Automatic transmissions are pretty much universal here in Japan so I am more at home with them than manuals these days. I've been using CVT in my Mark 1 and now my Mark 3 for about 10 years. You get used to it and learn to adapt your driving style to it. It's great in stop/start and great when doing long hill climbs at higher speeds - just put your foot down slightly as you start to shed speed, the revs go up and you maintain speed effortlessnessly. Want to accelerate? Just put your foot down and away you go smoothly as if you were on level ground in third gear but with more revs. I think as a younger man I probably would have hated it but in my 60s I think its sophisticated, easy, smooth and just great. Whatever the speed or situation just grab a handful of revs, wait a fraction of a second and watch the CVT feed the power to the wheels. The Mark 3 engine is not as smooth or willing as the Mark 1 engine but it is pretty quiet (unless pushed) and my data shows, over 20% more economical for what I need a car for.