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Seeing more new cars with push button transmission. Old version was mechanical push buttons going way way back at least 4 decades ago. Today’s push button transmission is electronic. Other than vehicles like performance cars and heavy duty trucks, do you think this will become more common on passenger vehicles? Would you buy one with this type of transmission shifting?
One issue I saw is the buttons were located on the center where the traditional gear shift lever was traditionally located. Would you prefer this location or one somewhere on the dash near the steering column?
I would like them on the dash but better yet, I would like to see column shifters come back like they did when the push button fad petered out in the mid 60s. I wouldn't mind the return of bench seats, either.
In Edsel's first year, 1958, the push buttons for the transmission was on the hub of the steering wheel. The next year it was a column shift. My grandmother had a Mercury with a push button automatic. Chrysler was the company that put pushbuttons in all their automatic equipped cars the longest. I heard the first automatic Renault Dauphines had pushbuttons. Now that they're electronic, they may become common but I still would like a column shift.
I like the push button shifter in the new Lincoln Navigator. They call it a "piano key shifter". It's under the touch screen off to the left a little bit, it's within easy reach of the driver and frees up the center console. Plus, it looks pretty dang nice too.
I've got a stupid push button transmission gear selector in our 2013 Fiat 500e. I have to visually look at the button upon and after pressing the button because 20% of the time it doesn't register. Our 2013 Tesla Model S has silly column shifter where "Park" requires a press of the side button, "Reverse" an upward click, "Drive" 2 clicks down, and "Neutral 1 click down. It's a stupid design by Diamler/Mercedes Benz and I'm sure I'm not the only one who accidentally pops the car into neutral when trying to activate the windshield wipers.
I prefer my 5-speed 2001 VW Golf TDI. Everything is where it ought to be and requires no visual confirmation.
The 61 Dodge Lancer that I owned had the buttons on the left end of the dashboard. It was great, out of the way, not cluttering the center. I wish my present car had them instead of the handle sticking up on the console.
The Edsel with push buttons had them in the steering wheel hub. Turning of the wheel in normal driving chafed the insulation off the wires and shorted them out. A highly developed bad idea.
My wife had a Rambler wagon that had them under the dash next to the drivers door, they worked OK.
with more and more complicated technologies in cars today i see repair shop owners rubbing their hands together )
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