable position in the driver's seat. My lower back does complain.

> Anyway, congrats again for your wise purchase decision.

Thanks. I did not have much of a choice. But I did believe in the technology and thankfully it has not let me down.

> Regarding tank full, if Kochi pumps do not have auto lock, then at least tell > them to make your tank full.

It is not Kochi, but a town 60kms south of it. The newer dispensers do have the facility, but most of the operators do not bother to use them. It hardly matters as I always fill to the brim, even though it is supposed to be a not good habit.

[jacobgeorge]

Hi trrk.... this thread has been very informative from an initial ownership perspective. Would love to have your feedback on the cost of ownership excluding fuel, if at all you have had any service visits. Has the ride got any better or just that you got used to it? What about other aspects like braking, driveability, engine pulling on full load or up a steep slope etc. I am also seriously considering an AT and very likely a Honda CVT.

[trrk]

Hi Jacob,

> this thread has been very informative from an initial ownership perspective.

I am happy that it is of some use.

> Would love to have your feedback on the cost of ownership excluding fuel, > if at all you have had any service visits.

The three free services offered are at 1000, 5000 and 10000kms or 1 month, 3 month and 6 month intervals. The 1000 kms service is just a check up and does not involve any cost and that is the only service that has been done. The next service is due on Dec 07. I am using the car so that it covers some distance before this. It is at 3087 now and it would be near to 4000 when it goes for the service.

Honda changes oil every 5000kms and oil filter every 10000kms as per their service schedules. After the free services, the oil change interval is 6 months or 5000 kms whichever is early.

> Has the ride got any better or just that you got used to it?

No, not so far! We as a family won't get used to it. But for the auto sake, we'll bear it. Another sore point for me is that the front seat for me is not giving proper back support and so I feel a little discomfort.

>What about other aspects like braking, driveability, engine pulling on full load >or up a steep slope etc.

All running is with AC on. In fact the AC switch or the blower switch is always on. So far the travel has been all on level roads here and the maximum number of people has been 3. The driveability part is excellent, I would say. There is the usual 'creep' just like any other automatic and so in bumper to bumper traffic and in level ground, you can just use the brake to control. The car will pick up even at just over 1000 RPM. For spirited getaways, you can always use the force of your right foot.

Since the engine braking is less and since there is no clutch to disengage, you have to consciously brake a little harder. To an extent shifting to lower gear while braking helps and shifting to neutral just before coming to a stop increases both the braking efficiency and the mileage.

I have not travelled to any hilly areas except minor ups and downs in the MC Road to Kottayam and inside the town. It was just me and I never felt any difficulty. With three of us and AC, getting out of a theatre in a nearby town (very steep, like a path from the undergorund parking) was not a problem at all. I put it in L for that climb, as there were other cars were behind me and I was getting on to a busy road.

> I am also seriously considering an AT and very likely a Honda CVT.

The mileage has been encouraging so far.

[trrk]

Hi,

The following maintenance expenditure for City is based on a chart displayed in the local Honda dealer service centre as on 17/10/2007 (Peninsular Honda, Cochin)

- Oil Change every 5000kms
- Oil filter change every 10000kms
- Air filter change every 20000kms

1000, 5000, 10000 kms services - labour free - No replacements in 1000kms service.

5000 Parts 700 Labour 500 Total 1200
10000 Parts 900 Labour 750 Total 1650
15000 Parts 700 Labour 500 Total 1200
20000 Parts 1200 Labour 800 Total 2000
25000 Parts 700 Labour 500 Total 1200
30000 Parts 900 Labour 750 Total 1650
35000 Parts 700 Labour 500 Total 1200
40000 Parts 3000 Labour 1500 Total 4500
45000 Parts 700 Labour 500 Total 1200
50000 Parts 900 Labour 750 Total 1650
55000 Parts 700 Labour 500 Total 1200
60000 Parts 2750 Labour 925 Total 3775
65000 Parts 700 Labour 500 Total 1200
70000 Parts 900 Labour 750 Total 1650
75000 Parts 700 Labour 500 Total 1200
80000 Parts 3000 Labour 1500 Total 4500
85000 Parts 700 Labour 500 Total 1200
90000 Parts 900 Labour 750 Total 1650
95000 Parts 700 Labour 500 Total 1200
100000 Parts 3000 Labour 825 Total 3825

