why are cars/suv's/vans moving away from column mounted shifters?

[BlahBlahYouToo]

for cars, i can see the reasoning behind it. you have models with manual shifters which are always on the center console between the front passenger seats so it makes engineering/financial sense to have an auto shifter there as well.

but for minivans/suvs (most of which only come in auto), wouldn't it make more sense to have them mounted on the steering column on to allow for less clutter on the dash/console?

what's the reasoning behind this?

 

[CurseTheSky]

Because column mounted shifters are annoying as hell.

Actually, that second picture looks annoying as hell too. I can't stand driving a car - even an automatic - that doesn't have the shifter near my right leg. I make exceptions for trucks, but other than that it just doesn't feel natural.

On the "things that annoy you about cars" subject, there's another one in the section picture. I can't stand any non-truck vehicles that have a parking brake pedal. Shortly after I got my license, a friend was teaching me to drive stick in his '95 Mustang GT. Needless to say, after a few grueling days of jerky starts and being coached to drive like a "pro" (lol), I finally got back to my comfort zone of a 1999 Malibu... with a floor-mounted parking brake. A bit later in the day I was in a bad mood, at a light, with someone in the right lane being an ass to everyone. I decided to just blow by them and be done with it, but when the light turned green they had the same idea. While fairly gutless and mated with a horrendous 4 speed automatic, the Malibus had a good amount of torque on the low end, which lifted the hood a bit and gave me some nasty tire hop. I had a huge grin on my face as the average family sedan pulled away from their "sporty" Civic... until, by instinct, I slammed my left foot down as RPMs approached 5500, hitting the corner of the parking brake in the process.

I think I avoided driving for the next several days simply out of disgust.

 

[ussfletcher]

Because column mounted shifters are annoying as hell.

Actually, that second picture looks annoying as hell too. I can't stand driving a car - even an automatic - that doesn't have the shifter near my right leg. I make exceptions for trucks, but other than that it just doesn't feel natural.

It would take you about a day to get used to the column mounted shifter.

 

[bruceb]

Column shifter are dated. I personally prefer floor mounted, wether it be manual or automatic.

 

[Throckmorton]

It's just fashion. People are willing to trade off the functionality of an extra seat in the middle for feeling cool while driving their automatics. I wish my Jeep had a column shifter and a seat or more storage space in the center.

My dad had a 1993 Taurus with one and it was fine. Well, not fine if you're taking your Taurus to the track and want to feel like Vin Diesel grabbing the selector like a gorilla and "shifting" gears.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Column shifters haven't really been common since bucket seats became the norm. When I was a kid in the '70s, most family cars had bench seats in front and a column shifter, but obviously that has changed since then, and if you have bucket seats there's no reason not to use a console shifter. I think most people find console shifters more intuitive and ergonomic (plus I suspect in years past some people preferred them because they look more like manual shifters).

 

[CurseTheSky]

It would take you about a day to get used to the column mounted shifter.

Oh, it wouldn't take me long to get used to. It's just not comfortable to me.

 

[43st]

Maybe a result of platform sharing and the global car market?

One would think a column would be a column though.. I wonder how many European cars have had column shifters?

 

[ravana]

Why even have the shifters in an automatic? Add a couple more buttons on the dash and call it day.

That way we can eliminate those stupid "What gear am I in" indicators from the gauge cluster.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

so mechanically, there's no advantage for either mount location.

 

[jaha2000]

I miss the old "three on the tree" truck we used to have. It felt like you had to move the shifter 2 feet in between gear changes. Pretty funny to watch somebody that used to driving a little econobox manual with 4 inch shifter throws.

 

[jhu]

You know what I miss? Starting the engine by hand cranking it. You youngsters and your "electric starter motor" disgust me.

 

[LTC8K6]

Because column mounted shifters are annoying as hell.

The only thing more annoying is a dash mounted shifter.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I prefer the shifter mounted on a large handle next to the running boards myself.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

I prefer the gear changes be made by whipping my horses.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Floor mounted feels more sporty and "high class". But the dash mounted ones just seem cheesy as hell.

This is a real shifter!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KhPcDMGRxw

 

[halik]

Why even have the shifters in an automatic? Add a couple more buttons on the dash and call it day.

That way we can eliminate those stupid "What gear am I in" indicators from the gauge cluster.

This.

 

[ElFenix]

the split bench seat and column mounted shifter in my 1991 ford taurus were awesome. 6 people were fine in there for short trips, like going to a restaurant. now you can barely fit 6 people in a ginormous SUV. progress!

 

[roguerower]

I prefer shifting with my left foot and grabbing clutch with my left hand. Leads to a better commuting experience.

 

[HappyPuppy]

Why even have the shifters in an automatic? Add a couple more buttons on the dash and call it day.

That way we can eliminate those stupid "What gear am I in" indicators from the gauge cluster.

Welcome to ancient history. Chrysler products had button shifters on the dash back in the 1950's with their torqueflight transmissions.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

Why even have the shifters in an automatic? Add a couple more buttons on the dash and call it day.

That way we can eliminate those stupid "What gear am I in" indicators from the gauge cluster.

neutral.

 

[thedarkwolf]

I like the column shifter in my beater caravan. Keeps it out of the way.

What I really miss is the floor mounted high beam switch. I'm old.

 

[herm0016]

this is nearly as bad as not buying a car because you do not like the radio antenna....

the column shifter works fine in my new truck, as it does in my 72' wagoneer. on a sports car i can see wanting to console mount it, but it really makes no difference unless you have some sort of manual mode for your auto.

i am not old and still like the floor mount high beam switch (have one on the waggy)

 

[PottedMeat]

is that old odyssey->new odyssey?

i figure it's less stuff to route through the column. the only thing moving back and forth is the transmission shifter cable right? all they would have to worry about is electrical.

edit: yeah odysseys, didn't look at the filenames heh

 

[BornStar]

I always missed whatever gear I was aiming for with the column shifters in both the 1990 Caravan and the 2000 Odyssey whereas I never miss with a normal shifter. The Odyssey was particularly bad about flying right past D4 to D3 or D2. I despise column shifters.