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Old December 3rd 04, 01:06 AM
Rein
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On Thu, 02 Dec 2004 04:23:15 GMT, Paul > wrote:

>at 01 Dec 2004, ] wrote in
:
>
>
>> This may be OT - but I went on a test drive in a new Freestyle. The
>> automatic in that car-truck-thing doesn't shift! It constantly
>> adjusts the gear ratio - it was astounding. I was in the back seat.
>> I wish I was driving.They call it a CVT - Continously Variable
>> Transmission.
>>
>> I wonder if it will be reliable?

>
>It oughta be. been around for decades. It's based on the van Doorne
>Automobiel Fabrieken (DAF) 'Variomatic' used in the DAF brand cars.


Hey I remember those ! My grandfather used to own one. The damn thing
always broke down.
The transmissions weren't very reliable if I recall correctly.

>DAF cars got taken over by Volvo/Mitsubishi about 10 years back which
>explains how Ford got hold of it. They actually offer it in Europe for
>at least the last 5 years in their smaller cars. DAF trucks is now
>owned by Paccar, also known for it's Kenworth and Freightliner brands.
>Anybody see the new line of freightliner panel vans? Those are based
>on a line DAF makes. :-)
>
>The old variomatic used rubber belts which needed replacement
>regularly as they tended to stretch. The CVT uses a metal kind of
>belt/chain design which is far more durable/reliable. I don't know if
>the CVT does it, but the old variomatic used to be able to go as fast
>in reverse as it did in forward. Which is why in Holland they have/had
>races with people driving their DAF cars in reverse on the racetrack.
>Quite popular as well.


hmm, I remember those as well.

>
>How do I know? DAF's factory is in the town I used to live in. For
>those who want to see what the cars looked like, they have the classic
>model and some others on http://www.dafmuseum.nl/


yeah. I used to live in the frogland as well.

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