Yep, really freaking annoying and stupid IMO.

 

Some will absolutely slam into mechanical park if you open the door or try for park on the controls even if it's a digi shifter. It's also an issue I have seen where certain cars with faults in the door switch will cause it to happen randomly when you stop in traffic.

 

It depends on how fast you're going. None will slam into park faster than a couple MPH. Of course when faults happen unintended consequences happen, have to repair stuff thats broken.

 

The computer doesn't always block out Park at very low speeds. I once accidentally hit the park button on the Lacrosse's E-Joystick doing about 1-2 MPH in a parking lot. A couple of audible rattling/clicking noises from the transmission, and an abrupt stop, but no apparent significant damage.

That's why I'm so glad to have a nice conventional PRNDL lever in the Encore GX.

 

Yes, at low speeds. At any kind of higher speed it will lock it out. The point is you don't have to worry about bumping the park button when you are driving.

if you shift your shifter into park when driving, it won't go into park either. It too is just a switch.

 

Yep, almost nothing has direct acting cables these days. Older cars sure, if you try and force park it will actually try for it, it won't really matter though since the prawls are designed to not engage at high speeds.

The low speed sudden engagements are what can break things though

 

Weird the company that resisted moving away from the gated shifter for so long would take the shifter out of the Prius and slap it in everything.

 

I guess I don't understand why this is such a big deal on an automatic transmission. Put in D to go, put it in P to park, put it in R to go in reverse. They could literally implement any interface and it should still work. It feels like we're just splitting hairs here or just looking for something to complain about for the sake of complaining.

Now if we're talking about a manual transmission, where you are actively participating in the gear shifting and you need to use the interface many times when you drive, then I could understand being picky. However, on an automatic or EV, where you simply select drive and then go and never really touch it again until you put it in park, what is the big deal? Does anybody really care how the light switch for their kitchen lights work?

 

It DOES make a difference when you are accustomed to using a fore/aft PRNDL lever on the console for decades, or a sideways PRNDL indicator on a column-shift. Having to pull for some gears, push for others, fiddle with E-Joysticks which adjust in both regular and L-Pattern (some automatically spring back to the middle-indicator no matter how you adjust them), or twist dials back and forth, IMO, is simply a pain in the a**..........or worse.

Consumer Reports also agrees. They have published some articles on the growing amount of confusion in recent shifters, and how it is contributing to accidents and mishaps.

 

I just love the classic Toyota gated shifter with a manual e brake I have used them for close to 20 years. I have no complaints

 

I agree with mmarshall and LexusCTJill. It's one of the reasons I am enjoying going back to Lexus models that still have the gated mechanical shifter. I've had the new E-Joysticks in several recent vehicles. Not a fan. Not to mention they can be a problem to get into neutral for towing if the vehicle cannot be started. A special tool is required to get them into neutral. Some vehicles like the C8 Z06 don't include the tool. The 992 doesn't include it or can't use the tool. The Cayenne had it, but it was a pain or impossible to get to without vehicle power. Not sure what Lexus with the new shifters procedure is to get a vehicle into neutral for towing with no power. Something I never thought about or had to use on my LC 500. On my 22 RX and 23 IS, all that is required to get them into neutral if you cannot start the vehicle is a screwdriver. As the saying goes...Keep it Simple Stupid.

 

Neutral on cars like this involves a mechanical release, in the case of my Audis there is a small panel on the drivers footwell/floorboard that you open and a small lever inside withdraws the parking prawl via cable. BMW and Mercedes have a similar system, it's covered in the user manuals on how to set neutral with no vehicle power.

 

It maybe simpler on some cars than others, but at least on the 992 and Cayenne Turbo I had...not so simple. The tool on the Cayenne Coupe was underneath the rear floorboard in the hatch area. Without power, it required a manual hatch release to get to the rear floorboard. Neither the manual, my dealer, or Porsche Roadside assistance could tell me where the manual hatch release was on the Coupe model. Also the C8 Z06 requires a special tool and it's not included. Again, on my current IS and RX, you stick a screwdriver in a slot near the shifter and push a button, then move the shifter to neutral. Simple!

 

I would be happy with almost any interface except for swiping up or down on a screen to go forward or backward. Worst idea ever.

 

Wow, this really seems to indicate that some people shouldn't drive if they are unable to figure out how to use one of their own car's most basic functions. Its not exactly rocket science.

Not to sound too condecending, its concerning that if we have some drivers out there who do not have the mental capacity to figure out how a shifter works that causes accidents (according to Consumer Reports), then isn't it an even bigger obstacle for them when the attempt to use the interface of most center stacks where they have to attempt to figure out menus and sub-menus in most of today's vehicles?