by Wallace Wyss –
Before there was the World Wide Web it was difficult to catch the drift on which car models had inherent flaws. Which cars not to buy in other words. But now you can look up a car’s bad rep on YouTube like this one: 10 worst Nissan cars. I looked up that headline and though my own car (Versa) wasn’t on the dreaded list, I was shocked to see model after model was on there for the same reason–the belt transmission called Continuously Variable Transmission. It uses belts instead of gears. But the belts crack, and slip and stretch and break. Great idea on paper but in real life, endless woes.
Fortunately I bought a manual shift. I was sad to see that convertible van was on the list and they didn’t make that with a manual. So scratch that one from my future buys list. Of course there are websites that will list the 10 Best Nissans but I’m here today to praise the worse lists because now there is a public opinion means of punishing automakers who keep offering the same lame device year after year instead of admitting it’s a flawed concept.
The Japanese normally build good cars but they are stubborn. Flawed design? Don’t worry, the importers say–we’ll fix it. But I say we Americans don’t’ have the patience to wait ten years until they get it right. I pity the owners who have to shell out $2000 to $3000 to replace a transmission that was flawed when new.
Let us know what you think in the Comments.
THE AUTHOR: Wallace Wyss is co-host of Autotalk, broadcast weekly from KUCR FM Riverside, CA.
Ford had the same problem with their CVT and they were forced to buy them back.