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I have neutral coasted in CVT cars for over 40k miles. They also accelerate at a constant engine RPM which you can choose with the accelerator pedal and maintain best BSFC constantly (more efficiently than a manual). They have wider ratio ranges than manuals or other autos. I neutral coasted my 1st gen Insight to drain the battery and then used engine braking to recharge it. The torque converter in the Altima was locked up before you cleared the intersection at 12 MPH. It unlocked in neutral to give you a seamless reengagement at 70 MPH, and DFCOed well down to very low speeds since it could "downshift" to even a greater ratio than any manual with no driver effort except to leave it into gear.
In the Insight decelerating in gear meant the engine RPM could be higher for better battery charging when you got caught needing to stop quickly.
I have shifted every auto equipped car I have owned into gear as high as 80 MPH without a problem. I even used neutral coasting to make the battery light come on in the 02 Insight when I knew it was getting very weak so I could get a new battery under warranty. Use the battery on acceleration and coast in neutral to avoid any recharging.
68 MPG in the CVT Insight without lean burn for 30k miles and 70 on one road trip of over 550 miles in one day.
When they get transmissions right then you will see cars that are much harder to hypermile to crazy over EPA percentages. Those percentages are a testament to poor design of the vehicle in the first place.
I would not even consider engine off coasting in any CVT or other type auto transmission, even the Ford automated manual 6 speed. You could do some severe damage and the dealer will know what you did by information stored in the cpu and could deny you any warranty coverage.
I would advise anyone who has not driven a CVT equipped car to try it before you disparage them. They are a real alternative to conventional autos, and I don't think a negative, somewhat elitist, attitude towards the vast majority of people who, for whatever reason, choose to drive a self shifting car, should be discouraged from driving for best economy.
regards
Mech
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