New Electronic Shifter

my issue with the electronic shifters is that the buttons feel cheap plastic-y

 

There are many different models of electronic shifters, including buttons with different color options and those that don't (unless I'm mistaken). Are they all like that?

 

cool, thanks.

 

i love that sarge, thanks! i have to do this, it's such a pain getting to the buttons on the other side of the shifter, especially on the pip.

 

Please suggest such a situation.

SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 ? 2

 

Guy in a pickup truck cuts you off and comes to full stop. You stop behind him, thinking "Wth?!". He's pissed that you drive so slow. He takes out his shot gun and comes towards you. You panic and want to shift into rear?

 

So you intuitively pull back on the shifter to put in in reverse.

 

Actually, no. In a regular automatic, from D, you shift UP to get into R; from R or P, you shift DOWN into D. So in fact, this being my first Prius, the gear positions are quite intuitive (at least for me).

 

No so you go for your own gun.

SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 ? 2

 

Eco-friendly lead free bullets. ;-)

 

^^^^ Correct intuitive response!

 

The shift knob is the only thing you can grab so you use muscle memory right away. Your hand may not be right by the electronic shifter for muscle memory to work so you're liable to hit the wrong button under duress, really no different from the well-documented "pedal confusion" in the case of unintended acceleration.

 

Personally, I do not see a need for an "electronic" push button shifter.

Ford tried push button shifters as did Chrysler in the late 1950's. They disappeared for 60 years.

Prius still mimics the mechanical shifter by putting Drive in the position of pulling back on the lever.

Eventually, Drive will be positioned with the lever forward and Reverse with the lever backward.

The electrical shift lever on the Prius is more like the joystick on a video game controller than a shifter. Forward for Drive and backward for Reverse would be more intuitive. It will likely happen.

 

Don't hold your breath.

Americans are creatures of habit: miles vs kilometers, lbs vs kg, F vs C...

The SI is intuitive, yet it hasn't and will never happen in the US. This is just one glaring example.

We are too used to shift backward for Drive (D). The opposite will likely never happen.

 

Most of the members, here, don't remember the starter button that disappeared in the 1940's. They are back, now.

Also, the electronic is replacing the physical and mechanical key as the start button returns.

The shifter of the future will be just as switch with a lever on the dashboard.

The shifter on the Prius "v" is an evolutionary development of removing the shifter from the floor and the console.

How many tuner knobs do you see on new TV's ok rotary dials on telephones?

People under the age of 70 don't know how to hold and use a candlestick telephone.

 

Zombie attack. They're in-front of your Prius. You can't decide whether to drive away or call for help. You placed your hand on top of the shifter and felt the buttons. You start dialing...

 

Chrysler used push-buttons for 9 years, ('56-'64). They were strictly mechanical, and very reliable. Being mechanical they needed a fairly strong finger push. Rambler had mechanical ones for a few years back then. Mercury had Buttons '57-'58. I think they were mechanical, not sure. Edsel & Packard used electronic buttons and were problematic. Car electronics have come a long way since then.

History is repeating itself. Push-Button transmissions have returned to The Lincoln MKZ, Fiat's Plug-in Electric, Aston-Marton, Tesla, and Fiskar. More on the way??? Hope so.

 

Here's my Poor Man's answer to the $200 +plus electronic push button shifter;

The $3 Prius "one finger" operated SHIFT KNOB... | PriusChat

It cost about $3. There is nearly no chance of malfunctioning. The only downside is that you have to make two motions to shift with your index finger. Then again, you don't have to search to find or to learn the button positions on the electronic shifter. And, you are not likely at all to push the wrong button.

 

in what sort of emergency situation would you need to suddenly shift gears?

 

You can't think of any? Someone provided an example in this thread, although a funny one.

You didn't hear or see the ambulance coming and overshoot into traffic. Better get the heck out of the way.

Someone hits you and you get spun around and find yourself facing oncoming traffic. Oh shit!