What was Wrong with Column Autobox Shifters

[Vanin]

Sorry if this has been discussed before but it seems much more logical to have a lever on the column to change the gears so that you do not have to look down to check, you free up space in the centre and you do not have the ridiculous situation of forward for reverse and reverse for forward.
The old Borg Warner Model 8 with column change was so simple.

[Janluke]

Vanin said:

Sorry if this has been discussed before but it seems much more logical to have a lever on the column to change the gears so that you do not have to look down to check, you free up space in the centre and you do not have the ridiculous situation of forward for reverse and reverse for forward.
The old Borg Warner Model 8 with column change was so simple.

I believe it was one of the first things they moved when at improving vehicle crash safety

[ging84]

they were simply awkward, at least the vertical ones were
with most column shifters you essentially rotate it towards or away from your other hand on the steering wheel while holding that other other hand perfectly steady, or possibly doing a steering input.
There is just something about handling 2 different rotating devices at the same time which is a little cack handed and uncomfortable feeling, where as something to rotate in 1 hand, something to push and pull in the other, seems to have a much nicer feel to it

[BarbaricAvatar]

Vanin said:

Sorry if this has been discussed before but it seems much more logical to have a lever on the column to change the gears so that you do not have to look down to check, you free up space in the centre and you do not have the ridiculous situation of forward for reverse and reverse for forward.
The old Borg Warner Model 8 with column change was so simple.

How many people look down to change gear in a car they've owned for more than a month?

[Slow]

Dad's honda ridgeline 08? Has a column shifter, so much space between the front seats for the cup holders and cubby box.

[TheEnd]

It was easier and simpler to just stick the shifting mechanism through the same hole the manual box would have, rather than have a separate steering column and cables etc and then have a redesigned centre console without a big hole in it.

[PositronicRay]

With electronic systems it's coming back.

[Vanin]

BarbaricAvatar said:

How many people look down to change gear in a car they've owned for more than a month?

I do every time I want to see what gear I need to be in for corners and hills, if I am in manual mode on my Volvo.

I thought that it may have been to do with making it easier for manufacturers when creating left and right hand drive models.

The other issue that you have not mentioned is the forward for reverse and reverse for forward which is counter intuitive.
At least on the little Peugeot 1007 with the auto box the lever does goes back for reverse and the paddles do work well ,but again why not put the gear lever on the column now it is only a switch and not a mechanical link.

Tractors generally have better systems than cars nowadays with dinky little column levers for forward, reverse and neutral and buttons on the lever for selection.

[silverfoxcc]

SZ series Royces and Bentleys

Royce has it on the column
Bentley has it on the floor (more sporty!!)

[McSam]

You'd like modern Mercedes, then.

[Clivey]

I've never driven a car with a column chance manual box...I'd love to try it out of interest because they just look so quirky.

[Major Fallout]

silverfoxcc said:

SZ series Royces and Bentleys

Royce has it on the column
Bentley has it on the floor (more sporty!!)

So many times I have had to stop myself from indicating with it.

[jay140285]

Yes as said all the new Mercs at work have column shifters

[thecremeegg]

Don't most autoboxes show the gear on the dash anyway so you don't need to look down? Our POS Yaris from 2006 has this, never have to look at the stick ever

[zeduffman]

thecremeegg said:

Don't most autoboxes show the gear on the dash anyway so you don't need to look down? Our POS Yaris from 2006 has this, never have to look at the stick ever

Some manuals do as well for some reason.

[Ozzie Osmond]

McSam said:

You'd like modern Mercedes, then.

^^^^ Exactly

Column shifter for P-R-N-D and flappy paddles to shuffle the 7 ratios. works very well.

.... but does leave the question of why German manufacturers seem determined to fit as many column stalks as possible to their cars! Four is going it a bit in my opinion.

[anonymous-user]

They are much better for certain front seat activities one might wish to undertake with a lady, that's for sure. Makes no difference to you driving but it's a bit more comfortable for her.

[mph1977]

Clivey said:

I've never driven a car with a column chance manual box...I'd love to try it out of interest because they just look so quirky.

evil devices ...

[Clivey]

mph1977 said:

evil devices ...

Haha...call it "morbid curiosity".

[McSam]

Ozzie Osmond said:

McSam said:

You'd like modern Mercedes, then.

^^^^ Exactly

Column shifter for P-R-N-D and flappy paddles to shuffle the 7 ratios. works very well.

It did take me a little while when I first got in a new Merc at work, I'm used to unusual configurations including EVs but even those tend to have a drive selector in the "usual" place. I found the paddles but couldn't select gears with those until I eventually found the column stalk, which is pretty small and not totally obvious to someone not from 50s America! In total I spent maybe a minute trying to work out how to make it begin