Dial Shifter

[Dad]

but that allowed you to shift to sport mode without having to put the mode button multiple times

A small matter in my book of annoyances.

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[Dad]

I've thought about learning stick, I've heard it's fun. Strongly considering a focus RS as I've heard they're one of the best fun sporty cars to learn manual on, and they seem to be pretty reliable unless you try to make too much power out of them.

Stick is definitely more fun to drive, but it becomes a bit tedious in heavy traffic.

 

[pigsareus]

I just received a 2024 Hybrid XLT. Pretty disappointed so far, but it's a company car/truck.
Being that I am 6'2 and move my legs, in doing so, I have hit the rotary dial at least 4 times while in cruise control knocking it into neutral or reverse.
I have read that someone installed an F-150 shifter. Are there any updates, pics, videos on this?
And would it work on a 2024?

stick a sturdy piece of cardboard between the right side of the seat and the console that ought to fix it.

 

[TwoTone]

I'm still wondering what all this extra space people are finding with a rotatory dial, are you able to float something in the air above it?

 

[zach57x]

I’m taller than you at 6’5 yet i don’t have this issue

 

[OneAlienBoi]

Stick is definitely more fun to drive, but it becomes a bit tedious in heavy traffic.

That's what I've heard. My parents, my mom especially, HATED driving stick, but they were dealing with California hills and California traffic with their last manual cars. I love just outside of Salt Lake now where the traffic is quite mild by comparison . My main concern is breaking something. Frying a clutch, shredding gears on a transmission, etc. I don't know how badly you have to screw up when driving stick to cause that kind of damage, I'd imagine it varies from car to car.

My only experience with manuals first hand was a 70s Chevy blazer where the clutch was so heavy it was insane. But most modern cars should have a much lighter clutch than that beast.

 

[Dad]

That's what I've heard. My parents, my mom especially, HATED driving stick, but they were dealing with California hills and California traffic with their last manual cars. I love just outside of Salt Lake now where the traffic is quite mild by comparison . My main concern is breaking something. Frying a clutch, shredding gears on a transmission, etc. I don't know how badly you have to screw up when driving stick to cause that kind of damage, I'd imagine it varies from car to car.

My only experience with manuals first hand was a 70s Chevy blazer where the clutch was so heavy it was insane. But most modern cars should have a much lighter clutch than that beast.

Yeah, it does take some practice, but it's mostly about coordinating yourself with the feel of the vehicle through the foot pedals. Once you achieve that, it becomes muscle memory and you hardly notice you're doing it. I learned on a VW bug. Back in the day the only distraction was the radio and it was a simple matter of pushing a button now and then to change stations. Nowadays, one has navigation, music streams, climate control to worry about to the point where one doesn't have enough arms to deal with that and shifting the vehicle.

 

[MrShadetree]

The dial wouldn't be my first choice of shifter, but I'm fine with it... I must be living a boring life, because I've never accidentally moved that dial, locked myself out of my driver's-side door, inadvertently changed drive modes, or set off the keyfob panic alarm in my pocket.

The political hot button for me is the poor ol' cubby, and I will never forgive those heartless bastards at Ford for what they did to it for MY25.

sounds like you’re missing all the fun

 

[Blinky]

I've thought about learning stick, I've heard it's fun. Strongly considering a focus RS as I've heard they're one of the best fun sporty cars to learn manual on, and they seem to be pretty reliable unless you try to make too much power out of them.

Manual is a hoot when you're driving for pleasure or on a road trip but I don't really miss it for commuting.

The RS is a nice car but kinda heavy and a lot of the ones I've looked at have been modified more than I'd be comfortable with. They've got a reputation for being almost as fragile as a mid-90s DSM if you push a little too far.
If you want something fun and don't have too much ego about small, cheap cars then I'd look at a Fiesta ST or a Miata, in my opinion both are vastly more enjoyable to drive and less likely to get you in trouble if you do get a bit frisky.

If you want the easiest manual in the world to learn to drive stick on get a Dodge ram with the cummins diesel and a stick. Literally grab the stick and throw it at a gear, 1st, 2nd, 3rd whatever, it don't care, ease the clutch out and you're rolling.
Similarly easy is an older Tacoma or 4runner, lots of low end torque with a big beefy transmission behind it, I taught 4 people to drive manual on my '86 Toyota Pickup and the clutch never seemed to care.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

I'm still wondering what all this extra space people are finding with a rotatory dial, are you able to float something in the air above it?

Yep, my 18oz beverage mug.

No gear shift to get in the way.

 

[oysterville]

I still go to stomp on the non-existent clutch from time to time.

 

[TwoTone]

Yep, my 18oz beverage mug.

No gear shift to get in the way.

Would fit with a shifter.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

Would fit with a shifter.

I never said it wouldn't fit. My picture showed that my cup can be lifted (and your words hover) right over the rotary dial without banging into a shift lever.
I'll repost what you posted.

I'm still wondering what all this extra space people are finding with a rotatory dial, are you able to float something in the air above it?

 

[samspritzer]

Yep, my 18oz beverage mug.

No gear shift to get in the way.

Um.....are you sure you're not sitting on a toddler seat or one of those seat risers for short grannies under 4'9"?

 

[The Macf]

I’m 6’ 4” and have literally never done this.

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