How the Prius shifter stll emulates the outdated mechanical shifters of yesteryear...

I think everyone agrees that the "shifter" is at its most basic an electronic direction switch.

Sure there are B and N to consider, but really it's basic function is to choose what direction you want the car to move off in.

What irritates me is that the direction switch is operated backwards. I move it forward to go back, and back to go forward.

Given it's just a bunch of switches, why could that not be done properly?

 

That's an old argument - To Push or Pull When Downshifting, That is the Question

They couldn't solve it then, TOYOTA aren't going to change it now after 20+ years of PRIUS owners now used to the way they do it.

The last AUTO I had, it was free movement between D and 2 - great on a mountain pass - pull toward me to go down a gear, push to go back to 3rd/4th.

But our GM (Holden) cars at work were different - they had free movement between D and N - which meant that to go back to 2nd, you needed to work the detent - not as useful.

 

You are quite correct that Toyota would be unlikey to change. I don't recall suggesting they would. I'm not sure why you felt it necessary to point that out to me.

The linked article is somewhat limited in scope. It gives no reasons other than tradition and feel play a part. Some do it one way others do it the other. It leaves the question open.

For about 50 years, a group of Toyota electric vehicles have used the forward/forward, back/back configured direction switch.

It is infuriating that they chose to do it in a way that is the exact opposite to how they have been doing it for years.

 

I wasn't aware that TOYOTA made EVs 50 years ago.

But it's always been - AWAY for Reverse, TOWARD you for Drive


Except for Manuals - and they're all over the place.

 

My conclusion is, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"
If you want to modify it and stray from the popular norm, why not go the whole hog, remove pedals, steering wheel and shifter and have a joystick.
Or another alternative for the shifter only, voice control.

 

Since most modern car systems are electronic we could go for push button shifters, hell, if you wanted to go full on space saving you could very well just make it a single button 1x1cm that you push multiple times to get your desired mode. The thing is that we're talking about a car, people have come to have the expectation that the shifter will be some kind of ball on a stick like instrument. Plus I think most people here like the current shifter and would rather not see them get changed into buttons. If you don't like the default shifter, why not just change it out. Its simple enough from what people have shown. Just because you like a particular design doesn't mean other people don't like it. There are also plenty of reasons for why you may use a larger instrument for a particular function. For one it offers feedback through positioning, once you grab the shifter you can operate it without needed to see it, since each mode has a distinctive motion, the user can be more readily trained to operate it intuitively.

Will we ever move to push button shifters? Maybe, but as it stands the shifter is probably going to stay for a while longer since it does offer some unique advantages for driver operation.

 

"Alexa, reverse please."

What could go wrong?

 

Push button shifters worked great on the Edsel

 

Normally I only use the shifter twice for each journey, "R" to reverse out of the driveway and "D" to boldly go.
I've never used "N", but I believe it's a requirement to have a neutral position in some markets. "B" I've only used in a couple of instances, for engine braking when going down a long steep hill or when descending a hill on snow.

 

Yes, only used "B" 2 or 3 times. But I do use "N" in one instance about weekly - in a tight parking station, I drive till my wheels touch the barrier, put it in "N" and let it ease back, then turn it off. I don't like tyres "pressed hard" against a barrier. I've a tyre barrier at home, but usually stop before I get to quite touch it as I've got space behind.

 

Problem is, I've never had any wooden shoes, never worked in a coal mine and I don't fly in airplanes.
P.s. I used to work on non-destructive testing of aeroplane parts and believe me, they don't fix them if they are not broken, hence the testing.

 

Just because YOU are not aware doesn't make it so. I get the feeling you are being combative again so let me educate you.

Toyota has been building electric forklifts since around 1972. That dear boy, is an electric vehicle.

Now in those, the original direction switch was a column mounted lever. Forward selected forward, back selected reverse.

In recent years the lever was moved to the armrest in the form of a switch, then lever.
Can you figure out how those operated?

You appear intent on winning an argument that does not exist. You are blind to the point I made. It's like dealing with a child.

I find the set up unintuitive.

The fact that I think it's backward will not change, regardless of how many links you cut and paste.

"But it's always been" is not a valid reason.

I've seen plenty of your posts in the last few months and you come across as the "I know it all" type bully boy. If someone has a different point of view you just cannot stop with the backchat.

Let's just agree to disagree, there is no need to keep running your mouth.

 

Wow, somebody got out of the wrong side of the bed today.

 

I’m just hoping that it’s not another “Dutch uncle” around these parts.

We already have one too many of them.

 

Or, someone pi$$ed in his "Cheerios"........