Transmission Shift Dial: The Future?
 

I've been reading about how Chrysler and Ford are touting the shift dial as practical, space saving, and the future of shifters.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...0903937410.jpg

I remember the old push button tranny selectors, but that was a novelty to me.
I enjoy the interaction of shifting a stick through the gears, this is too passive.
Any thoughts?

The Jaguar XF had this a while ago.

i hadit in a rental chrysler a couple summers ago. absolutely hated it. wont buy any car with it

The XF had it way back in 2007. It does look cool though.

I have the dial in my ram sport. It does take some getting used to.

I'm wondering, if the Mazda Vision "RX-?" does become reality, but is offered only with the auto tranny and shift dial, would that be a deal breaker?

^ Considering Mazda's commitment to the fun of driving ("Driving Matters"), its long history of loving sports cars, and the fact that every Mazda is available with an automatic, I think it's highly unlikely that would happen.

Shift dial or kinda_auto_transmission would be a deal breaker for me. I have a good friend with an M3 with DCT/paddles and frankly it does not do anything for me. Part of the fun of driving is the interaction and challenge of keeping the car at its maximum. I abandoned all hope of purchasing a used Skyline/GTR for that same reason - the auto/paddles and autonomous nature of that car was like driving a robot car.

I don't understand why a dial is so much worse than a lever (and nothing is worse than Monostable shifter from Fiatsler that killed Anton Yelchin).

That is a weird design, I don't know why they thought that was a good idea.
Just to be different?

Back to the dial, it's so passive, it doesn't seem like driving, besides being an automatic.
At least with some auto sticks you have an option of shifting gears like a manual.
I can't envision operating a dial to shift.
Takes the fun out of driving.

The number of times I've used the actual gear shift level to change gear can be measured on 0 hands.

On the other hand, steering wheel mounted levers/paddles/buttons, those I've used.

That would be better.
It seems like you'd have to take your eye off of the road to use a dial.

*OK, I just realized that's stupid.
Automatic.
:(

absolute deal breaker for me

The dial would be for me.

Paddle shifter Auto, or MT or nothing?
I'd prefer MT, but I've never driven any car with the paddle shifters.
I'd have to test drive one before ruling it out completely, but I do enjoy the 3rd pedal.:)

ill take it. as long as it does not have a torque converter and does not have that silly dial shifter im in. the tranny has to have a clutch, dual clutches are fine as long as i get to move the shifter or a paddle to select the gears.

ohh and NOT the new honda patented 3 clutch 11 speed