Shift Knob

Or at least allow for the option of a column or floor shifter. I've never driven one of the dial shift vehicles, but my 2012 Ram has the column shifter. I prefer it there myself, but probably wouldn't let the dial be the deal maker or breaker when making a purchase.

After freezing up and making the shifting in my '06 Dakota difficult to accomplish for no justifiable reason, I'll never go to a column shift again. It's not a good design at all.

I definetly prefer the dial shifter to the column. It depends on how it's setup. I think it's done well on the 200, Pacifica, and Wagoneer. The reach is a little far on the Rams, but there are design constraints where having it in a center console is not feasible. I still like the dial over the column on newer Rams.
I don't like the dial on the 300.
Shifting with a dial is much faster and there are not mechanical linkages on modern automatics.

dm5thAvenue said:

Or at least allow for the option of a column or floor shifter. I've never driven one of the dial shift vehicles, but my 2012 Ram has the column shifter. I prefer it there myself, but probably wouldn't let the dial be the deal maker or breaker when making a purchase.

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Like anything else, while different it's something I could get used to. I'm used to the column shifter in my '06 Dodge Ram 1500.

I remember having a '79 Monza and a '79 El Camino - both had manual transmissions. We also had a '82 Horizon 3-speed automatic. Try switching from a manual to an automatic could be problematic at times. Nothing like trying to find the clutch pedal with my left foot in the Horizon after driving the Monza or the El Camino.

Ha. I remember stomping down on the clutch pedal of my Camaro to change gears... but it was an automatic with an extra-wide brake pedal. I did a few accidental panic stops when moving from stick-shift to automatic for a while. Finally got used to it when my wife got the 300M.

We have the dial on our new GC. It took some getting used to, but now I don't think a thing about it.

BluecollarDave said:

I have owned 11 Ram trucks over the past 20 years or so it's pretty obvious that I like them But
I will not buy another Ram truck until they get rid of that stupid Shift Knob!
What a horrible design and it's right next to the radio knob wtf?
Bring back the shifter

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I have owned two Ram Trucks with the ROTARY shifter, and have never got the two knobs confused! I hardly ever look at the shift knob, and think it is brilliantly designed!

Dave Z said:

Ha. I remember stomping down on the clutch pedal of my Camaro to change gears... but it was an automatic with an extra-wide brake pedal. I did a few accidental panic stops when moving from stick-shift to automatic for a while. Finally got used to it when my wife got the 300M.

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back in the 90s i was a humvee driver for our mortar plt. 3 day training op i was playing both good guy and bad guy driver so i got next to no sleep on the way back to base i about put LT through the windshield and tossed all the troops in the truck around. LT asked me if i was ok to drive. response... sorry sir i went for the clutch. he drove a manual too so knew just what happened

My first experience with the rotary shifter was on the Durango. I hated it. Then they brought back the T-handle shifter and I was happy again...lol
But in my GW I think the rotary is the right design and location. No complaints. So far...