I don't have any buttons on my steering wheel. Just the way I like it!tankinbeans wrote:My dad used to drool about cars with the push button trannies. Could always put them on the steering wheel, I already have 18-21 buttons on my wheel, depending on how you count them.
Only half joking.
No physical linkage between shifter and transmission???
-
- Senior Standardshifter
- Posts: 755
- Joined: Wed Mar 06, 2013 1:50 pm
- Cars: 2009 Mazda 5 2.3L 5MT
- Location: Detroit area
Re: No physical linkage between shifter and transmission???
09 Mazda 5 2.3 5-speed manual 171k
11 Subaru Forester auto 113k
92 Ford Mustang LX 5.0 5-speed manual 151k
11 Subaru Forester auto 113k
92 Ford Mustang LX 5.0 5-speed manual 151k
- potownrob
- Master Standardshifter
- Posts: 7833
- Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2005 11:35 pm
- Cars: '17 CX-5 GT
- Location: Dutchess County
Re: No physical linkage between shifter and transmission???
i like cats
ClutchFork wrote:...So I started carrying a stick of firewood with me and that became my parking brake.
-
- Master Standardshifter
- Posts: 4029
- Joined: Tue Apr 26, 2011 9:04 pm
- Cars: 17 Mazda6 To, 18 Mazda3 i
- Location: Shakopee, MN
Re: No physical linkage between shifter and transmission???
Me too. They're very clever.potownrob wrote:i like cats
-
- Master Standardshifter
- Posts: 15881
- Joined: Sun Jul 01, 2007 12:42 am
- Cars: '08 Saab 9-5 Aero wagon
- Location: Salem, MA
Re: No physical linkage between shifter and transmission???
Center console mounted shifters actually make a ton of sense. Your hatred of them is bizarrely intense. You bring it up every time you possibly can.InlinePaul wrote:So then there is no advantage in having the selector lever on the floor taking up space. They should put it back on the steering column where it is out of the way, or better yet, go like my 1963 Dodge Dart had with the push buttons selectors on the dash board. But many think their car is cooler and/or faster with a big fancy knob on the floor? It sells.Shadow wrote:....lots of newer cars don't have any physical connection between the gear selector and their automatic transmissions.
-For one, theyre way easier to be accurate when rapidly shifting between drive and reverse. Most column selectors are rather vague. It also becomes easier to add slapshift or similar gear selection features to a console selector.
-It is also far easier for different manufacturers to make a brand or model-identifiable selector. Theres only so much a stick from a column can be before it gets weird.
-Console selectors also distance passenger vehicles from utility vehicles like vans and trucks. This definitely falls into a marketing ploy, but its still valid.
-Unless the ergonomics are awful, console selectors are usually less intrusive to the cabin because they dont block anything on the dash.
-On a related ergonomic note: Lets face it, many people rest their arms on the armrest rather than holding the wheel. The selector is more convenient to reach.
-Having the selector in the center console helps prevent steering columns from becoming overcrowded. They also (unless we are talking about shift by wire) limit the adjustability of the steering wheel position because the cable has to maintain correct positioning.
The new Ram 1500s with the Pentastar have selector knobs on the dash. They are horrible. No vehicle should require so much thought to put in gear. Straightforward column and console shifters should not be f*cked around with.
- ClutchFork
- Master Standardshifter
- Posts: 1937
- Joined: Wed Mar 06, 2013 2:55 pm
- Cars: 2008 Fusion 2.3L manual
- Location: Detroit MI
Re: No physical linkage between shifter and transmission???
Maybe we can teach them to work the PRND2L for us in automatic cars.tankinbeans wrote:Me too. They're very clever.potownrob wrote:i like cats
Stick shiftin since '77
theholycow wrote:Why in the world would you even want to be as smooth as an automatic? Might as well just drive an automatic...
Re: No physical linkage between shifter and transmission???
Some newer cars with automatics have what looks like a small joystick (for lack of a better description) where you'd expect to see a traditional shifter/gear selector. Maybe pushbuttons on the dash aren't too far away. What's old is new again. Still though, carmakers tend to stick with familiarity when it comes to new tech, so I think the gear selector will stay put in most cars for now.InlinePaul wrote:So then there is no advantage in having the selector lever on the floor taking up space. They should put it back on the steering column where it is out of the way, or better yet, go like my 1963 Dodge Dart had with the push buttons selectors on the dash board. But many think their car is cooler and/or faster with a big fancy knob on the floor? It sells.Shadow wrote:....lots of newer cars don't have any physical connection between the gear selector and their automatic transmissions.
- ClutchFork
- Master Standardshifter
- Posts: 1937
- Joined: Wed Mar 06, 2013 2:55 pm
- Cars: 2008 Fusion 2.3L manual
- Location: Detroit MI
Re: No physical linkage between shifter and transmission???
