Why are AT shifters so prominent?

[Omnis]

I mean... all you have to do is put it in gear and leave it. Why do they have to make such a big stick for that purpose? It takes up more space than it serves function.

Discuss.

 

[Kylehnat]

I've wondered that myself. Though, some AT cars have less-conspicuous shifters. Also, the Prius just has a tiny little knob on the dash.

But why is the brake pedal so damn big in auto-boxes?

 

[fangorn_forest]

This is not news. Go to the cars in general board to discuss this. Please lock.

 

[=V8 Power=]

AT is a much better choice for most people than MT. AT doesn't take up any more space than a MT, its the other way around. For example on a chevy silverado, the MT tranny has a huge gear shifter that sticks out of the floor taking up tons of space. The AT has a nice little shifter on the steering column, leaving the floor clean and empty.

The bigger brake pedal is usefull for left foot braking because its closer to your left foot

 

[STLbarcelona5]

The bigger brake pedal is usefull for left foot braking because its closer to your left foot

Promoting people to use left foot braking a-la-Audi?

 

[Casio]

If you left foot brake an Auto you're nothing but a nuffy.

I suppose it's just what people are used to. Probably packaging issues as well, I'm not a car designer, but I would think it would take more effort to make a small shifter say on the dash, then one just above the gearbox.

 

[Omnis]

This is not news. Go to the cars in general board to discuss this. Please lock.

Did I really put it in the auto news section? I must really be out of it. Sorry.

 

[red70mach1]

High traffic areas tend to bring the AT market to light.

 

[=V8 Power=]

Promoting people to use left foot braking a-la-Audi?

Not sure what that means??

All AT cars have a big brake pedal.

 

[harrytuttle]

I mean... all you have to do is put it in gear and leave it. Why do they have to make such a big stick for that purpose? It takes up more space than it serves function.

Discuss.

It's to compensate for their lack of ability to use three pedals.

 

[skip0110]

If you left foot brake an Auto you're nothing but a nuffy.

What about brake torquing?

I thin one reason they use a long shifter is it is seen as "sporty" to have a floor shifter. In the early days of autos it was three-on-the-tree (column shifter, auto) or four-on-the-floor (manual transmission). Putting the auto shifter in the floor console was thus seen as the sporty option. Even late-model Crown Vics had a sport package which moved the shifter to the console from it's normal place on the column.

Automakers have not had luck with smaller systems...Mopar tried pushbutton shifters in the late 50's but people were lunching their trannys by accidentally hitting reverse while moving forward.


The Corvair had a small, t-shaped in-dash shifter, much like a modern Sienna minivan (the newest models). I can't find an image, though.

The biggest, strangest automatic shifter arrangement I can think of was Oldsmobile's Lightning Rods on the 80's 442's.

To upshift, you push the rods forward sequentially from right to left.

 

[CDailey]

The biggest, strangest automatic shifter arrangement I can think of was Oldsmobile's Lightning Rods on the 80's 442's.

To upshift, you push the rods forward sequentially from right to left.

Um...why?

 

[skip0110]

Um...why?

The idea was to allow quick, accurate upshifts...think drag race. With a conventional straight-gate shifter, for at least one of the 1->2 or 2->D shifts you need to depress the button and gently bump the shifter up into the next detent--and hope you don't overshoot. This way you could upshift by just slamming the levers forward, no accuracy needed.

The system didn't find many friends, though.

 

[YSSMAN]

Well automatics have their advantages and their drawbacks, IMO, more drawbacks than anything overall. That said, I'd much rather have a true manaual transmission in most cases, but thats just me.

You really cannot deny the power that is the GM Turbo400 (or 4L80E) when it comes to drag-racing, as it simply is the best way to put the power to the ground and get out of the hole without a problem. It has always been the transmission of choise, and presumably will remain so for some time.

But, manual transmissions are more fun... Problem is, many Americans don't know how to operate that kind of setup, and IMO, that is a big problem...

 

[CDailey]

The idea was to allow quick, accurate upshifts...think drag race. With a conventional straight-gate shifter, for at least one of the 1->2 or 2->D shifts you need to depress the button and gently bump the shifter up into the next detent--and hope you don't overshoot. This way you could upshift by just slamming the levers forward, no accuracy needed.

The system didn't find many friends, though.

Oh, okay. For some reason I was thinking you had to move all 3 each time you wanted to shift.

 

[=V8 Power=]

Ya I have only driven a manual once so I guess I can't say much about it.

I like AT for their simplicity of use. Great in traffic areas. Its also nice in case someone other than you has to drive your car somewhere.

My AT car launches fast enough for me, so I'm happy with AT.

