The Rotary Dial Is Great Design (Not Joking)

[Benilla]

I had a 1964 Chrysler ,with pushbuttons .

They're bringing these back, we were shopping at Hyundai and its a dedicated button for each

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[jpv74]

Great conversation regarding the dial. Me.....well I recently rented a 2023 Toyota Camry for the week and it had a stubby shifter.....I liked using the stubby shifter that week is all I can say. As for the dial I am used to it and I do like the space savings. I dont dare say that I occasionally forget what gear I am in when I stop the car or I will get crushed by the forum police......but this does happen. Anyway my one concern that I am having is that when I get in the car and turn the key then grab the dial to switch from park to drive sometimes the click from Park to Drive is like a half click vs a full click. This is making me think there might be some tuning ...or tension.... that can be adjusted???? The other part of my brain is thinking its just an electronic switch so probably no tuning.......anyway has anyone else felt this half click vs full click when switching from Park to drive?

 

[Thundercougarfalconbird]

My first impression was OMG-what next? After resisting owning anything non-manual for decades as I aged I finally gave in and bought my first automatic. After a couple years I came to the conclusion that they are actually better at deciding what gear I should be in than I was. After almost a year in my Tremor I have grown to actually like the dial-especially those times it switches itself to park when I forget. Now when I drive one of my other trucks I actually miss the dial and think to myself how primitive!

I'm on my last manual right now for the same reason (at least until the mid-life crisis muscle car). My current 6-speed had better mileage than its 4 or 5 speed automatic counterparts and compteitors when I purcahsed it and I had a bit more control in snow when I wanted it with gear selection. Now with 6-8+ gear automatics and multiple systems that provide desired traction/drive mode, new cars are better at both of those than most people can be.

 

[Rileyotta]

There are days where you wake up, and choose to be a chaotic force in the universe, today is one of those days. The rotary dial in the maverick is great design that clears up space, conveys the modern feeling of the vehicle, and forces the vehicle's operator to make sure they know what gear they're putting their vehicle in, it forces you to pay attention. It's also very precise, click, click, done.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, let's talk about automatic gear selectors that come straight out of the trash bag, steering column mounted shifters. Yep, the old nostalgic guys are gonna love me today. You know those bead and line mazes doctors used to have in their rooms? The ones usually made out of wood, where you had to guide a bead through a series of cutout grooves to make it to the end?

That's what trying to find a gear in a poorly designed column mounted shifter feels like. Except you're doing it blindfolded, and the grooves cut in the board are filled with mashed potatoes, so you can't feel anything, except the seething hatred towards the transmission building within you. "Let's go into drive, nope, that's reverse, nope, that's park, nope that's reverse again".

I think I would have really liked the column shifter; it would have created even more cabin space too, if that’s what their intention was, and it would give the Mav a bit of a classic feel IMO

 

[Clock Doc]

I would have liked the same setup in the Bronco Sport with the shiftable automatic. Best of both worlds.

 

[icegradner]

Dial is functional. I'm used to it now after over a year. Cannot say I like or dislike it. It's there, I use it. If Ford wanted to save space, it could have been elsewhere, like on the dash.

Other thoughts
- Column shifters suck, sorry boomers.
- Stick (automatic type) functional and works fine, but takes up a lot of space.

 

[JennyJoannSuebeeMcNash]

I have no issues with the dial shifter.

I did, however, have a past 23 years of driving relapse brain fart a few weeks ago and got into my Maverick making the move to grab the stick shift and actually jammed my foot down on an invisible clutch before asking myself, "WTF are you doing?" Guess I miss a manual transmission.

 

[TheShark]

Dial is functional. I'm used to it now after over a year. Cannot say I like or dislike it. It's there, I use it. If Ford wanted to save space, it could have been elsewhere, like on the dash.

Other thoughts
- Column shifters suck, sorry boomers.
- Stick (automatic type) functional and works fine, but takes up a lot of space.

Speaking as a boomer I'd agree, column shifters were more of my fathers generation, never liked them. I'm fine with the dial, takes up less space. I do find myself reaching for shift knob to rest my hand when I'm driving, it's what I do in my Bronco. The Bronco was supposed to get a dial shifter but people objected and they went back to a traditional shifter.

 

[icegradner]

I know am an odd ball, I keep both hands on the wheel when driving.

 

[Shay]

The rotary dial is a blatant and cynical way for Ford to save a few bucks. A lever is far better intuitively and for safety.

They know people prefer the lever over a rotary knob, it has been customer cliniced. The press materials for the new Ranger state that they retained the lever because "customers prefer it."

The difference? The Ranger is in a higher profit tier and they could afford to spend the extra few bucks to keep customers from going to one of the competitors. Oh, and the Maverick doesn't really have many competitors to go to yet

 

[Timothyd]

There are days where you wake up, and choose to be a chaotic force in the universe, today is one of those days. The rotary dial in the maverick is great design that clears up space, conveys the modern feeling of the vehicle, and forces the vehicle's operator to make sure they know what gear they're putting their vehicle in, it forces you to pay attention. It's also very precise, click, click, done.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, let's talk about automatic gear selectors that come straight out of the trash bag, steering column mounted shifters. Yep, the old nostalgic guys are gonna love me today. You know those bead and line mazes doctors used to have in their rooms? The ones usually made out of wood, where you had to guide a bead through a series of cutout grooves to make it to the end?

That's what trying to find a gear in a poorly designed column mounted shifter feels like. Except you're doing it blindfolded, and the grooves cut in the board are filled with mashed potatoes, so you can't feel anything, except the seething hatred towards the transmission building within you. "Let's go into drive, nope, that's reverse, nope, that's park, nope that's reverse again".

Like or don't, it doesn't matter. It's here to stay and I don't mind it. And, it makes it easier for your girlfriend to scoot ofer and sit on your lap.

 

[Ford Maverick Maniac]

Kev, I agree! This video explains why I like the hockey puck shifter. For example, it automatically shifts to park when you open the door. No more rolling down a slope in neutral by accident.

 

[mikellmikell]

Wait till you get stuck in the snow and try to rock it out. Not an easy task. But first shut off traction control and put it trailer mode.

 

[Telemachus]

Love the dial, think it's a great design. Spin a bunch to the right, it's in Drive. Spin a bunch to the left, it's in Park. Reverse is the only time I need to pay attention to ensure it's in the right spot, and that's most often leaving my driveway. At that point, I've already gone through a button-pushing spree, anyway (Seatbelt nanny, Ready to drive, Eco mode), so one more thing to look at isn't too big a deal.

Skip several button pushes:

https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/f...-default-mode-install-video-and-review.34591/

 

[Limeymav]

What are you going to paddle shift?
The eCVT has no "gears". Regular CVT trans have no "gears". They just adjust the trans and you think you're Juan Manuel Fangio.

Good point sling id totally forgot it was an E-cv, it could still be paddle selectors ,ie scroll through dsh display, just a thought

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