Well, I feel that the MO is really quick with the AT, I dont know how the CVT performs, so this is just a guess, I tried my MO against several vehicles here and I can tell you that almost all of them just quit and gave me the way.
I feel really disapointed without the CVT, Im a technical guy and I really would enjoy such technical marvelous, but there is no way to have it here, the dealer told me the following reasons:
1. CVT is kind of new on this part of the world.
2. Shipment for spare parts and guarantee issues on CVT will be double price for the manufacturer in Costa Rica than US.
3. If a CVT issue is solved in US in one or two weeks, here will be one or two YEARS...
4. Our roads are not suitable for such high tech transmission
5. They said that the AT gives better torque and better handling for our roads...
Im trying to figure out why the AT would be better for our roads, we dont have highways, only kind of two lane roads, with many craters... well lets called them holes. Check my post here
http://www.nissanmurano.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2129
I think that the real reason are the points 1,2 and 3, the rest I dont know
Next time in US I would like to try the CVT, so I will tell you my feels.
Thnks.