In the last few weeks I've had the opportunity to drive a Z8, a Carrera 4 and a Vibe GT (2 outta 3 ain't bad ). All were 6 speeds and all had reverse to the left of 1st. Considering the 1st is the gear one is most likely to need to "grab" in a hurry, why would manufacturers put reverse where it is most likely to be shifted into by accident?

 

I always thought it was a bad setup that way.

I much perfer the pattern on my 99 Z28.... reverse being UP and FAR RIGHT, past 5th and 6th.

 

add a 93 BMW 3 series. its a FIVE speed and STILL has reverse in the same location. i put it reverse thinkin the damn thing was first....

 

Never driven any of those cars, but they at least should have some sort of safety mechanism to prevent the driver to engage the revgerse by accident.

If they don't, then they need to be sent back to the drawing board.

I travel very freequently in Europe, where rentals are usually manuals (unless you specifically request for an auto), and so far I haven't bumped into one where there wouldn't be some sort of a safety mechanism if the reverse is in the up and left position.

Even older cars have them.

Later!

TS

 

You have to push down on the shifter **** to go into first on my VW (which is on the left).

 

You mean reverse, right...?

 

Uh, Yea.

Sorry.

My Bad.

 

Man, I drove a Scirocco where you DID have to push it down to get into first!

 

About the only advantage that I can think of to put there would be to make it easier to "rock" the car in snow. However given the generally sporty nature of these cars, i find that doubtfull. At least its better than the old 5 speed ferrari shift pattern. Reverse was where 1st usually is and 1st moved to where 2nd usually resides. Wonder how many ppl accidentally put it in R while going for 1st.


-Steve

 

Oh yeah? Some years ago my dad was driving Malibu with 3-speed!! It had first gear where currently second gear is. And in place of the first gear was reverse - same as what you're describing.

One day we were making a left turn and a really nice, new car pulls up behind us. My dad (who is accustomed to "NORMAL" shift pattern) accidentally throws it in reverse and tries to make a quick turn. The car chirps wheels, but voila! It goes backwards, not forwards.

He hit the brakes and came most likely withing a couple of inches of the guy's bumper, and my dad said that he saw in the mirror the stunned look on guy's face.... Anyway, when we left the intersection, the guy still stood there for a moment, only later on caught his breath and turned.

I really enjoy remembering that story.

Why would manufacturers change something that everyone is accustomed to? But come to think of it, I do like to start my Z in 2nd gear from stoplights. That way I don't have to make that soon-to-come shift from 1st to 2nd.

 

Well, actually it's for a different reason, but you hit on the general idea - make it easy to transition from 1st to R and back. That's because of the urban driving patterns of Europeans - I think they hit R a lot more than we normally would.

Either that, or they snowplow a lot Anyone that puts R on the opposite side of the pattern from 1st on a truck transmission needs to get dragged through a snowy parking lot a few times.