Tips on Buying Cars: CVT Transmissions, cvt transmissions, automatic transmissions

Question
QUESTION: Good morning, Jeremy.
Some of the new cars I've been reading about have CVT transmissions while other have 5 or 6-speed automatics.
Please tell me what a CVT is(dothey aply to manual as well as auto trannys) and what their advantages are?
Thank you very much,
JB :)

ANSWER: Jefferson,

Thanks for your question.  As for the CVT transmission, let me start off by saying that NO, it does not apply to a manual transmission.  It is only an option for automatic transmissions.  A CVT transmission stands for Constant Velocity Transmission.  What this means is that it does not shift like a normal transmission.  Think of a snow mobile.  It is the same type of transmission.  They are not very complex at all.  It is actually a pretty simple technology.  The benefit would be less RPM's over the life span of the vehicle, longer life time.  It is based on shift points that look like cones that are always engaged.  It applies more power and more efficently with less friction.  They are actually very good transmissions and fun to drive.

Hope this helps answer your question.

Thanks - Jb

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you, Jeremy. Are CVTs more reliable than regular automatics? About how much more do they cast than regular automatics?

Yours,
JB :)

Answer
Jefferson,

Thanks for your question.  CVT's are a little more reliable than regular automatic transmissions, although they do not have the years of service that automatics have to really judge that on.  From the initial stages of the CVT's lifespan they appear to be more maintenance free and more reliable so far.  As far as cost, their isn't much of a cost difference if any at all.  CVT's are fairly new on the market within the last few years so their isn't much data to rely on as to the reliability of the transmission itself, but once again from the initial data it appears that over the lifespan of the transmission it will be more reliable and less maintenance driven than a regular automatic transmission.

I hope this helps you.  Let me know if you have any other questions.

Thanks - Jb