After a great year of ownership of a RL, and after being quite "anti-shift-button", I realized that I now could almost care less that I don't have the traditional shifter. My brain has taken over what to do, and I don't even think about having to press the buttons. There are actually safety advantages to the button system, and while I won't say I "prefer" it, I'm 100% fine with it. I am sure I am in the minority, but figured a poll would be fun for folks who have owned the RL long enough to either adapt or realize that you just hate the buttons. Vote away (first attempt at a poll, we'll see if this works)!
After a year of ownership: thoughts on the shifter buttons vs "stick"
Vinny in ATX
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Well my previous vehicle was a MT Civic, so I DEFINITELY hunted for that 'shifter' a lot of times at first, now 4 years ago. I figure the button selector system may be slightly mechanically less complex than a mechanical shifter one with all these little electronic switches in it for 'gears'- seeing as all we are doing is sending electronic signals to the tranny and not actually physically 'shifting' it mechanically like an MT does. Or did. So I'm now used to it, neither love nor hate the system, suppose neutral on it. It would not be a deal maker, nor breaker for me.
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Hmm, as far preferences, some ppl posted about systems like a 4 or 5 speed, which do not lend themselves to a column shifter, especially when you consider reverse and neutral in there, that's 11 'gear' positions on the column... Might get a bit messy ? Or impossible. I really like the 'S' mode' paddle shift option on my '20 , especially when towing and in the mountains. At that point the location of the 'shifter' is moot, I am paddle shifting on the steering wheel. I have been driving since the mid 70's, and to me column shifters are the worst option, '4 on the floor' which most none of you will remember - was superior in every way.
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I know that, and think I said it in a previous post. I have pulled tranny's and engines out of Civics, etc for 30years now, so I do understand a mechanical linkage- to the tranny, versus a wired one. My point was the push buttons on the console might in my aerospace engineers opinion, be slightly 'simpler' and more reliable than the E/M (that's electro-mechanical) linkage- required to do the same in a conventional 'shift lever' configuration. Maybe you know better ? Please provide some schematics and mechanical drawings, and some reliability data- for your claim if that's the case. Otherwise, well, we know........
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There is some lag in those push button switches, that is true, plus you must have a foot on the brake for it to happen. Yes I could in many cases, shift a manual transmission quicker I bet. And to another poster- agree that the paddle shifter is great- especially for the towing that I do.
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