I am interested to see the popularity of the different gear boxes fitted to the Volvo 300 series! As far as i know there is the...

4 Speed Manual

5 Speed Manual

CVT (Automatic)

Post your opinion and vote on the poll!

Cheers

Come On there must be someone that has an likes the 4 speed box...

Cheers

i have not 4-speed, but it is OK. having 5-speed. autos since 83 with Volvo engine have only 5-speed ones, i guess.

When my 5 spd died i bought a replacement one... it was smooth and fine, i had no problems with it... then i got to the highway and found that it didnt have a 5th speed...

The 4 speed revved too high for highway use... i dont mind going up to and beyond redline... but 4 hours of listening to a constant 5500rpm with a dead muffler is not my thing

Can someone explain to me what this CVT is... from what i have interpretted it... normal gearbox has fixed ratios and the rpm varies... the CVT sounds like the opposite.... the rpm is constant and the gear ratios vary.... is this line of thinking close to right? it sounds like a strange concept

The CVT stands for, as far as i know - Continuously Variable Transmition! This transmition is automatic, but unlike a standard automatic it does not have seperate gears, so as u accelerate u dont notice the transmittion. This a bit of guess work, ive never owned one, but if someone can shed more light please do!

Cheers

yep cvt = continuous variable transmission, basically it uses rubber bands and cones, to make a gear system that has no 'gears'.. the advantage is the engine can run at (say) 3500 revs (nice power) for every speed from 5mph to 70mph. unfortunatly it didnt work to well, and made the cars slow and thirsty.

...slow and thirsty, yes - but strangely charming to drive, especially round town.

I really like the CVT, it is very pleasant and comfortable for driving downtown

Volvo 360 GL B200K wrote:Come On there must be someone that has an likes the 4 speed box...

Cheers

Do u drive a 4 speed duvel?

No no no

CVT for the 340 and 5 speed for the 360...

a mate of mine *had* a 4speed 340 dl, many years ago (4 or 5) before i could even drive, it was teh same colour/shape as mine, he'd thought when i first pulled up at his house that i'd brought his old car.. hehe

Just one word about the CVT: it's a fantastic invention!! I'm more and more in love with my vario... That was a dream today, all windows opened, I could enjoy hearing the pretty noise coming from the CVT

(of course I love my B200 too, just another driving style!)

I have no experience of the 4 speed or the CVT, all 340s I've driven have had 5 speed, when my car was young the garage used to provide a courtesy car while it was being serviced. Usually a 340 1.4.

4+5 speed same boxes,so try and drive down motorway in 4th@80mph !
not nice.both of my cars are 5speed.
the rally car has a long 1st- 2.5 , so it will pull 45-50mph in 1st
a standard box has 2.16 2nd so that'll give you an idea of how long it is.

STANDARD 4/5
1st-3.7
2nd-2.16
3rd-1.37
4th-1.0
5th-0.83

SPORT
1st-2.5
2nd-1.63
3rd-1.27
4th-1.0
5th-0.91

final drive was different on a 4 speed, meaning the gearing was a bit taller