First CVT I’ve Ever Liked

Found in Subaru’s 2015 WRX.

Non-car nerds: CVT – Continuous Variable Transmission, a new type of engine that’s en vogue. Instead of fixed, mechanical gears, it uses a belt that can be programmed to have an infinite number of gears.

You can identify a CVT in 2 ways:

1 – when you stomp on the gas, it’s one second two second, and then the engine kicks in and launches

2 – the high-pitched, loud whine it emits

That whine is the sound of “improved fuel economy”, which is why automakers are switching to them; CVTs claim better fuel consumption than their mechanical counterpart.

I don’t like CVTs because of points #1 and 2.

But Subaru masked the loud whine, and instead there’s a little boxer engine growl, and they definitely solved the launch lag, because over and again I was, “woah I’m at 80 already? Nice.”

 

 

Blogging for the Record

The “Haven’t Missed a Day Yet this Year” record. Feels good to type that. But also, thats my way of saying, “this will be a weak daily blog update not the proper full page refresh”. Guys please wish for me an assistant.

Today was action packed. Fridays are always stupid busy with 2 newspaper deadlines (news = A new Auto Alliance for Cyber Security), then I was the surprise guest at the Nissan Annual Employee Meeting, my Targa team and I.

That’s the most people I ever spoke in front of (300-ish, said a couple of lines about loving competing, and that a stock Micra performed surprisingly amazing, hope you guys feel proud you built a great car.)

Then a last team dinner, and I’ve finally arrived home, to 25lbs of newly hemmed curtains in my lobby!, plus a couple Corona, so that’s tonight’s agenda and that’s me complete for this mega week, TTY Monday, enjoy the warm weather and sun!

The Nissan Micra Cup Race officially kicked off at today’s meeting, introducing Canada’s best-priced racing series, the Micra Cup.

Tell ya about it in another post, short answer why I like it is: all entry cars are the same, therefore the playing field and game is evened out.

Hi Nissan guys, nice to meet you today, took your photo! :) I blogged every day from Targa, here’s my adventure: #TeamNissanMicra

Reunited for a second ahhh; gave it a loving pat.

Snuck away for some silent time as always.

This post came from my new coffee table, on a rug, on a clean floor, guys seriously GUYS. Operation winterize-a-cottage-into-a-house is thisclose to being done.

Blog tag = New House

 

 

Ranking Canada’s Cities as “Pedestrian-Friendly”

A company ranks Canadian cities by their “walkability” scores:

  1. Vancouver (78)
  2. Toronto (71)
  3. Montreal (70)
  4. Hamilton (51)
  5. Brampton (48)
  6. Calgary (48)

For sure not my most interesting column.

Read it online at Autonet.

Favourite line:

For a barometer, the highest-ranked city in the world is New York City, scoring an 88/100.

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