With our 2007 Jeep Compass, its CVT makes it nearly impossible to get a jump on traffic when merging onto the freeway. It hardly has any power and even if you mash the accelerator to the floor it feels like the car doesn't understand what you're trying to do. "Wuuuut, Wilbur? Ohhhhh, you want me to go faster?..
Okayyyy. Doh-dee-doh-dee-doh-dee-doh." This is especially infuriating when you want to get around slower-moving traffic.
But then I found that more power can be had in the Jeep's manual mode. When I want to squirt around traffic, I just switch over to manual mode and downshift, bringing the revs up, and suddenly I have the juice I need. It's actually surprisingly responsive, unlike most conventional automanuals. I ended up driving in manual more than automatic this past weekend.
Caroline Pardilla, Deputy Managing Editor @ 13,098 miles
But then I found that more power can be had in the Jeep's manual mode. When I want to squirt around traffic, I just switch over to manual mode and downshift, bringing the revs up, and suddenly I have the juice I need. It's actually surprisingly responsive, unlike most conventional automanuals. I ended up driving in manual more than automatic this past weekend.
Caroline Pardilla, Deputy Managing Editor @ 13,098 miles
opfreak says:
01:00 PM, 12/ 3/07
those dials are so cheap looking, MY EYES are burning.
i'd rather have the audi space shuttle array of buttons then this
flipb says:
01:10 PM, 12/ 3/07
"Makeshift Fix"... get it? Make-shift? You know, like MAKE the SHIFTs yourself? get it? yeah?
<crickets>
neely2005 says:
01:30 PM, 12/ 3/07
I'm pretty sure that one of the earlier / earliest posts for the Compass pointed this out. If I remember correctly the writers boyfriend / husband was using the Autostick feature for quick acceleration.
Don't you guys talk to each other? Or at least read each others posts?
Check it out here:
http://66.160.188.111/roadtests/473
crowb says:
02:40 PM, 12/ 3/07
"This is especially infuriating when you want to get around slower-moving traffic."
Aren't you the slower moving traffic when you're driving the Compass? I shudder to think of what might actually be slower on those furious L.A. streets.
caroscuro says:
04:58 PM, 12/ 3/07
neely2005,
I did check out the previous posts but didn't go THAT far back. Thanks for the link. In any case, my post offers the driver's perspective of why the manual mode is preferable. :)
crowb,
Believe me, there are a TON of slow drivers in L.A. I just have an edge because I pay attention when I drive.
neely2005 says:
08:59 PM, 12/ 3/07
Hey I think it's great that you made comment on the AutoStick again. I was just surprised that you didn't already know about that feature.
caroscuro says:
11:53 AM, 12/ 4/07
neely2005,
I did but I debated whether I should point it out since it sounded like an aggressive way to handle the car, well, the way *I* use it. ;)
crashtestdingo says:
11:27 AM, 12/ 5/07
Perhaps the EPA runs this model through its gas mileage test in auto mode only, so Chrysler programmed it to favor fuel economy over acceleration.