 

[YSSMAN]

Well considering something like my Dad's '68 Chevrolet Camaro (3-speed Turbo400) that is set up for drag racing, an automatic is the only logical option. But when talking about baisic transportation, such as my '96 Wolfsburg, the manual option is by far the best when dealing with only 115BHP.

 

[Sniffs]

i think it also has to do with the safety paranoia thing. don't forget, an automatic, "Slushbox" to performance guys, used to be a luxury item. if a stick were required in low powered vehicles...then why were there so few outside of microcars or pickups in the 80's?

 

[Wolfe]

I mean... all you have to do is put it in gear and leave it. Why do they have to make such a big stick for that purpose? It takes up more space than it serves function.

Discuss.

BMW came up with a new, somewhat smaller version of the venerable column shifter, and other manufacturers have begun copying it.

Here's Mercedes-Benz's version:

 

[iceburns288]

By the way, guys arguing MT vs AT, that's not what he means. He's asking why the physical shifter itself is so large for a device hardly used whilst driving.

 

[Omnis]

By the way, guys arguing MT vs AT, that's not what he means. He's asking why the physical shifter itself is so large for a device hardly used whilst driving.

Yeah. You could at least put an extra two cupholders there, or not have to worry about hitting the damn thing with your knee. I'm thinking they could keep it on the column, but leave it as broad, flat stub of a shifter instead of this stupid 6 inch pole sticking out of the console.

 

[Pupik]

It's a good place to rest your hand, like a king on his throne, septer in hand, so you can pretend you have infinite control of the car.

 

[TheCracker]

It's because it's the easiest and cheapest place to put it - sits on top of the transmission tunnel doesn't it? The stick reaches as far up as its deamed neccessary for the average person to just reach for without having to take their eyes from the road. Simple.

 

[skip0110]

It's because it's the easiest and cheapest place to put it - sits on top of the transmission tunnel doesn't it? The stick reaches as far up as its deamed neccessary for the average person to just reach for without having to take their eyes from the road. Simple.

Auto shifters are invariably cable-operated...so it makes little difference where they put it. In fact, I bet a column-operated unit is cheaper, because they don't have to put a console in the car.

 

[TheCracker]

Auto shifters are invariably cable-operated...so it makes little difference where they put it. In fact, I bet a column-operated unit is cheaper, because they don't have to put a console in the car.

...well, a 1 foot length of cable is still cheaper than 3 foot of cable isn't it

What do you expect from a manual using euro?

 

[daan]

It's so that, on right hand drive cars, you can rest your left hand on the shifter, your right arm on the windowsill and look cool.

 

[TopHat]

People like the big shifter, so they can use it Pistol-grip style.

I like Manu-Matic(Drive and a pseudo sequential shifter.)

When you want to rev, you switch to the sequential part, and when you want to relax, use Drive.

The first car I saw with it it an 02 Passat, I thought it was the greatest thing in the world, now even 13,000 dollar Hyundai Sonatas have them!

 

[Duke]

The idea was to allow quick, accurate upshifts...think drag race. With a conventional straight-gate shifter, for at least one of the 1->2 or 2->D shifts you need to depress the button and gently bump the shifter up into the next detent--and hope you don't overshoot. This way you could upshift by just slamming the levers forward, no accuracy needed.

The system didn't find many friends, though.

That's exactly right. I've driven a Lighting Rod 442, actually, and it worked just perfectly. It's ideal for drag racing. Unfortunately it was hooked to a typical mid-'70s emissions-throttled V8 that didn't make anything like enough power to justify it.

AT levers are large because they're easier to operate quickly and without looking. Check out one of the SMG/F1-style shifters from, say, a modern Ferrari. There's a dinkly little lever about the size of a zipper pull on the console. First off, it looks about as useful as an appendix sitting there. Second off, I can imagine myself driving the car every day: back out of the parking space, then sit diagonally across the traffic aisle blocking traffic while I squint and search around trying to move that little vestigial thing from R to D.

 

[YSSMAN]

...Well, if you don't like the console shifter, you can always move up to the column on some cars. I think the only full-size cars you can still get them like that is the Chevrolet Impala and the Ford Crown Victoria/mercury Grand Marqis. Everyone seems to realise that cars are not trucks, thus the gear selector should be on the console...

 

[lmracer]

it could very well be that way simply by way of manufactures being lazy. thats the way it has been and thats the way its accepted. why spend money to change it? it can be augmented in search of vanity ala maserati or ferarri who use a little finger stick thing that you shift with your index finger and thumb. i dunno though. its kinda humorous in the sense of the '99-'04 econo-anything with its 2' tall 2' throw baseball bat shifter

second thought... maybe studies show people feel a sense of power when reaching over in a manual gesture to select 'D'

as pontiac proclaims "its driving excitment"