Anyone like the dial shifter?

[TheGriffin1313]

Did you guys stare deadeyed at your manual shifters? I doubt it. Why do you feel the need to do so on a dial shifter that only has 4 positions? And while your instrument cluster, which you should be looking at from time to time anyway, shows you the gear and which way and how many clicks you need to get into the right gear?

Like, I get it - New things have a learning curve and it can feel awkward and bad getting over it. But for the love of God, Ford put a dial in a car, they didn't lobotomize you.

You must have zero emergencies or never caught in a road in an a moment when you need to get out of dodge. just try to put in drive then reverse and drive again like you can in a car that has a physical shifter vs a dial that spins. I bet it will be 2x as long at best. Just because things are the way they (me too tech) does not mean they are logical or efficient. Just saying

Sponsored

 

[bombast]

You must have zero emergencies or never caught in a road in an a moment when you need to get out of dodge. just try to put in drive then reverse and drive again like you can in a car that has a physical shifter vs a dial that spins. I bet it will be 2x as long at best. Just because things are the way they (me too tech) does not mean they are logical or efficient. Just saying

I have, by the way. And no, I don't think I'm slower shifting this thing than a traditional auto, at least not after maybe a week of driving it.

It's interesting you cite a non-traditionalist argument in favor of traditional control schemes though. It's not necessarily incorrect, but still, fun.

 

[Thrillhouse]

You must have zero emergencies or never caught in a road in an a moment when you need to get out of dodge. just try to put in drive then reverse and drive again like you can in a car that has a physical shifter vs a dial that spins. I bet it will be 2x as long at best. Just because things are the way they (me too tech) does not mean they are logical or efficient. Just saying

I can honestly say in all my driving I have never had to do this. In any event, I would think it would be quicker to just spin a dial.

 

[ImGoose]

i would like to ask all, does anyone like the diel shift. i personally do not like it. so I am on a mission to see if there is a way to put a hand held shift like an f150. does anyone agree. thank you

On paper, I like the dial shifter. It clears up a lot of space to get crap in the console.

In practice, I don't. There's no tactile feedback between the drive modes. It should come to a stop when rotating to D and there should be more travel between N and R to help understand what you're switching to without looking.

It's all digital and with those shortcomings, I'd just rather have buttons to switch modes like Ram.

 

[g1zstar]

You must have zero emergencies or never caught in a road in an a moment when you need to get out of dodge. just try to put in drive then reverse and drive again like you can in a car that has a physical shifter vs a dial that spins. I bet it will be 2x as long at best. Just because things are the way they (me too tech) does not mean they are logical or efficient.

What are you on about? It's the same speed if not a tiny bit faster. The only way it takes twice as long is if you're unfamiliar with it and you're looking at the shifter for some reason. I can switch drive modes in my maverick with thumb, index, and middle finger. That's all I need. Some slight hand movement vs full on extending arm/elbow.

On paper, I like the dial shifter. It clears up a lot of space to get crap in the console.

In practice, I don't. There's no tactile feedback between the drive modes. It should come to a stop when rotating to D and there should be more travel between N and R to help understand what you're switching to without looking.

It's all digital and with those shortcomings, I'd just rather have buttons to switch modes like Ram.

You just need to get a feel for it. There's plenty of feedback on the steps, you can feel when the resistance/slippage when you switch from one mode to another. As for without looking, I mean that's just a confidence thing from my view. It's the same order, as long as you know what mode you're currently in you should be able to easily shift into whatever other mode you want.

 

[Meintc]

Overall not a big deal to me, but the dainty little dial in the center looks like it would be more at home in a little Lexus or Audi crossover. In a truck (even a small one) it seems out of place. If it must be a dial how about mounting it on the side of the steering column. Or a stalk that rotates like windshield wiper controls, except bigger and resembling a motorcycle throttle. Those would be more appealing options, IMO.

I remember cars/trucks having column shifters. Manual and automatic.

 

[tngreg]

On that note tho, i wish the drive mode buttons weren’t right by the shifter…. I have little dogs and when they’re in the car they like to change drive modes, turn on auto-stop start, etc…

Per solution, dog seat belt harness...other dogs jumping around a car could legally be a distraction and enforceable with a ticket. I have a mini schnauzer that won't stay still unless she's attached. Had almost caused an issue once....

 

[Laketime]

i would like to ask all, does anyone like the diel shift. i personally do not like it. so I am on a mission to see if there is a way to put a hand held shift like an f150. does anyone agree. thank you

Is it just me, or has anyone else tried to shift gears using the fan dial. My wife catches me every time and she won't let it go.

 

[BootXL76]

Is it just me, or has anyone else tried to shift gears using the fan dial. My wife catches me every time and she won't let it go.

Bahahaha I just did that yesterday

 

[Darcast]

i would like to ask all, does anyone like the diel shift. i personally do not like it. so I am on a mission to see if there is a way to put a hand held shift like an f150. does anyone agree. thank you

I have a Larient, got it 3 weeks ago. At first the dial bugged me, but I'm in truck all day, I can honestly say I don't even think about it... so give it a chance. Love my Maverick.

 

[Maveriac]

A couple of you mentioned your dog stepping on the mode buttons . I pulled out of our subdivision on one of our first drives and took my foot off the gas to help buckle my wife's seat belt an just about got bit by a cement mixer truck. I thought the damn transmission had locked up. I pulled over, wiped my butt, and discovered my Yorkie was stepping on all the buttons.
I like the Deejay style shifter. I replaced the column shift mechanism on my 20 year old Ranger twice. Not fun or cheap. I would guess the dial shift mechanism would be easier and less expensive.
How about putting push button gear selectors in the center of the steering wheel? They may have some left over from the Edsel Days.

 

[Vongreg]

Took me a day to get used to it. Now I like it. Less stuff sticking up and in the way.

 

[Maverickgirl]

i would like to ask all, does anyone like the diel shift. i personally do not like it. so I am on a mission to see if there is a way to put a hand held shift like an f150. does anyone agree. thank you

I'm getting used to it! doesn't bother me! I still reach for my gear shifter sometimes up by steering wheel on my 2008 Ranger! but yeah I'll get used to it! I like new innovative ideas!

 

[Phileaux]

I suspected that it would be a gimmick, so I wasn’t sure that I would like it.

But I’ve grown to not dislike it.

I do miss the tactile feedback of reaching over to check which gear I’m in without having to look. Not a big deal though, just something that the dial lacks. I wish that it had a little nub or something for physical feedback.

A couple of drops of Crazy Glue to mark it. I do that for the computer/phone cables.

 

[jsus]

I'm genuinely confused how so many seem to dislike the dial. The only difference between it and a conventional shifter is that instead of pulling the trigger and pulling back/pushing forward, you twist it. It's the same PRND order that you scroll through one step at a time. The only thing that took getting used to was not having an S at the end. S being Sport mode which was required to use SelectShift on older Fords (e.g. Focus). So instead of going back 3 clicks to get to Reverse, it's 2.

Sponsored