4-matic, Hydramatic with 3, Dynaflow with 2, or CVT with one. Why so many types of transmissions to do exactly the same task?

Asked by migration_judge_roy Feb 01, 2013 at 07:48 PM about the 2000 Mercedes-Benz C-Class C 280 Sedan

Question type: Car Customization

Automatic transmissions are a bust.  The VW had the Automatic Stickshift, which was kind of an automatic, mercedes has the 4-matic, Hydramatic is the most common with 3, Buicks have only two speeds with dynaflow, and MINIS have the BMW creation the CVT, one speed (kinda).

The question is WHY? so many ways of making your ride even less reliable with MORE movng parts?

1 Answer
9,655

Lars answered 11 years ago

Automatic transmissions come in various types and are more of a way to take control away from the driver than anything else, it allows the most inept driver to be able to operate the vehicle and thus allowing the manufacturer to sell cars to people that are unable to apply brakes, use a clutch, change gears and steer the car at the same time when going through a tight turn. As for the CVT being a BMW creation?? I think not, it has its basis in the humble DAF variomatic, which was quite reliable and had the least number of moving parts of any transmission.

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