Push button gear selector

[Larryjb]

I've been thinking about this for awhile now. I just love having the column shifter, but many are saying they just love the push button selector now.

I was noticing how convenient my column shifter is for frequent shifting, such as in 3-point turns parking. If the push buttons were on the dash as they are in the 2021, I'd have to stretch, making selecting gears a bit of a stretch for me.

So, how is the feel of the push button selector in such situations?

 

[PG01]

I dunno, if I rest my palm on my gear selector and stick out my finger I can touch the dash where, on the 21’s, it appears the push buttons are. Not sure you have to stretch so much. Btw my seat is all the way back and leaned back a little too. I would miss resting my hand on the shifter in general. Just my thoughts....

 

[Larryjb]

I dunno, if I rest my palm on my gear selector and stick out my finger I can touch the dash where, on the 21’s, it appears the push buttons are. Not sure you have to stretch so much. Btw my seat is all the way back and leaned back a little too. I would miss resting my hand on the shifter in general. Just my thoughts....

I never said I had to stretch much. But, I don't see buttons on the dash being more convenient in situations where you would need to change gears frequently.

My question is really for the 2021 owners and how they find shifting when parallel parking, 3-point tums etc.

 

[scott53]

My 2012 Yukon, that I trade in on my 2021 Tahoe, was the first column shifter I had since 1976. It took me a while to get used to it over a console mounted shifter. The dash mounted push or pull mounted gear selector is much that same as that. It takes some getting used to, but seven weeks and 750 miles in I no longer have to think about it. It's a repitition thing.

 

[Jsenky]

I have had no issues.

fyi its a “pull” to select the gear and not a push. I guess that eliminates the accidental selection.

 

[scott53]

Last weekend I drove my 2019 Camaro SS and my wife's Equinox both with console mounted shifters. I kept trying to find the dash mounted shift push/pull gear selector. I guess I'm used to my new Tahoe. Lol.

 

[Dogged]

Honestly, I like the buttons now. I like saving that 3 seconds when I park by just hitting "off" and the computer puts it in park automatically before shutting off.

 

[Larryjb]

Interesting responses so far. Sounds like GM got this right. Certainly, I like this concept better than Ford's dial.

Now, given that this is electronically controlled, what happens if the parking pawls get a little stuck if you forget to set the parking brake on a slope? With the old school lever, sometimes you can free it up.

 

[adventurenali92]

Interesting responses so far. Sounds like GM got this right. Certainly, I like this concept better than Ford's dial.

Now, given that this is electronically controlled, what happens if the parking pawls get a little stuck if you forget to set the parking brake on a slope? With the old school lever, sometimes you can free it up.

Supposedly on the new models it will automatically set the parking brake when parked on a incline, so I wouldn’t think that the parking pawl should have any issue. But I don’t have one so what do I know?! Lol

 

[tomgilk]

Yeah it will automatically set the parking brake on a 2021 if you don't do it.

 

[Jsenky]

Yeah it will automatically set the parking brake on a 2021 if you don't do it.

Correct. Auto parking brake. Just shift into gear and tap the gas to release. Pretty slick really.

 

[Craignor]

I hope they go back to the column shifter.

 

[Larryjb]

I used to think automatic headlights were great, I'd never forget to turn my headlights on especially with DRL making it look like the headlights were on. Then, my sister drives my Explorer and turns the switch from "autolamp" to "off" and I don't notice and drive around without headlights! I still think autoheadlights is a good idea because more people would forget to turn their headlights on otherwise.

I'm not sure how I feel about an automatic parking brake. Once I got used to the luxury of it setting automatically, I might forget on an old style manual parking brake!

 

[PG01]

I used to think automatic headlights were great, I'd never forget to turn my headlights on especially with DRL making it look like the headlights were on. Then, my sister drives my Explorer and turns the switch from "autolamp" to "off" and I don't notice and drive around without headlights! I still think autoheadlights is a good idea because more people would forget to turn their headlights on otherwise.

I'm not sure how I feel about an automatic parking brake. Once I got used to the luxury of it setting automatically, I might forget on an old style manual parking brake!

There’s no stopping ’change’ bud.... Improvise, Adapt, and Overcome

 

[exp500]

They're making stuff overly complicated, for no good reason except to make repairs nearly impossible, and to raise costs/profits. Sort of like 'do you really need your washing machine connected to the internet'? We as a whole fell for it. Now it is hard to stop.

 

[Larryjb]

They're making stuff overly complicated, for no good reason except to make repairs nearly impossible, and to raise costs/profits. Sort of like 'do you really need your washing machine connected to the internet'? We as a whole fell for it. Now it is hard to stop.

To this I agree whole heartedly. However, we seem to be in the minority, that cool tech is what people want. I guess it's also too expensive for them to make two versions, a dash with basic buttons/dials/column shifter, and another with all the cool tech.

If my parking brake began to fail due to worn shoes, and it didn't hold on the slope, and the parking pawl got jambed, I wouldn't know if it was the little motor that shifts the transmission out of park failed, or if the pawl was really stuck. At least with the column shifter, I'd know.

I can deal with that tech, but honestly, all this tech is just getting too much. But what do I know? At least Chevy seems to be the most sane of the domestic 3.

 

[exp500]

My absolute favorite is people driving into deep water and drowning because of autolocking doors and power windows. When driving on hard water years ago, my kids hated me because I demanded they keep their windows down.

 

[Larryjb]

My absolute favorite is people driving into deep water and drowning because of autolocking doors and power windows. When driving on hard water years ago, my kids hated me because I demanded they keep their windows down.

Where the heck are you, Whitehorse? Farther north?

 

[Thunder22]

The lack of gear shift was the one thing that I was skeptical about before buying my 2021. Now that I've been using it for awhile, it's a non issue. That being said, having to turn Auto Off off every time i start the truck is a PITA.

 

[tomgilk]

The lack of gear shift was the one thing that I was skeptical about before buying my 2021. Now that I've been using it for awhile, it's a non issue. That being said, having to turn Auto Off off every time i start the truck is a PITA.

Why do you want to turn it off every time? I didn't like it much at first but I'm used to it now and it saves a little gas here and there.