Whats up with our stick shift knobs ?

I may have started an erroneous rumor...

 

I just remembered the photo of the "P" button:

 

C'mon guys, it's not as if you're changing gear with the shifter every few seconds is it. I only use once it at the beginning of a journey.

 

You're right - I've had Manuals without any gear pattern on the gear knob. And, with my FOCUS with 6 speeds, I never looked at the knob after the first day. I'd love one of these - except I couldn't carry 4 grandchildren.

 

This HAS to be the zaniest thread ever...

 

That's it. After hearing this, I am SELLING my Gen 4. This type of quality issue just does not occur in properly designed cars like the Lada or Yugo.

 

Sarcasm aside.
Financially, I can't afford really expensive vehicles. I'm usually shopping at the entry level or "value" level. The Prius probably represents the most expensive vehicle I ever bought new.
I now own a Honda Fit, which is a Honda entry level product.
I try NOT to complain.
I realize with every vehicle decisions are made as to what to invest into, and where to cost cut, and create value. And really? I generally think automakers do a very good job with those compromises.

But once in a while, I am surprised at what a automaker will ignore or make a cost cutting decision in regards to.
As suggested in post 13, this might have something to do with left/right drivers side orientation?

But even if that is the reality, I still think it's surprising of Toyota to not aim the light correctly for all markets.

When I owned my Gen 3, I thought one of the nicest, somewhat unnecessary touches, was the light that shined down to illuminate the selection knob. Since it does NOT internally illuminate, it was IMO a nice, classy way of illuminating it.

This could be more easily forgiven if I thought in any way it could be something "accidentally" overlooked. BUT you know that at some level it was simply a manufacturing and marketing decision. Toyota had to realize that in left side drive vehicles the light was no longer aimed properly, and the decision to continue to add the light, but ignore the reality that it's not aimed properly, does seem to be comparative to a design decision one would see in a Lada or Yugo.
And that's not a comparison I would normally make with a Toyota, and it's not one I should have to make.

 

There were never any lights needed when plain old stick shift cars were more common.

Muscle memory is flawless.

 

Yeah, and you only had lap belts for seat belts, and dashboards were solid sheets of metal.
Those were the good ol' days???

Usually I'm the first to support utilitarian simplicity.
But I don't think the expectation that a selector knob be illuminated is expecting too much.

Plus, what is also bothering, is Toyota KEPT THE LIGHT. It's still there, just evidently uselessly aimed.
I think I'd be more accepting, if Toyota decided to no illumination and then removed the whole light.
But keeping the light, but rendering it useless and misaligned? That just seems lazy.

 

Well this is one of those situations where I probably should recuse myself from comment, NOT being an owner of a Gen 4 Prius. I'm just going by what some are saying about the light, which is that it may be misaligned.

Judging from available pictures, including yours, it might vary. The alignment might be slightly different from vehicle to vehicle.
Some of the pictures the aim seems a little low, yours looks just about right.

So I guess, if you're happy with the light and alignment, then no problem.

 

Yeah, but the old shift stick shifts kept getting left in different places, so no need for a light. The Prius shift knob always returns to the same spot so we have to have a light on it so we can find it. Talk about your first world problems!!

 

Yep!!

Many Manual shift sticks tend to self-centre at least L<>R - you know what gear you're in because of what direction you're moving, how fast you're going - and you subconsciously have programmed in your mind that the next gearchange will be, for instance 6>4. But then driving a Manual generally means you're paying more attention to the car than an auto.

 

It's the shiftiest.

 

I can honestly say I have never bought any vehicle based on safety features as I don't intend to crash it if possible.
As a matter of interest is the overhead led shifter illumination light actually on the right of light switch on the overhead console or the left ?

 

I optioned one car (2006) with ABS Brakes after my previous VOLVO had ABS, I didn't want to be without them.

I checked tonight - the light shines on an area about 250mm wide (I guess that's about 9-10" in olden day terms), focused slightly to the side (left) of the blue shift knob. But it's plenty bright on the shift knob, and lights up the tray and even cup-holders to an extent.

 

And if you CAN'T drive a manual, you're not really driving anyway; you're just aiming.