A couple of weeks ago I drove an 08 Sentra with a CVT and spent some time in my daughters Caliber this week end. The Sentra test drive was my first time in a CVT equipped car. I watched my daughter drive the Caliber and with every blip of the throttle the engine rpms flaired a little. As an old school guy I'm just not sure if this is the way to go as far as transmitions go. I can see on rolling or hilly terrain the CVT would be smoother than an auto dropping to a lower gear but.......?? I guess a guy would have to buy a CVT car and use it to make a judgement.

 

I think they will have a place in smaller cars & SUV's. They are smoother, make better use of the engines power and can be more efficient. I have one on my ATV and it works great and seems to be durable. The downfall seems to be the price and the fact they do use a belt that wear's

 

subaru had one years ago in there justy... they didn't produce them long. Ford had one in the 500.... didn't produce them long. I haven't heard of any problems with any of them though.... maybe it is too different of a driving experiance for it to catch on.

 

The first CVT was on the Dutch DAF from the late 50's. They called it Variomatic.

 

only if its a scooter

 

whats CVT?

 

constantly variable transmission.... like a snowmobile has.

 

I test drove a Ford 500 a couple years back and didn't really like the CVT. I guess I'm just old school but I like the feel of the shifts from a good ol' fashioned auto tranny.

 

It works like the gears on a bike, when you move the lever the chain moves up and down the sprockets to give different ratio's. The difference being the CVT uses a kevlar belt that rides in a pulley type mechanism.

 

my moms 2005 Ford 500 has CVT i always speed because...well it doesnt SHIFT!!! so ill be doing like 70 in a 45 and ill look down and be like oh crap..