Who has the adjustable?

 

Yep, in my merc soft tap returns it to center but full depress keeps it there. No problem with this whatsoever. BMW however totally efffed it up.

 

Lexus does

 

Free up space, add some new features or maybe a wireless charging pad? There is very little need to have a shifter (although I prefer it) I could live with a dial. Lexus LS now has an automatic emergency brake, no pedal or pull, why not save the space on the shifter?

And PS, why not post pics of the 14 Corolla shifter?

 

I actually love the Mercedes and BMW shifters. It's so easy to just give it up a bump up or down to get into reverse or drive. I hope they don't go away. Interestingly, Jeep is bringing back the "classic" shifter for next year's Grand Cherokee:

 

Because it's funnier the way I did it.

Doesn't surprise me. People in the Jeep forums complain about it all the time. Really was maddening!

 

For an offroad capable vehicle, these new style trick shifters could in fact be maddening. When trying to rock your vehicle when its stuck, these zigzag or electronic shifters are very annoying.

 

I agree 100%, tons of threads on it over there.

 

immature IMO.

 

If that is such an issue, then most SUVs are out of question for serious off road unless they have a true mechanical 4WD shifter. Only Toyota for US that I know of is the Trail 4Runner.

 

Most SUVs are rarely taken offroad. Jeep actually has offroad heritage.

But for proper offroading, manual is still best.

 

And Toyota or Ford or Dodge do not?

 

I think that what you are referring to is a 4WD low-range transfer-case. For true off-road work (I don't mean just dirt trails, winter snow, or fire-roads, but serious stuff like rock boulders, desert floors, creek-beds, very steep grades, etc...) having a 4WD Low-range is far more important than simply AWD or 4WD in general. That's because the low range vastly multiplies torque, pulling power at crawl-speeds, and the ability to both climb very steep slopes and hold the vehicle back coming down. Also very important to true off-roading are high approach/breakover/departure angles.

You're correct that the majority of today's SUVs, especially the car-based unibody ones, do not have that feature, simply because they are either not designed for true off-roading, or there isn't really enough demand for it from today's SUV buyers (as opposed to yesterday's). Some car-based Jeeps, however, (Patriot, Renegade, etc...) do have that feature in their Trail-Rated versions, along with the high underbody angles needed.

 

Back on topic, I hope to see the new E-cLass at the D.C. Auto Show next month, (if it is there, as, of course, the Detroit show will get first-pick on it, and the D.C. show overlaps the last couple days of the Detroit show). Problem is....even then, many new models (not all) are first displayed on turntables, where one cannot really get up close or inside.

 

mmarshall, what I'm referring to is any mechanical 4WD/4LO shifter. A direct link to the transfer case is what is paramount when shifting from 2WD to 4WD or into 4LO from AWD or from 4LO. You do not want an electronic switch to determine if you are going to 4WD or out of 4LO and vice versa. The FJ Cruiser did it well, so does the 4Runner Trail.

When people claim how great the Land Cruiser/LX570 is for hard core off roading, I always ask whether or not the electronic 4WD shifter is superior to a mechanical link that is connected to the transfer case.

The LX470 had it, so did the GX470. Not so on the newer Toyotas.