Actually I kind of prefer even manual transmission cars to have the shift lever on the steering column, but for me there is no good reason for the automatic selector lever to be in the middle taking up space. The push buttons in the '64 Dodge Dart were perfect. We don't see huge knobs on radios because a small knob does the job. Likewise, what is the point of a huge lever just to pick between the mode of reverse or drive, 2 or 1. Yeah, I forget about those who like to manually shift automatics, but even then, push buttons would be a very positive way to do it.watkins wrote:Center console mounted shifters actually make a ton of sense. Your hatred of them is bizarrely intense. You bring it up every time you possibly can.
-For one, theyre way easier to be accurate when rapidly shifting between drive and reverse. Most column selectors are rather vague. It also becomes easier to add slapshift or similar gear selection features to a console selector.
-It is also far easier for different manufacturers to make a brand or model-identifiable selector. Theres only so much a stick from a column can be before it gets weird.
-Console selectors also distance passenger vehicles from utility vehicles like vans and trucks. This definitely falls into a marketing ploy, but its still valid.
-Unless the ergonomics are awful, console selectors are usually less intrusive to the cabin because they dont block anything on the dash.
-On a related ergonomic note: Lets face it, many people rest their arms on the armrest rather than holding the wheel. The selector is more convenient to reach.
-Having the selector in the center console helps prevent steering columns from becoming overcrowded. They also (unless we are talking about shift by wire) limit the adjustability of the steering wheel position because the cable has to maintain correct positioning.
Stick shiftin since '77
theholycow wrote:Why in the world would you even want to be as smooth as an automatic? Might as well just drive an automatic...
-
- Master Standardshifter
- Posts: 4029
- Joined: Tue Apr 26, 2011 9:04 pm
- Cars: 17 Mazda6 To, 18 Mazda3 i
- Location: Shakopee, MN
Re: No physical linkage between shifter and transmission???
I kind of like the rotary shifters found in higher end models, I've seen them on Top Gear and can't think of them off the top of my brain mush. Just dispense with the stupid J or zigzag patterns. Those get tiresome.
Re: No physical linkage between shifter and transmission???
I have a hard time understanding why anyone would want a shift lever on the column (on a manual transmission vehicle) at all. Honestly, I've never driven one, but I can't imagine that I'd like it nearly as much as a traditional console shifter.InlinePaul wrote: Actually I kind of prefer even manual transmission cars to have the shift lever on the steering column...
- ClutchFork
- Master Standardshifter
- Posts: 1937
- Joined: Wed Mar 06, 2013 2:55 pm
- Cars: 2008 Fusion 2.3L manual
- Location: Detroit MI
Re: No physical linkage between shifter and transmission???
It's a lot of fun:Shadow wrote:I have a hard time understanding why anyone would want a shift lever on the column (on a manual transmission vehicle) at all. Honestly, I've never driven one, but I can't imagine that I'd like it nearly as much as a traditional console shifter.
Stick shiftin since '77
theholycow wrote:Why in the world would you even want to be as smooth as an automatic? Might as well just drive an automatic...
Re: No physical linkage between shifter and transmission???
I dunno....looks awkward and uncomfortable. Plus, could you imagine the linkage? Realistically, a floor-mounted shift lever that goes right through the floor and into the transmission seems like a much better idea.
-
- Moderator
- Posts: 3418
- Joined: Wed Jun 11, 2003 5:01 pm
- Location: OK, USA
Re: No physical linkage between shifter and transmission???
The only real benefit I see to this is the ability to properly implement remote start on a manual (provided there was a switch to make sure the parking brake was also sufficiently applied to hold the vehicle in place).
Floor/console/dash-protruberance shifters are becoming more common than not in trucks and vans too.watkins wrote:-Console selectors also distance passenger vehicles from utility vehicles like vans and trucks. This definitely falls into a marketing ploy, but its still valid.
-
- Master Standardshifter
- Posts: 15881
- Joined: Sun Jul 01, 2007 12:42 am
- Cars: '08 Saab 9-5 Aero wagon
- Location: Salem, MA
Re: No physical linkage between shifter and transmission???
Absolutely. I see them all the time in Rams. I personally prefer it. I love having a big console for storage. I have no interest in having more room for passengers.
-
- Master Standardshifter
- Posts: 4029
- Joined: Tue Apr 26, 2011 9:04 pm
- Cars: 17 Mazda6 To, 18 Mazda3 i
- Location: Shakopee, MN
Re: No physical linkage between shifter and transmission???
They'd be more interested in shredding our legs to ribbons.InlinePaul wrote:Maybe we can teach them to work the PRND2L for us in automatic cars.tankinbeans wrote:Me too. They're very clever.potownrob wrote:i like cats
- potownrob
- Master Standardshifter
- Posts: 7833
- Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2005 11:35 pm
- Cars: '17 CX-5 GT
- Location: Dutchess County
Re: No physical linkage between shifter and transmission???
if toonces were still alive, he'd be the cat for the jobInlinePaul wrote:Maybe we can teach them to work the PRND2L for us in automatic cars.tankinbeans wrote:Me too. They're very clever.potownrob wrote:i like cats
ClutchFork wrote:...So I started carrying a stick of firewood with me and that became my parking brake.