Years and years ago, there was a car made which used push-buttons to select Park, Reverse, Neutral Drive, etc. It fell out of favor for reasons I no longer remember. It was years and years ago.

So I ask you now, why not put push-buttons on the steering wheel and eliminate the gear shift lever?

Our throttle pedal (gas pedal or accelerator as alternates) on the Titan is a "fly by wire" unit. There is no physical linkage, either rods or mechanical actuating cables, connecting the pedal to the FI throttle. None.

So, why not eliminate the mechanical gear shift lever. Currently it has no mechanical connections to the transmission because it too only makes electrical connections. So why still have that huge switch lever, when we could have buttons on the steering wheel. After all, high end cars now have "paddle shifters" which are nothing more than switches with big toggles.

I'm interested in some reasoned opinions or known facts here.

Red

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2005 Titan KC SE, Helwig, True-Track, ARE MX Canopy

Well I cant help you there. All I can say is it wouldnt be a truck anymore if it was all push buttons as far as Im concerned. Interesting none that less though

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07CC2wd Performance:2*advance, S&B intake w/ Ram Air mod, Dual Pro Street Spintech Cat-Back Dumped, Relentless Catch Can, JBA shorties, Magnflow cats, Uprev Exterior: NCD leveling, Tinted tails, Blacked headlights, HID's

A lot of cars now do have paddles like Formula 1 cars do. The Nissan Rogue and Infiniti EX35 are two off the top of my head. BY the way Buick had push buttons back in the 50's and then the Dodge Dart also had a push button in the early 70's.

Like I mentioned in my original post some cars do have paddle shifters. However, those operate in conjunction with a normal gear shift lever. So why not completely eliminate the gear shift lever/selector and go straight to push buttons. Want "Drive" push the drive button. The little electrons would dance on down to the transmission and it would select "Drive"
Its time to streamline our vehicles and eliminate the archaic systems.

Red

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2005 Titan KC SE, Helwig, True-Track, ARE MX Canopy

Where would you put it? With cruise and audio controls on the center of the wheel now it's pretty full?

I would put the switches in a pod that followed the upper contours of the steering wheel air bag housing. I would push it slightly forward so that it was below the plane caused by the surface of the air bag to prevent accidentally pushing one of the switches. Or if the steering wheel is not acceptable, then put them on the dash on one side of the wheel or the other.

Eventually, it will happen. Look where some of the cars have the gear shift lever, on the dash.

Red

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2005 Titan KC SE, Helwig, True-Track, ARE MX Canopy

I remember those push button trannys. We called them typewriter transmissions.

While I don't remember any of the buicks having push button trannies, I do remember MOPARs of the 60s had push button on the dash & Edsel which was made only '58, '59, and '60 had push button in the center of the steering wheel. I always liked the push button trannies, a nice change from the column & floor shifts.

cool idea red... i'd want my buttons placed up top by the sunglass holder where on the 05-08s have the compass and temp gauge. go back to having those on the rearview mirror and the drive select buttons up there behind the sunglass holder!!!

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PRGbuilt
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