Does Rotary Shifter suck?

[Gpp]

Being 75 years old,stubborn,i hate the shift knob.definitely like the old style floor or column shifter.but,i also understand changes like this are more time than not a good thing.

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[Suzukiridr14]

I am not a fan of the rotary shift (2025 XLT AWD hybrid) and am still trying to get used to it after more than 4,100 miles in my gobuggy. I will adjust ... overall I really like my Maverick. But I remain annoyed with the rotary shift and having to use the touchscreen for most things. I think both the shift and touchscreen are examples where the beancounters won out (cheaped out ...) over common sense, time-tested engineering solutions. And I sometimes catch myself at times going to push the radio on-off button instead of the start/off button ... that's probably more of a placement issue than anything else.

It's the way they build cars now. It seems every new car has both a rotary shift, and a touchscreen. I'm old school, I like knobs, and switches. But like they say, you have to go with the flow, that's technically!

 

[jorgy_bc]

Good bye column shifter slop, worn out linkage connections and having to hunt for any selection other than park or 1st.

 

[Butterscotch]

Only issue I have is that it free turns endlessly - My 2019 Edge ST would stop at P and D. I feel like I'm at a casino spinning the roulette wheel

 

[1929]

Good bye column shifter slop, worn out linkage connections and having to hunt for any selection other than park or 1st.

Very 50 years ago perspective.

 

[AkronJim]

It can’t be difficult or costly to design and engineer what looks and acts like a traditional PRNDL gear shift but utilizes the rotary knob electronic/“fly by wire” no-linkage tech. And I have been reading that some automakers are starting to add back buttons and knobs in their model updates. So yay to that! Now ask me what I think about Ford cheaping out by not printing full owner manuals and including them with the vehicle in the glove compartment/storage bin …

 

[HeyBales]

Sure doesn't beat the manual lever brake.

I was thinking about that.

I'd used the lever method to slow a car down with some feel to how much power is being given to the brakes, I even think some slow routine trying to aim for a spot.

But in an emergency - pretty sure it's going to be yank the max outta that thing and hope it's enough - there won't be no messing around with the pressure to fine tune the stopping distance.

And holding up on the e-brake would be no different - you can let go and pull it up again to modulate it somewhat, but I"m betting it's the same thing in an emergency - you are wanting as quick as possible.

I'll bet it can beat the manual lever.

 

[yldman56]

Rotary shifter sucks

I'm not a fan of the rotary shifter, are you?

I went from a 5sp manual to it, it has been an adjustment, but it’s no worse than the other setups on the market. Just something else to get used to.

 

[Tbone289]

I was thinking about that.

I'd used the lever method to slow a car down with some feel to how much power is being given to the brakes, I even think some slow routine trying to aim for a spot.

But in an emergency - pretty sure it's going to be yank the max outta that thing and hope it's enough - there won't be no messing around with the pressure to fine tune the stopping distance.

And holding up on the e-brake would be no different - you can let go and pull it up again to modulate it somewhat, but I"m betting it's the same thing in an emergency - you are wanting as quick as possible.

I'll bet it can beat the manual lever.

I've used the electric brake to stop, and I can tell you that it stops much quicker than trying to modulate a manual lever.

 

[jorgy_bc]

Very 50 years ago perspective.

Not at all. 2009 ranger, V6 automatic with column shift. Nylon bushings worn out. Buddies 2012 Honda, same same and so on....

 

[chrisofpa]

I have been using the rotary shifter since 2020 with my 2019 Ford Fusion, after 160,000 miles with the Fusion and 6,000 miles on my Maverick I have to say I love it. With my Fusion the elimination of the shifter allowed me to install a suction cup mount for my phone down low, in that cubby below the radio. If it had a regular shifter it would have blocked the view of my phone and not provided me enough clearance for the mount itself.

I also often have a quick breakfast in my car, consisting of a 24 ounce Wawa Coffee and a Fig Bar, its a lot easier moving that big cup of coffee between the cup holder and my face without the shifter in the way.

At first I got weirded out by the Maverick's rotary shifter because it kept on spinning, where as the Fusion once you get it to drive, you cannot spin it anymore. The dealership told me this was done because people were breaking the rotary shifters in the models without the endless spinning dial.

My best friend hates it but I don't find it any harder or slower operating it for when I have to pull a quick K-turn for example. I still want to see the regular shifter in performance cars but for all other types of vehicles, I prefer the rotary shifter.

 

[MaverickNoticer]

It sucks. Never before have I had a vehicle that could be accidentally shifted like this one is.

 

[r0tax]

Shifter selector is fine, for an auto. It could be better, but its not bad.
Maybe have tactile 'steps' or notches of some sort between R - N - D.
Someone even mentioned having R in the counter clockwise direction, D in clockwise. Would make it easier to find R.

Maverick just needs a Manual gear lever, and none of this nonsense would be an issue (to me).

Initially my biggest concern was reaching for a 'round dial' to change gears, in the same area and hand as i reach for a round dial to adjust volume.
Yeah yeah, different size, difference places...but when you spend all your life adjusting volume with a rotary Dial, its a little funny.
After a month or so muscle memory adjusted, and its OK..
Still would suck to grab the wrong dial to adjust volume and accidentally spin the wrong one.

Just give me a manual trans, and none of this nonsense would be an issue.

 

[Cherokee]

Had a friend with a 53 ford. He was left handed so he flipped the shift to the left side of the column so the pattern was upside down. He was weird anyway

Carefull, Yer talkin bout my Cousin !
I learned stick in a 65 Rambler three on the tree.
In 1965, AMC offered two types of six-cylinder engines for its Rambler models: the flathead six (195.6 CID) for the economical Rambler American, which was a rugged, simple, and last-of-its-kind engine in a US-built car, and the new overhead-valve (OHV) straight-six, available in displacements of 199 (3.3L) or 232 (3.8L) cubic inches for the larger Rambler Classic and other models. The OHV engines provided more horsepower, with the 232 CID version offering 145 or 155 hp depending on the model.

 

[yank283]

My first one and thought I would dislike it but is a non issue. I understand and appreciate now that it does save space in the cab and to pull off what the Maverick has done as far as interior space , it’s a critical piece.

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