Ford CVT & trade question

rare · 07-13-2009, 10:50 AM

Junk?

My wife likes the Ford Freestyle and we drove one and liked it. It had good power and the delivery via a CVT transmission is very nice. No shift or jerks was really cool. The CVT allows this pig (its pretty damn long) to get 20 city and 27 highway and haul the kids around town. Currently we have a Camry V6 and it gets the same mileage or just a tick better. The Camry doesn't have room to carpool or take any of the kids friends with us. I've found quite a few post on the web though that indicate that the CVT suffers a complete failure usually with low miles on it. I'm not sure though how common this is. This specific car has in the 60k range. I'm worried about giving up our Toyota reliability for what could be a major liability. I think the dealer might know about this issue as they are offering an extended warranty on the car. I don't know who the warranty is through only that it is a $0.00 deductible. The warranty makes it a plausible purchase assuming its through a reputable company.

Trading our Camry in on it should be an even swap dollar wise. In fact does anyone know if you can get your bank to simply transfer their lien from one title to another?

MSP1060 · 07-13-2009, 10:54 AM

Would help to know the year of the Freestyle and the year/mileage of the Camry. What I mean is, many banks will do a "collateral swap" if the the new vehicle is of equal or greater loan value. I can figure out the nada loan value for you if you pm me the vins.

TheBlueMartin · 07-13-2009, 11:34 AM

I dont know of a CVT yet that hasnt had major issues, from Audi to Nissan. But some of the hybrids that are using CVTs dont seem to be doing to bad, so maybe their getting better...

MSP1060 · 07-13-2009, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBlueMartin

I dont know of a CVT yet that hasnt had major issues, from Audi to Nissan. But some of the hybrids that are using CVTs dont seem to be doing to bad, so maybe their getting better...

Several new Dodge models have the CVT and they put a lifetime warrenty on the engine and transmission. Can't be too unreliable...

Jeff M. · 07-13-2009, 11:54 AM

I really don't see what so great about the Freestyle. My Escape gets almost the same gas milage I average 21city 24 Hwy, and you can tow up to 3500lbs. something you can't do with the Freestyle. The new 09 Escapes get a little better Hwy milage because of a new 6-speed, mines just a 4-speed.

rare · 07-13-2009, 01:02 PM

It seats 7. I have two kids, 6 & 4. If a friend wants to ride in the Camry they can't or we have to take the booster seats out. We don't want a mini van or another SUV. We had an Explorer with the 3rd row seat and gas use was a killer.

DougNuts · 07-15-2009, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSP1060

Several new Dodge models have the CVT and they put a lifetime warrenty on the engine and transmission. Can't be too unreliable...

You're talking about the Chrysler that went bankrupt, right?

MSP1060 · 07-15-2009, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DougNuts

You're talking about the Chrysler that went bankrupt, right?

Well since Chrysler is Dodge, yes, I suppose. What's your point?

nester · 07-15-2009, 01:07 PM

3rd row seating = death trap. I'd only put someone I didn't like in a 3rd row.

DougNuts · 07-15-2009, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSP1060

Well since Chrysler is Dodge, yes, I suppose. What's your point?

The lifetime warranty was a marketing gimmick designed to sell cars, not to be confused with a good transmission design. Secondly, even if the Dodge and Ford CVTs are made by the same company, I'm sure their designs, component quality and operating requirements are vastly different.

CVTs generally don't like to be hooked to a motor which makes a lot of power and I would assume that a heavy vehicle would impose similar stresses that will shorten the life expectancy.

With all that said, do a Google search before you buy. I'm always amazed at how easy it is to find a vehicle's common failure modes that way.

C. Ludwig · 07-15-2009, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DougNuts

CVTs generally don't like to be hooked to a motor which makes a lot of power

Tell that to this guy.

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/4...-in_157240.htm

flatl1n3 · 07-15-2009, 04:00 PM

i drove a cvt altima and hated it, so slushy, no response when you really needed it

Turrry · 07-15-2009, 04:51 PM

CVT transmissions are NOT new....there is a REASON they stopped making them for 30 years in the industry...

Turrry · 07-15-2009, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rare

It seats 7. I have two kids, 6 & 4. If a friend wants to ride in the Camry they can't or we have to take the booster seats out. We don't want a mini van or another SUV. We had an Explorer with the 3rd row seat and gas use was a killer.

Mazda CX-9?

MSP1060 · 07-15-2009, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DougNuts

The lifetime warranty was a marketing gimmick designed to sell cars, not to be confused with a good transmission design. Secondly, even if the Dodge and Ford CVTs are made by the same company, I'm sure their designs, component quality and operating requirements are vastly different.

CVTs generally don't like to be hooked to a motor which makes a lot of power and I would assume that a heavy vehicle would impose similar stresses that will shorten the life expectancy.

With all that said, do a Google search before you buy. I'm always amazed at how easy it is to find a vehicle's common failure modes that way.

I HAVE to know your reasoning behind this... Gimmick? If you were told that the internal lubricated parts on your engine and drivetrain is completely covered for the life of your vehicle, and the company had to stand behind that for as long as you own it, do you think they would put a malfunctioning transmission in a mass produced model? I hate Dodge products, but I think this falls under the 'common sense' category.

How is the Chrysler/Dodge lifetime warrenty a gimmick? I will say in your defense that it may have been a way to put their name in a better light if they knew in 2007 that they would have some reputation issues in 2009... If this is what you intended when you said "gimmick", maybe you are confused about the definition. The lifetime warrenty is backed by the federal government, and there are no gimmicks in that statement.