My parents had three of these, and I vividly remember one of those "mean looking" sportscars with the sideskirts and spoiler at the traffic lights. The guy (baseball cap, tracksuit) took a glance at our "tank" with the wholesome family inside, smiled and let his engine rev up. But we all know how lovely not having to shift gears works! The look on his face was priceless the moment we easily pulled away as he fumbled around with the gearstick... ah the times we had.
@bibuloramboias The Volvo 340 models with automatic transmission never came with any other engine than the B14 (1.4l carburated). So 1.7 is impossible.
So uneconomic. That rewing could be bad for engine if you are driving on highway lot. But interesting system. Works on scooters but why they decided to put a CVT in a car, i don't know. Dos this system have anything better than an automatic transmission?
You clearly don't understand that the car is under acceleration. When I let go of the gas pedal, the revs will go down. Actually since the kickdown isn't working, the revs don't go up as fast as they should.
What's better than a normal automatic transmission - well... even though this old Variomatic system isn't optimal, it still gives a nice acceleration in city use, and smoothly - remember, no need for the automatic to "change gears". A more modern CVT will keep the engine at optimal rpm.
@drianbamage Actually the fuel economy isn't that great. It has a carburated pushrod (OHV) engine with the basic design from 1960's (Renault Cleon engine family) and the car is rather heavy for a "small" car. I don't drive it for the power or the economy, though.
No, the kick-down is definitely out of order. That side of the 4-way vacuum valve has a blockage somewhere, which means that also the low gear hold switch does nothing. The valve clicks but doesn't give any vacuum from that side. I have a replacement valve but haven't had the time to replace it yet.
When I get the gearbox control working "just right", it'll naturally be time to make another video.
My 440 has a cvt / variomatic; It uses on average a litre every 12km city use or 13,5km motorway use.
Wich is 7.4 liter/100km. ( 31.76 mile per US gallon) Accellerating normal it doesn't rev more than 2000 rpm, on the motorway it does 2750rpm @125km/h. (77.7 miles/h) Isn't bad for a 15 year old car I'd think.
I don't understand the point of a variomatic transmisson. Besides the amount of engine noise you have there, doesn't that use up more fuel instead of having it in overdrive?
In this video the old Volvo was accelerating as hard as it could. When I lift off the RPM drops, but not a lot. On a modern computer controlled CVT (e.g. Audi Multitronic) when you stop accelerating the RPM drops way down, possibly lower than a fixed ratio "overdrive". The engine is always accelerating at optimum power when it's needed, and when not, it just hums along at optimum economic RPM.
I'd estimate that as being 70mph at c.5000rpm. And I thought 400rpm @ 70mph in my Polo 1.0 as pushing it!
Love the 340 though, and they used to race the variomatic 340s in reverse! (Due to an ability to travel as fast in reverse as in drive).
MrsBrownsBoysFeck 1 month ago
0-100 18sec :D
Sarcapalo 6 months ago
slowest car i have ever seen!
mdurlingmk1 8 months ago
My parents had three of these, and I vividly remember one of those "mean looking" sportscars with the sideskirts and spoiler at the traffic lights. The guy (baseball cap, tracksuit) took a glance at our "tank" with the wholesome family inside, smiled and let his engine rev up. But we all know how lovely not having to shift gears works! The look on his face was priceless the moment we easily pulled away as he fumbled around with the gearstick... ah the times we had.
jurmassop 11 months ago
i have one 1.4
what i do with that?
im from portugal and here that car is considered a shit but i like because the traction is behind .. its good to rally!! =)
TheCovinhas 1 year ago
You don't need a stopwatch but a calendar for that lol.
My parents used to have one when I was a kid. Remember my dad complaining about the petrol it drunk...
afdsgwertw 1 year ago
my parents used to tow a caravan with this car, all the way through france....
mipmipmipmipmip 1 year ago
this is a Volvo 340 GLE 1.7 carburated
i have a 340gl 1.4L 70hp and a 340gle 1.7L 90hp
bibuloramboias 1 year ago
@bibuloramboias The Volvo 340 models with automatic transmission never came with any other engine than the B14 (1.4l carburated). So 1.7 is impossible.
slaur42 1 year ago
hahaha varvar dom 4500 i 90km/h ??? XD
volvo142gl 2 years ago
@volvo142gl Nej, egentligen omkring 3600-3800 när man accelerar inte längre.
slaur42 2 years ago
@slaur42 sairaat kierrokset kyllä nekin. Ei taida korvat kestää pitkää matkaa.
