Considering an automatic car as changing gears is now getting quite tedious and tiring
plus the clutch pedal seems to be getting harder to depress.
as I'm reminded by the crunch of gears occasionally when the pedal is not fully depressed!!
It seems most automatics are now fitted with CVTs (consistently variable transmission).
Any Auto drivers out there and what are your thoughts??
Any feedback would be most welcome
Gerry
As has been mentioned CVT is only 1 of the types of automatic and fitted to a limited number of car models. There are 4 main kinds of automatic.
The CVT in some models is unreliable. Honda CVTs are generally OK
The DCT automatic in Ford vehicles is an absolute disaster, Ford been counters knowing put in transmissions that will fail. Just Google DPS6 dual-clutch transmission known as the PowerShift transmission. Or more widely known as the PowerShitTransmission. A DCT is generally a poor choice for round town use, they don’t deal well with the indecisive stop go nature of town traffic, they are superb for racing, up shift well
The conventional automatic in vehicles is relatively bulletproof but has a well deserved name “slush box” this doesn’t mean that it’s bad just not crisp.
The Mazdas automatic transmission, the SkyActive, is excellent. It has the benefit of the torque converter, but can lock into a gear even 1st like a manual.
I’ve driven manuals for 50 years and hundreds of thousands of miles, both cars and trucks up to 7.5 tonnes, I now have a manual 2.5 litre diesel pickup with a GVM at around 3,500kg and a daily driver Mazda 2 automatic.
The fuel efficiency of the Mazda is superb, better than a manual, the cruse control combined with the automatic box makes 100 km trips easy. I will upgrade the Mazda 2 to a 3 or CX30 with adaptive cruse control when car prices and supply gets better. I will not get a manual car again there are few benefits and many drawbacks.
Bottom line. For a car for you go automatic, but do your homework specially if not buying new. You will not regret the change.