Dodge trucks. what do you think of that turn knob shifter?

[flipper35]

It looks like it can be turned with gloved hands and gets it up on the dash giving you more usable space.

[Jrboulder]

Isn't this the sort of thing that killed that actor?

[flipper35]

No, the monostable ZF unit like picture 2 in Gogar's post is what may have led to the actors death. The dial is the polystable and works like a console shifter or column shifter in that it remains in the position you turn it to instead of returning to a neutral position each time you move it.

[M.D. Holloway]

Just rented one and I have to admit for a few seconds I didn't know how to shift it into drive! And when it began to rain it took me a few seconds to determine the windshield wipers. These are things one should always figure out prior to starting the vehicle!

[rusnak]

I'm sort of sure that I'd be confused and feeling senile with one of those things.

It looks like the selector returns to a neutral position. I find that completely baffling.

[rattlsnak]

Originally Posted by dad911

Wouldn't bother me, but I see incompetent users and a class action suit in their future.

If I was an auto engineer, I'd have it programmed to shift in to park automatically when any door is opened.

Welcome to Mercedes. Rented a new C300 last week and I did a rolling open the door stop while pulling up to a gas station and it about put me through the windshield when it slammed into park. BAD feature.. i have opened my door on purpose countless times when going down the road for various reasons. I can't imagine what would happen if I was going 50!

[rusnak]

Monkey roll to safety?

[95avblm3]

Originally Posted by rusnak

I'm sort of sure that I'd be confused and feeling senile with one of those things.

It looks like the selector returns to a neutral position. I find that completely baffling.

It doesn't... The selector knob has 4 detent positions for each of P, R, N & D. It has hard stops at the limits of P & D. It has a very positive feeling that is aided by an audible click and LEDs indicating which gear you are in. It is actually a really slick set-up. I like it quite a bit... The only thing better (IMO) would be to replace it with a proper manual transmission like my old Dodge Ram... but such is not an option in 2015-2016 US market 1/2 ton pickups.

[petrolhead611]

So the Rockford is what we call a J turn?
That Imperial auto instruction suggests engaging reverse when still going forward at 5 mph.?Wow that will save using the brakes to come to a halt.
Why would anyone want to open the door of a moving car? I thought most cars these days autolock the doors once moving so that kind of suicide attempt isnt possible.

[onewhippedpuppy]

I had a Chrysler 200 company car in my previous job with the knob shifter, it became second nature after a few trips. It's actually a really good transmission too, at least in their car applications. Very smooth, 9 speeds, excellent predictive logic. Very rarely caught off guard.

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by petrolhead611

Why would anyone want to open the door of a moving car? I thought most cars these days autolock the doors once moving so that kind of suicide attempt isnt possible.

The problem is people get out of the car thinking it's in park, but it's not....so it rolls forward (or backward) and maybe kills someone.

My father once left his car in reverse (thinking he had put it in park) while he ran into the house to get his sunglasses. The car backed across the road and the drivers door (which he had left open) hooked on the neighbors tree and stopped the car. Zero damage...

[rcecale]

Fast-forward to 0:32 to see a few Rockfords...



Randy

[Dantilla]

Originally Posted by rcecale

.... to see a few Rockfords...

I'd be curious to know how many Firebirds were used/destroyed in that show.
Gotta be a bunch.

Also curious what role Pontiac played. What better way to market a pony car?

[aigel]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

Putting the transmission control on the end of a stick is a nod to tradition, but it's time to get over that and do something sensible like the knob or push buttons. My Tundra has the shifter on the floor - just about the worst possible place. Wastes tons of space.

+1 - shifter location was a big driver for me to go with the RAM. It is ridiculous to have a truck or SUV with a floor shifter. Then they add a 2' wide console around it for that fighter cockpit feel.

G

[aigel]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

I had a Chrysler 200 company car in my previous job with the knob shifter, it became second nature after a few trips. It's actually a really good transmission too, at least in their car applications. Very smooth, 9 speeds, excellent predictive logic. Very rarely caught off guard.

I really think they got this right - knob and trans. Everyone speculating how horrible this must be should really drive one for a while. The 8 speed ZF in the RAM is fantastic. It always feels in the right gear. Also, in tow mode, it down shifts / keeps higher rpm when going down-hill, it is phenomenal, really like it hauling my truck camper. Also, when you get on it, it blasts through the gears, keeping you on the power curve!

G

[speeder]

Originally Posted by Dantilla

I'd be curious to know how many Firebirds were used/destroyed in that show.
Gotta be a bunch.

Also curious what role Pontiac played. What better way to market a pony car?

The funny thing is that a properly executed Rockford or J turn isn't that hard on the drive train, just the tires. Emphasis here on properly executed, timing is everything in terms of shifting into D during the fulcrum of the turn and using the momentum of the car to minimize the shock to transmission when accelerating forward.

I learned to drive on a frozen lake, I could demonstrate several automotive ballet moves for you.

They definitely lunched plenty of Firebirds on the show going off-road, crashing, etc.

[wdfifteen]

Veering a little off topic here, but why do family sedans with automatic transmissions have tachometers? They are useless, and just crowd the display. My daughter in law has a Chevy HHR, and it has a tachometer.
The one new car I've driven lately that doesn't have a tach is my Volt. I never know what the engine is doing. I don't need to know, but it would be interesting.

[rusnak]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

Veering a little off topic here, but why do family sedans with automatic transmissions have tachometers? They are useless, and just crowd the display. My daughter in law has a Chevy HHR, and it has a tachometer.
The one new car I've driven lately that doesn't have a tach is my Volt. I never know what the engine is doing. I don't need to know, but it would be interesting.

Ha! My mom's Subaru doesnt even have a voltmeter. I can't remember if it has a temp gauge. It has a fuel economy "gauge".
People who buy new cars today dont even know how to read gauges I guess.

[rcecale]

Originally Posted by rusnak

Ha! My mom's Subaru doesnt even have a voltmeter. I can't remember if it has a temp gauge. It has a fuel economy "gauge".
People who buy new cars today dont even know how to read gauges I guess.

Who needs gauges when we have these?



Randy

[TheRedSlantnose]

I've always found the whole drive-by-wire thing to be a bit iffy because it isn't entirely foolproof. With a traditional gear lever, you can easily see what position it's in and therefore easily determine if the car is in gear or not, but when you have a dial to shift gears, it looks the same in any position and you instead have a light to tell you what gear it's in. If you're not careful, you may forget to check that light, and if that light fails for some reason, you'd have to guess what gears to shift into.

I don't own any cars that have a dial shifter, so I'm only going off of my impression on it.