Does Rotary Shifter suck?

[Fast Eddie]

There is a reason for using a rotary shifter and having a low center console. More legroom to the side. If a couple big guys are wearing insulated coveralls driving to a work site, it helps to be able to splay the legs a bit to the side. Or even if you're just a tall person that has long legs. If people are worried about the electronics maybe failing and not being able to shift in or out of gears, well electronic lockouts have been on cars with shifters for years. I had one go on my 2012 Focus the last year I owned it and I couldn't shift out of park. Had to have it taken on a flatbed to the dealer and the shifter module replaced. The module is there so you have to put your foot on the brake before you can shift from park to drive.

A bench seat and column shifter would be better for guys carpooling. They could put a sixpack in the middle for an armrest.

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[Tom 71 Maverick 24]

A bench seat and column shifter would be better for guys carpooling. They could put a sixpack in the middle for an armrest.

I carpooled with my 83 Ranger, regular cab, 4 cylinder (the old 2.3, which was pretty durable) and a 4 speed. We were all young and relatively skinny back then.

Shifting gears was uncomfortable.

 

[Octantis]

I don't like the fact that you can go from neutral to reverse without having an additional input. Other than that I'm happy with it.

 

[01jimfiji]

Simply put Nooooooo!

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

I don't like the fact that you can go from neutral to reverse without having an additional input. Other than that I'm happy with it.

OR
Reverse to park with this freewheeling puck.
Terrible design.

 

[MavFord7560]

Not bothered by it one bit. Unlike other reports, I can feel each selection indent and can select any position without looking. Just like a regular shifter.

Agree. Zero complaints.

 

[Eldrick1]

I laughed a lot when I read the article. I have shifted into park by mistake a few times, but slightly less than the 4000 times the author claimed (in 600 miles).

 

[Montana]

I think it's funny they went out of their way to create a folding traditional shifter in the Raptors to include those folding flat surfaces in the center console. They could have just stuck a rotary in there and been done with it. Is there really any reason to have them anymore? Seems like a dated, bulky design. And those folding ones have been reviewed as feeling "cheap" and like they are going to break.

Obviously the rotary knob doesn't bother me at all. I had one in a previous RAM and loved it. I would however still like the ability to choose gears, even if it's just a + and - button on the back of the steering wheel or something for up and down.

 

[ABTremor]

I think it's funny they went out of their way to create a folding traditional shifter in the Raptors to include those folding flat surfaces in the center console. They could have just stuck a rotary in there and been done with it. Is there really any reason to have them anymore? Seems like a dated, bulky design. And those folding ones have been reviewed as feeling "cheap" and like they are going to break.

Obviously the rotary knob doesn't bother me at all. I had one in a previous RAM and loved it. I would however still like the ability to choose gears, even if it's just a + and - button on the back of the steering wheel or something for up and down.

I agree

The ability to manually select a different gear would be great when towing. Especially when going downhill to be able to stay off the brakes a little bit on a long decent.

 

[Tom 71 Maverick 24]

I laughed a lot when I read the article. I have shifted into park by mistake a few times, but slightly less than the 4000 times the author claimed (in 600 miles).

What kind of driving situation would have someone shifting into R or P or anything 4000 times within 600 miles? LOL

 

[CaptKirk]

Works fine for me. Prefer manual shift but since that does not exist much anymore, I like the rotary much better than a column gear selector.

 

[mepot101]

The writer of that article got his point across..... CLICK BAIT!

It is different than what I was used to, but it only took a few days to get used to the dial.

 

[AlsMaverick]

The writer of that article got his point across..... CLICK BAIT!

It is different than what I was used to, but it only took a few days to get used to the dial.

I didn't read it. I never do for the reason you stated.

 

[North Coast Joe]

Like anything else that is new, it is taking awhile to get used to. Since I only have 780 miles on my Mav, I am still getting used to it. It is not in the way, but I wonder what would happen, if one was to spill a liquid on it.
I, too, like the fact, if I turn off the engine and it isn't in park, it shifts to Park automatically. My Honda Passport did the same, but the buttons on that took at least 10 inches of console.
BTW. I learned to drive on a Plymouth wagon with push button automatic on the dash left of the steering wheel.

 

[notarealtruck:)]

This is my first vehicle with a rotary shifter. It took quite a bit for me to get used to. Several park instead of reverse mistakes were made. It's getting better the more I get used to it, but I do hate the fact there's not enough input feeling. I'd gladly pay for an upgrade with a solid click to select and not the wimpy free spinning dial it is.

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