- Replace fuel filter, spark plugs @ 40000, 80000 kms
- Replace Transmission fluid in CVT @ 60000 kms
- Replace engine coolant @ 200000kms or 10 years and then after 100000kms
- Replace brake fluid @ 3 years for New City

So the routine maintenace for 100000kms or approximately 10 years will cost a total of Rs 38850 at today's prices. Any other work will be extra.

[HotChillyPepper]

Originally Posted by trrk

Hi,

Forgot to put the images that I had.

I do hope I get it right.

The CVT from the front:



The new PLATI 14" alloy wheel



The images are from my Nokia 6265 mobile phone. Not good at photography.

Rajesh, Alleppey, Kerala
(Marina LS BSIII, Oct 05, 31604 kms, 13.94 kpl, 46km/day)
(Honda City CVT, Sep 07, 589 kms, 13.93 kpl, 65km/day)

Hey Doc.. The review is great and detail and in a doctors way. Cool.
BTW this is one color I am missing in Verna were I need to compromise to Midnight grey. The shade is awsome.. congrats....

[trrk]

Hi,

> Heyy Doc.. The review is great and detail and in a doctors way. Cool.

Thanks. I am looking after my business (textile retail) for the past 22 years. I don't practise.

> BTW this is one color I am missing in Verna were I need to compromise to
> Midnight grey. The shade is awsome.. congrats...

Thanks again. It is a lovely colour. I had booked for a Galaxy Grey which was discontinued in the 10th anniversary edition. The color is Carbon Bronze, a darker shade.

Verna does come in some lovely shades.

[msdivy]

I still can't make out why the ride is hard. Please report this during your 2nd service.

[trrk]

Hi,

> I still can't make out why the ride is hard. Please report this during your 2nd
> service.

Thanks for the suggestion. I will do that.

The feeling of ride being hard (with tyre pressure as per specs) is in relation with other vehicles, same road, same load. The comparison is between my Marina and CVT. The latter definitely makes us feel the road.

In between I had the occasion to use an Indigo GLX (with non standard 185/65R14 tyres) under the same conditions which was even better than my Marina.

[trrk]

Hi,



At the above position, the fuel filled was 14.16 litres giving a mileage of 13.77kpl.



At the above position, the fuel filled was 10.57 litres giving a mileage of 14.57kpl.

[trrk]

HI,



Was waiting for this week's school run to get over to fill petrol.

So with the odometer at 451kms and the low level indicator glowing, the car took 38.51 litres to be brimmed and gave a second lowest mileage of 11.71kpl (the worst being 11.68kpl).

My contribution to this was a 60kms inter town run and about 31kms inside Alappuzha. The rest was my driver's contribution. This apparently also includes about 45 minutes of idling with AC.

It has been with me for 80 days and has averaged 46kms daily so far. It got its first battle scar about 10 days ago.

[vasudeva]

You are getting good FE for your CVT and should be pretty satisfied (even though petrol costs more in Kerala than in Delhi). Congrats to on your car being scar free for more than 2 months!. It is extremely inadvisable to keep AC on for 45 mins in idle.

[trrk]

Hi,



I just had this drive alone on a Sunday afternoon / evening to Kottayam and back. Relatively traffic free.

38 kms were on our infamous MC road and the rest on better roads. The maximum on the MC road was 60kph and 70kph otherwise. The AC compressor was 4 notches from the coldest position and the blower speed at 2 throughout.

The mileage was 16.2 kpl. I expected more because of the needle position. Very very non linear fuel guage. I expected it to take only 5 litres instead of the 6.11 it took!