The Elio Automatic Transmission

Ray O said:

I still think that Elio should use a CTV in all Elio's there more efficient. and it would be easier to assemble them all the same and less parts to deal with. I prefer a standard transmission but most people don't know how to drive with the third peddle.

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There are conversations and polls and comparisons on the transmissions on this board already, and you never get a answer to what should be used. I can drive a stick, but now I actually can't because of problems in my legs and feet, and there are a lot of people like me on this board; age, nerve damage, other physical damage, and the list goes on, that why the transmission that is being used has been made the choice.
Please go do a search for one of those threads and read through it, and let's not open this can of worms again.

Coss said:

It's when you "chug it" at a light your remember it's been a while.

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I've driven too many "Three on the tree"s and put too many miles on the eighteen-wheeler to ever embarrass myself again at the light on the hill.

Coss said:

There are conversations and polls and comparisons on the transmissions on this board already, and you never get a answer to what should be used. I can drive a stick, but now I actually can't because of problems in my legs and feet, and there are a lot of people like me on this board; age, nerve damage, other physical damage, and the list goes on, that why the transmission that is being used has been made the choice.
Please go do a search for one of those threads and read through it, and let's not open this can of worms again.

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I had a 2009 Honda FIT with the 5 speed manual. Last August I traded it for a 2016 FIT with the CVT and I love it. So smooth and seamless to drive. I will probably opt for the stick ELIO over the automatic. I do not like the transmission "hunting" in low powered vehicles. If it becomes CVT it is a toss up.

I want the AMT, but if a CVT were proposed, I would get good at shifting myself, again. I don't trust CVTs for longevity and durability.

TheAsterisk! said:

I want the AMT, but if a CVT were proposed, I would get good at shifting myself, again. I don't trust CVTs for longevity and durability.

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It used to be the case that CVTs were only good for lower powered vehicles. I'm sure they are getting better but I'm still a little leary. I don't think I'd like having my engine sitting at the same RPM regardless of speed. That's a lot of how I judge my speed...

Ty said:

It used to be the case that CVTs were only good for lower powered vehicles. I'm sure they are getting better but I'm still a little leary. I don't think I'd like having my engine sitting at the same RPM regardless of speed. That's a lot of how I judge my speed...

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I've heard talk of more than a few CVT designs used in production personal cars that start to get unreliable and prone to failure from 70K to 120K miles, if owners and mechanics are to be believed. That's more what I'm getting at. It's a great design in principle for efficiency, but seems to handle abuse and repeated stress fairly poorly, at least as implemented currently. I can deal with having to replace belts that often, but not potentially the transmission.

I'm not sure how I feel about many-speed automatics in personal vehicles, either- eight, ten, or more gears. Haven't heard too much about them, but most of those aren't too old yet, either. Still, it seems like a tremendous increase in design complexity (axiomatically inversely related to design reliability and durability) for relatively marginal improvements in performance and efficiency.

Like any transmission, CVT reliability varies greatly between manufacturers.

Nissan has been having troubles (failure at 40k to 115k depencing on year and model (they's extended the warranty to 10 years and 120k) while Honda is doing well on reliability and Toyota is generally bulletproof.

Nissan makes CVT's for GM, Chrysler, Suzuki, and Mitsubishi.

Toyota has the most experience with CVT's and have been using them since the early Prius. Their software is also superior which makes for a more enjoyable ride. My experience with test driving a Prius and a CVT Corolla was positive and I would recommend both.

As stated above, CVT are not yet suited for high power and high torque applications.

CrimsonEclipse said:

As stated above, CVT are not yet suited for high power and high torque applications.

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The low power and low torque of the Elio should fit the CVT very well.

pistonboy said:

The low power and low torque of the Elio should fit the CVT very well.

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Absolutely!
I'd like to see it researched.... after a year or two of active production.

Long, long ago in a survey far away, EM sent a letter to us asking how much more we would pay for an automatic transmission. I believe they gave three prices and the lowest was approximately $1050. All these prices are very high for a box of servos to sit on top of a manual transmission and control a clutch and shift forks. I believe they were at that time exploring the possibility of using a truly automatic transmission (traditional or CVT) to replace the Automated Manual Transmission (ANT).

Does anyone remember the prices they quoted? The numbers were not in the email. They were at the EM website to which he had to go in order to vote.