CVT Transmission - bad or good?

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tanzy, Sep 27, 9:32pm
Floscey - this is a serious question from me.are you being serious! I really can tell sarcasm in anything.

intrade, Sep 27, 9:51pm
put it this way befor you buy a cvt your better off with a vw dsg at least you know you got a quick shifter then and not some poo. both are the same bad for braking down.

supernova2, Sep 27, 9:58pm
There are transmission shops out there for a reason.Guess what transmissions require servicing.I do not believe that a properly serviced CVT will be any worse or better that any other properly serviced transmission.If you believe some of the posts onthis MB you would never buy any sort of vehicle because at some time you might have to maintain it.If CVt are as bad as some make out you would not be able to get MBI cover on them.the fact that you can get MBI cover indicates to me that the chances of breakdown on a CVt are no more or less than any other sort of transmission.

tanzy, Sep 27, 10:20pm
I dont think you know what you are talking about.

stevo2, Sep 28, 12:18am
Correct. DAF were using the CVT in the DAF 600 back in 1958. A Dutch car

stevo2, Sep 28, 12:23am
OP. Personally I would only be buying a later model CVT although the Nissan you are looking at may be ok (if well serviced) as Nissan were early to adopt the CVT and although they had serious issues with the earlier P11 Primera, they learnt a bit from their mistakes for the P12.

msigg, Sep 28, 12:56am
Yes the late model CVT is good, Some of the early jap imports were not serviced and crapped out. As you have said and I have heard that most cars will be CVT in the future. Most of the bigg nissan are cvt, ists realy the most simple form of transmission. But must be serviced, The cars achieve better fuel economy from those trans. Best people to talk to are automatic specialists, call around to a few and get some tips what to look for or if buying take one to them and get a second opinion. Best of luck.

nzfatie, Sep 28, 3:55am
I've driven Nissan and Honda CVT's. They're very economical as they don't rev up like a conventional auto. Nissan ones are good and easy to change the oil too, same process as changing the engine oil. Can get it from Part Master, it's a purple colour.
Honda CVT's are rubbish, prone to juddering and have to use special oil only available from Honda, which fixes the juddering for a few km's before it comes back again, because of a design fault.

3tomany, Sep 28, 4:39am
everyone here agrees that a well maintained cvt that hasnt been abused is a good buy. That is exacly why you should avoid one and why some motorcompanies are going away from them. Fact is very few transmisions of any sort get treated as per recommended and if abused cvt is the worst so in breif the chances of getting a reliable second hand cvt is a lottery

3tomany, Sep 28, 4:46am
i couldnt find a date but it must be old because it said ford escape hybrid has a cvt ,they havnt done for a while and dont make a ford escape hybrid anymore

gsimpson, Sep 28, 2:55pm
Austin used a Planetary CVT in 1930's. Worked like Nuvinci transmission. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NuVinci_Continuously_Variable_Transmission
Austin used rubber rollers as the friction drive parts. This demanded the use of "Castor oil". Usually destroyed by people putting mineral oil in it which attacked the rubber components.

bwg11, Sep 28, 8:56pm
Tansy - I wouldn't touch a 2001 Primea with CVT if you intend to keep it for 10 years. You could almost guarantee an expensive rebuild (possibly worth more than the car) in the next 10 years.

I have worked in the motor trade and driven 1990's Nissans with CVT. The early CVT's did not drive particularly nicely and had a deserved reputation for unreliability. The company I worked for would not consider retailing any which were traded, we just wholesaled them.

CVT transmissions have come a long way in the last 15 years, they are efficient and reliable (if maintained). My wife has just bought a Suzuki Swift Sport with CVT and the transmission is much nicer than a conventional auto, I drove both (conventional and CVT) in Swifts before purchase. The latest CVT's have a 2 speed planetary gearbox hung on the end of the CVT which overcomes the lack of ratio variation between high and low, giving a nice low 1st for lauching from standstill and can still provide a high overdrive ratio for open road economy.

So to sum up, I believe the new CVT's are great, but I would have real reservations about buying one 12 years old and planning to keep it for another 10 years.

blackcat17, Sep 29, 3:06am
Our Honda Logo does that, it seems its the start-clutch plates slipping. Bought it like that cheap, but have since done 30,000Ks and it hasn't got worse luckily.