TehoTarve 6 months ago
Hows the 340 today?
MakDragon 2 years ago
Still running daily, working fine...
slaur42 2 years ago
oh, thanks. But does CVT is more reliable than automatic transmission?
daavisz 2 years ago
No.
TehoTarve 2 years ago
So uneconomic. That rewing could be bad for engine if you are driving on highway lot. But interesting system. Works on scooters but why they decided to put a CVT in a car, i don't know. Dos this system have anything better than an automatic transmission?
daavisz 2 years ago
You clearly don't understand that the car is under acceleration. When I let go of the gas pedal, the revs will go down. Actually since the kickdown isn't working, the revs don't go up as fast as they should.
What's better than a normal automatic transmission - well... even though this old Variomatic system isn't optimal, it still gives a nice acceleration in city use, and smoothly - remember, no need for the automatic to "change gears". A more modern CVT will keep the engine at optimal rpm.
slaur42 2 years ago
Thats pretty high revving for motorway work
mrspivvy 2 years ago
0/100Km/h in 20 seconds? my 1983 1.4cc Manual is faster.
sergionuno 2 years ago
0/100Km/h in 20 seconds? my 1983 1.4cc manual is faster
sergionuno 2 years ago
1.4 cc, you must be having a hell of a economic car, with no power.
drianbamage 2 years ago
Yes, 1.4 cc is not enough for this car, its underpowered, but anyway, now i use this car as a classic not as a everyday car.
sergionuno 2 years ago
I meant cc is cubic centimetre, thats not much, jou must be meaning 1400cc or 1.4 Litres.
drianbamage 2 years ago
Yes, thats what i mean, sory.
sergionuno 2 years ago
@drianbamage Actually the fuel economy isn't that great. It has a carburated pushrod (OHV) engine with the basic design from 1960's (Renault Cleon engine family) and the car is rather heavy for a "small" car. I don't drive it for the power or the economy, though.
slaur42 2 years ago
I know, i own a 440 ;) But my comment was meant sarcastic.
drianbamage 2 years ago
@drianbamage with a 340 you dont need power, just a welded diff and MASSSIVE balls ;)
NewRomantic4 1 year ago
Variomatic is great in acceleration but horrible in speed
MakDragon 2 years ago
like my scooter
chorald 2 years ago
Hmm, does your kick-down work?
My last 340 made at least 4500 rpm when I really floored it, then it stayed there until it reached a speed of about 110 km/h.
secondgearinfo 2 years ago
No, the kick-down is definitely out of order. That side of the 4-way vacuum valve has a blockage somewhere, which means that also the low gear hold switch does nothing. The valve clicks but doesn't give any vacuum from that side. I have a replacement valve but haven't had the time to replace it yet.
When I get the gearbox control working "just right", it'll naturally be time to make another video.
slaur42 2 years ago
My 440 has a cvt / variomatic; It uses on average a litre every 12km city use or 13,5km motorway use.
Wich is 7.4 liter/100km. ( 31.76 mile per US gallon) Accellerating normal it doesn't rev more than 2000 rpm, on the motorway it does 2750rpm @125km/h. (77.7 miles/h) Isn't bad for a 15 year old car I'd think.
filmpieskiekn 2 years ago
I don't understand the point of a variomatic transmisson. Besides the amount of engine noise you have there, doesn't that use up more fuel instead of having it in overdrive?
fku8447 2 years ago
In this video the old Volvo was accelerating as hard as it could. When I lift off the RPM drops, but not a lot. On a modern computer controlled CVT (e.g. Audi Multitronic) when you stop accelerating the RPM drops way down, possibly lower than a fixed ratio "overdrive". The engine is always accelerating at optimum power when it's needed, and when not, it just hums along at optimum economic RPM.
slaur42 2 years ago
yeah, pretty cool idea
jaw1024 3 years ago
i would like to have a car one day that has this transmission. the dutch are clever
jaggass 3 years ago 9
@jaggass
That transmission is everywhere these days. Subaru used it in 80s as well.
filmftw3 4 months ago