Push button gear selector

[Thunder22]

Because when you're stopped at a light it takes a second or 2 to turn the engine back on and respond to throttle... and that annoys me

 

[Larryjb]

Does it really take a second or two? I'm hearing from others that it's pretty much unnoticeable. It just takes some getting used to the fact the engine isn't actually running when you're stopped at a light.

 

[Thunder22]

Does it really take a second or two? I'm hearing from others that it's pretty much unnoticeable. It just takes some getting used to the fact the engine isn't actually running when you're stopped at a light.

if "others" think it's unnoticeable, then great for them. I notice it, I don't like it, and I turn it off.

 

[mb1500]

The people that don’t notice the engine starting and stopping are the ones who wouldn’t know their tire was flat until the dashboard told them so.

It is a terrible feature forced upon the consumer.

 

[Larryjb]

if "others" think it's unnoticeable, then great for them. I notice it, I don't like it, and I turn it off.

Fair enough. I did say "pretty much unnoticeable". Of course many of us would notice it, but not all of us will be bothered by it. For me, it probably wouldn't interfere with my daily driving. On my next vehicle, which will likely have this technology, I'll have to decide if I want to turn it off or not. It will probably come down to how much it bothers me to question "did I just stall"? "Will it start up again?"

I understand that this technology has been in European vehicles for a lot longer. Also, I have heard that the starter motors used in these vehicles are a lot more robust and designed for many more starts.

I think all this fuel saving is allowing GM to keep its large full frame SUV in the Tahoe and Suburban under the CAFE rules.

Wow, did this every stray away from push button gear selectors!

As for the push button system, I guess I'd have to test drive, maybe rent one for a week and see. I like to gear down on hills and it's just so easy with the gear selector right there beside the steering wheel for gearing down. Now I suppose, you guys are going to tell me the new ones gear down automatically for me! I wouldn't be surprised, it actually makes sense to do so if the computer has the ability to change gears automatically for you.

 

[Stbentoak]

While not great, you do get used to it... I personally just click the button as soon as I start and move on with life. I believe you can also buy a defeat module that plugs into the OBD port also....Not sure if it’s available for these models yet....

 

[91RS]

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.

I absolutely agree. These trucks are basically just like German cars now, great while you have a warranty. The electronic shifter is stupid. If the engine doesn't run, the transmission can't release the park pawl and you're screwed.

 

[Larryjb]

I absolutely agree. These trucks are basically just like German cars now, great while you have a warranty. The electronic shifter is stupid. If the engine doesn't run, the transmission can't release the park pawl and you're screwed.

I was curious about this, so I looked up the owners manual for the 2020 Acadia which also has the electronic shifter. There is a manual park release mechanism so the vehicle can be shifted from Park to Neutral, even with a dead battery. I'm pretty sure GM put something in the Tahoe as well.

See p. 198 in the Acadia owner's manual. (I was unable to find an owner's manual for the 2021 Tahoe).
https://my.gmc.com/content/dam/gmow...0/gmc/acadia/2020-gmc-acadia-owner-manual.pdf

 

[91RS]

We’re not talking about Acadias. An Acadia is not a Tahoe. The trucks do not have a manual release.

 

[Larryjb]

We’re not talking about Acadias. An Acadia is not a Tahoe....

Wow! And all this time I thought the Tahoe and Acadia were the same vehicle!

Okay, I finally found an owners manual for a 2021 Tahoe and I cannot find a manual override to shift out of park like you can with the Acadia with its push button shifter. I'm kind of surprised that it's not possible with the Tahoe even though it's possible with the Acadia.

 

[tomgilk]

I live in South Florida and our stop lights are insanely long, don't really mind the feature there. Being up in PA for a few weeks though I don't know if I would find it as ideal here. I am also not gunning it the second the light turns green, so far its been a complete non issue for me although at first I did think it was weird, now I kind of like it.

 

[Mike Diaferio]

Love the push button selector but I like new things like this, even though they had push buttons in the DeSotos and Ramblers back in the 50's. Have had it since December and no problems getting use to. Also the pull on the drive and reverse are for safety so no one accidentally pushes it.

 

[Larryjb]

My Tahoe has a neat feature that allows you to start from a stop in 2nd gear. This helps keep traction in slippery conditions.

I'm sure I could get used to a push button shifter, but I'm still wishing they'd kept the column shifter, at least as an option. A column shifter would make down shifting much easier, especially where they haven't put shift paddles on the steering wheel.

Honestly, there is so much new "cool" tech that is not ergonomic. The big thing in the 1990's was designing things to be ergonomic. It worked really well. I can adjust most important features (defogger, HVAC, gear selection, radio buttons (to switch to traffic stations) by feel without looking. That is something I will dearly miss in almost any new vehicle I'd be looking at next.

 

[exp500]

Even Edsels had push button shifters in steering wheel center! Don't see them or Desoto's much anymore. So is GM becoming Gone Motors?