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Because you have much less linkage to go bad. Floor shifters are pretty much "into transmission" on some cars.
Also, on some small cars, you can not physically have a column shifter, as it will cram into driver knee. I had one like that. 2nd gear. Had to scoot leg off to the side.
Not all cars have floor shifters. My 09 Ridgeline has it on steering column. 2013 Ridgeline has it there too. Which is sort of surprise for a Honda.
Shorter linkages also dictate placing gear shifter in the middle of the dashboard. Weird, but there are cars like this. Nissans and some Toyotas.
Most cars dont even have shift linkages today. Its just an electronic switch and servo system.
Kind of hard to fit 6+reverse on the column in manual mode, and. Not to mention all the other mechanisms on a steering wheel these days, a column shifter might get in the way.
I assume you meant to refer to clutch-pedal manual transmissions. Since many other transmission types actually have +/- shift paddles, which is the only type of gear change you should be making while turning the wheel. Sort of the spiritual return of the column shifter there, even though they're on the wheel. They're handy, though I find a nice +/- gate on the floor shifter to be much more satisfying.
How come they changed the gear shift on cars from the wheel to between the seats~? I'm so use to it on the wheel when I had Chevy's and then they quit. Went to Buicks, and now they quit. What's the reason for it, does anyone know~? I'm comfortable with it on the wheel and then again you use to get a larger seat, a bench seat. Now all I'm finding is gears between the seats with less seat room and more gadgets.
The most logical setup is to have an automatic transmission gear selector on the steering column and a manual transmission shifter between the seats. An automatic transmission gear selector isn't moved very much during driving and it doesn't have to be moved quickly. It makes a lot of sense to put it in an inobtrusive location such as the steering column rather than between the seats, where it obstructs the cup holders and takes up center console real estate. A gear selector on the steering column also allows for a bench seat, which is useful in a truck. (My current vehicle is an '11 F-150 with a column shifter and a center flip-down console/seat.) A manual transmission is much better as a floor/console shift unit as the old column shifters were pretty clunky to shift quickly.
Most vehicles nowdays are only offered with automatic transmissions so there is no good reason to have a console gear selector. Models available with manuals or automatics would have some reason to have a console shift automatic transmission as the automaker could use the same center console assembly for either vehicle. But that's generally not the reason. The only reason to have a console shift for an automatic-only car would be for styling purposes. I am guessing the designers wanted to mimic foreign or sports cars (which often are available with manual transmissions) or wanted to have something "different" than your father's column-shift 1990 Buick LeSabre.
In reference to manual transmissions, I could think of one reason why the shifter was moved from the steering column to the floor: now the shifter does not have to have linkages (rods) between to the shifter by the steering wheel all the way down to the transmission.
Automatic transmission automobiles are a different story, and some of the reasons why the shifter has been moved have been pointed-out by others. A lot of the RV's have the shifter at the steering column, which in turn leaves room to walk between the front seats. The same for a lot of cargo vans and other vehicles.
The reason for bucket seats vs. bench seats is, like others have mentioned, a combination of safety and styling.
Some think that an unintended consequence of the switch to bucket seats, especially as consoles and shifters grew larger, was the decline in drive-in movies across the country .
In reference to manual transmissions, I could think of one reason why the shifter was moved from the steering column to the floor: now the shifter does not have to have linkages (rods) between to the shifter by the steering wheel all the way down to the transmission.
There is still nearly always a cable or rod that goes from the shifter to the transmission even on a floor shift transmission. The only transmissions where a direct linkage is available would be a floor shift manual in a longitudinal engine vehicle but those are not very common these days. Your typical transverse engine car needs a linkage no matter where the shifter is located because the transmission is underneath the engine, not underneath the console.
1. Just to highlight another option of sorts, is that a few cars (I only recall the Edsel...but I believe there were a couple others) had automatic trans push buttons in the center of the steering wheel. I personally didn't think this was great preferring the dash mounted buttons of Mopar cars....but it does free up space...and since the steering wheels of today are already gadget laden it might even make sense or the paddle type controls could be adapted to automatics somehow by bright human factors folks.
Come to think about it there will soon be an app for shifting anyway...
2. Also...while column mounted stick shifts probably worked/lasted well enough under 'normal' driving many hot rodders back then would install a Hurst aftermarket floor shifter, to replace factory 3-speed column and even factory supplied 4-speed floor shifters.
The sturdier/tricker shifters just worked better under racing type conditions.
Most modern 6-speed automatics now have the "manumatic" +/- selectors. It would be a little awkward on the column if the options were P,N,D,5,4,3,2,1.
Another thing I used to hate about column shifters (on 4spd autos) is say you're in 3rd gear, and then shift back up to 4th, you have to careful that the shifter doesn't move too far and end up in neutral.
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