I purchased a 2013 C2 a few weeks ago. First off, I love, love, love this car. But, one thing in particular was bugging me – the shifter. I guess it’s not as unconventional as the liftback’s shifter, but the stairstep pattern and labeling was a bit confusing at first and I found that I kept having to look back up at the dash to double check that I was in the right gear. I think my dad has a similar shifter on his Highlander and the first time I drove his car I found it confusing. I got used to the C shifter pattern after a bit, but I worried that in an emergency situation it potentially could be a hazard. I was more concerned if someone else was driving my car, like my wife, who would be unfamiliar with the shifter pattern. It reminded me of the story about the Mercedes that was hit by a train not long ago. One theory as to why the person didn’t throw it in reverse was that the Mercedes had an unconventional shifter. Donohue: SUV's gearshift design eyed in Metro-North tragedy - NY Daily News So, I made my own labels for the gears. I used MS Publisher to make the labels, then printed them on photo paper, covered the paper with clear packing tape to protect them, cut out the circles, and then used some adhesive to glue them down. Obviously very low-tech, and I’m sure there is a better solution, and also not sure how long they will last, but this works for me for now. I added arrows in one photo where the car is in reverse. Look where the original R and N labels are. To me, they look like they’re lined up right in the middle of two different shifter positions. The original labels are also so far to the left from the shifter and don’t light up (at the shifter) when you’re in a specific gear. Also, where I added the question marks, those places aren’t real shifter positions at all. If you move the shifter to the top question mark area and let go, the shifter moves to the left to neutral. Maybe the left one is D also. Actually, now that I’m writing this, maybe you can toggle between D and B when the shifter is to the far left. Need to check that. EDIT: Just checked this morning. Nope, that lower question mark area is not a real shifter position either. Also, I originally had my D and B labels directly to the right of the shifter, but I couldn’t see them from my driving position, so I moved them down a bit. Anyway, I can’t get over how much easier it is now to shift. It’s just a second or so difference maybe, but that’s a second or so more time I have to watch the road instead of the shifter.
If placing labels next to each notch helps you identify the gear lever selection better then the OEM labels and the digital display on the dash, that is fine. But you can't compare the Prius C shifter as being unconventional. It is designed like most cars and a gated shifter actually help you identify which gear you are in without looking. The Mercedes ML shifter is not a conventional shifter by any means, it is more a stalk that takes time to learn.
Good grief, I had not seen a photo of the Mercedes shifter, I only read the article. Thanks for posting that. That is ridiculously horrible, non-intuitive and damned hazardous. That's like designing a car with the brake pedal and gas pedal reversed. That kind of thing needs to be the same for every car. The C is obviously not nearly as unconventional as that, but the stair-step design is more unconventional than what I am used to. Like I said, I got used to the C shifter fairly quickly and I was more concerned about my wife, or anyone else unfamiliar with it, but now that I have the new labels on there, I like it just for me. I also just miss my Civic with the labels right next to and in line with a shifter that moves in a straight line. And don't get me wrong, I love this car.
Ha and I have a 2015 Civic and on occasion I have placed it in 2 instead of D! That is because it has no gated shifter.
Automatic and manual shift levers on the steering column are nothing new at all, nor are button gear selectors or even electric and hybrid vehicles. I remember having a hard time getting used to how to turn high beams on and off when the switch wasn't on the floor. My 1973 Dodge Van was 3 on the tree, nothing ti tell you what gear you were in.
I covered my shift gate with a manual shift boot so I wouldn't have to see it at all. I just look forward at the dash.
