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.

[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.

[Vanin]

poing said:

I've always been confused with modern automatic cars and why they need any sort of lever, can't they just have a button on the dash for reverse when needed then let everything else happen automatically?

You need to buy an Aston for that!