[mayo]

While around town I have found the ivt and the little 4 banger a perfect match, when power is needed it can be a bit challenging. Throw a graded road into the equation, and it gets no better for sure.
Well I have that combo on my daily route around town in the form of an interstate merge (70mph) with a slow turn and a slight grade.
Finding the right throttle input is tuff because the ivt can’t wait to upshift out of the power, resulting in more input which causes this back and forth in the rpms.
So today I tried something different and it worked much better. One downshift input I can consistently generate is to about 2800 rpm. As soon as I hit it today, I slid it into manual shift mode, held it up to about 3700 rpm, upshifted, repeated and was at a comfortable 65mph at merge.
Bang, back to D. Much smoother and avoids mashing the pedal, which we all know produces what I like to call “4 banger noise” (engine rev over 4K).
So when extra power is needed, you might give this a try, if you haven’t already.
I just knew that extra feature (manual mode) would come in handy at some point. 👍🏼

 

[ralph_venue]

While around town I have found the ivt and the little 4 banger a perfect match, when power is needed it can be a bit challenging. Throw a graded road into the equation, and it gets no better for sure.
Well I have that combo on my daily route around town in the form of an interstate merge (70mph) with a slow turn and a slight grade.
Finding the right throttle input is tuff because the ivt can’t wait to upshift out of the power, resulting in more input which causes this back and forth in the rpms.
So today I tried something different and it worked much better. One downshift input I can consistently generate is to about 2800 rpm. As soon as I hit it today, I slid it into manual shift mode, held it up to about 3700 rpm, upshifted, repeated and was at a comfortable 65mph at merge.
Bang, back to D. Much smoother and avoids mashing the pedal, which we all know produces what I like to call “4 banger noise” (engine rev over 4K).
So when extra power is needed, you might give this a try, if you haven’t already.
I just knew that extra feature (manual mode) would come in handy at some point. 👍🏼

Isn't the manual mode fake? Like not an actual manual/auto shifter.
Like, it doesn't shift up or down on command.

 

[mayo]

Manual mode is kinda like an old school slap shifter, with a crappy clutch Ralph.
It will hold the current gear ratio when engaged, allowing you to run higher in the rpm and stay in the power band of the motor (2800-3500 rpm) until you "up shift" to the next ratio. I would not recommend for downshift senerios, just let the cvt and brakes do their thing.
It is useful when climbing a grade for a period of time or merging into high speed traffic.
I have got better with the throttle control with this little guy, but still find myself using the manual mode from time to time.

 

[Mochi]

While around town I have found the ivt and the little 4 banger a perfect match, when power is needed it can be a bit challenging. Throw a graded road into the equation, and it gets no better for sure.
Well I have that combo on my daily route around town in the form of an interstate merge (70mph) with a slow turn and a slight grade.
Finding the right throttle input is tuff because the ivt can’t wait to upshift out of the power, resulting in more input which causes this back and forth in the rpms.
So today I tried something different and it worked much better. One downshift input I can consistently generate is to about 2800 rpm. As soon as I hit it today, I slid it into manual shift mode, held it up to about 3700 rpm, upshifted, repeated and was at a comfortable 65mph at merge.
Bang, back to D. Much smoother and avoids mashing the pedal, which we all know produces what I like to call “4 banger noise” (engine rev over 4K).
So when extra power is needed, you might give this a try, if you haven’t already.
I just knew that extra feature (manual mode) would come in handy at some point. 👍🏼

Back when I had an AT Toyota 86, putting it in "manual" mode and controlling the shift point made it manageable to get up to freeway speeds. I'm glad the IVT in the Venue doesn't force me out of the gear like how other CVTs handle

 

[ralph_venue]

Write a guide on how to auto-manual gear switch.
I guess I "shift" too early, or too late so it won't change gears and protects me from breaking that thing.

 

[Chicago Jake]

Manual mode is kinda like an old school slap shifter, with a crappy clutch Ralph.
It will hold the current gear ratio when engaged, allowing you to run higher in the rpm and stay in the power band of the motor (2800-3500 rpm) until you "up shift" to the next ratio. I would not recommend for downshift senerios, just let the cvt and brakes do their thing.
It is useful when climbing a grade for a period of time or merging into high speed traffic.
I have got better with the throttle control with this little guy, but still find myself using the manual mode from time to time.

Could you elaborate? I don't have this option but would love to know how it works. How do you engage manual mode? And how do you "up shift" when you are ready to relinquish the extra torque?

 

[mayo]

You engage manual mode by moving the shifter to the left when in drive. A simple push of the shifter up or down will change the current ratio. Again I would not recommend for downshift senerios or what some would refer to as "jack braking".
So i used it yesterday while traveling to work. Interstate 70mph limit with a long grade up a hill, say about 3/4 of a mile long. Once I start up the hill my throttle input will downshift to a ratio that will put my rpms at about 3k, which is a good spot in the powerband of this motor. This is where the ivt can do dumb things based on your throttle input. Come off the gas and the ivt will up shift immediately, taking you out of the power causing you to press the gas again for more power. This results in this "back and forth" trying to hold 3k to the top of the hill, particularly if you have a car in front of you and you must observe a safe distance.
I find it much easier in this senerio to push throttle so that it downshifts to 3k, engage manual mode to lock in that gear ratio, and maintain it to the top of the hill and then re engage D at the top.
3k rpm is a good spot with the 1.6 in terms of power so when it's needed, locking the gear ratio with manual mode at that rpm is a good idea imo. The ivt is a little switchy in its shifting patterns imo in certain senerios, and manual mode just simplifies the process of holding the right ratio in the right moment.
Hope this helps better explain its purpose (for me anyways). ✌🏼️

 

[Chicago Jake]

You engage manual mode by moving the shifter to the left when in drive......Hope this helps better explain its purpose (for me anyways). ✌🏼️

Thank you! That was an EXCELLENT description! Sounds much better than paddle-shifters. I think I would use it the same way if I had it. But I'm still glad that I have my manual transmission, though.

 

[imaddicted2u]

A visual aid...