redesign the shifter

[CeeDub]

Revel in the standardization.....

http://augerresources.com/shiftpattern.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Well I guess there's a fine line between "distinctive" and "odd".

cool pics. I've never seen the buttons in the middle of the steering wheel like that. But it seems most folks don't like buttons cuz these designs pictured never caught on. I think buttons for the leaf would be better then the current design, like the Fiat electric did.

[mwalsh]

I think buttons for the leaf would be better then the current design, like the Fiat electric did.

That was my idea. But then, I suppose a lot of people in the same focus group put that one forward too.

[Nubo]

cool pics. I've never seen the buttons in the middle of the steering wheel like that. But it seems most folks don't like buttons cuz these designs pictured never caught on.

Quite correct. There is some formidable history there for any manufacturer:

[jsongster]

Love the historical, hysterical in some cases photos...

For me... I have gotten used to the mouse/puck shifter... what I would love is a B/HiRegen button or paddle on the wheel.

I found that as I started switching to B to slow that my old manual transmission habits started kicking in... and confusing the issue.

so... another ergonomically different button... so I can Id it by touch as is the case with the wheel buttons.. that toggles B mode on and off

In that same vein... the indicator of the drive mode is a little low for some of us tall folks and is obscured by the wheel... moving it up the the high display or something would help... I find myself occasionally leaving it in B after descending a hill... would be nice to have an indicator up near windshield.

Love my LEAF!

Jeff

[eclecticflower]

As for the above vs. P R N D, well, if you're in Drive, you push forward to go in Reverse. When in Reverse, you pull back to go into Drive.

I'll repeat what I said earlier. Leave the shifter the way it is.

+1 - Absolutely. The shifter is positioned similarly to that of my former 2001 Suzuki Grand Vitara LTD. Its emergency brake also pulled up in the same area as the electronic brake lever on my 2012 LEAF SL. Pretty handy; comfortable, too. I don't get why everybody's having such a problem with the shifter and brake. It didn't tax my brain when I switched to the LEAF. Just sayin'...

[tps]

I remember the first time I drove the Hertz LEAF in April 2011. I did have to think about what I'd just done with the shifter and verify it by the dashboard display before taking my foot off the brake. But after I got my LEAF, I got used to it. Now I like it a lot, better than previous cars.

[Woosie]

Redesign the shifter indeed. I do like the look and the function is simple but I think it's a waste of space. The shift functions could be better served by buttons on the dash leaving the console area (already quite tight on space) free for real cup holders, coin holders, deeper under armrest storage etcetera.

Personally, I don't think this would be a good idea; it did however make me think of the dashboard in my families station wagon, a 1962 Rambler American. Here's a picture of the dash; to the left of the instrument panel is your suggestion, embodied:

I loved the fact that, as a kid, I could walk around the car without stepping on the roof! Aaaaah, to be young again!

[smkettner]

That may be true for most modern cars, but back in my day most cars had three-speed transmissions, and reverse was at the top left of the H.

Code: Select all

R   2
|___|
|   |
1   3

Ray

You must have had a fancy car with a floor shifter. Pull toward you and down was my low gear. (no syncro on low gear)

'65 4D Coronet

[StrykerOne]

I agree with OP, there is just no need for this gimmicky shifter.

[CoolerThanICE]

I don't mind the design... but for the first few weeks it seemed counterintuitive that "R" was towards the front, and "D" was towards the back.