Question for the Diehard Manual Transmission Crowd

[cawimmer430]

Would you still take the manual transmission vehicle over an automatic transmission-equipped model if the manual car had an annoying column-mounted manual transmission?

Serious question. I've tried them before in a Mitsubishi L300 Van and although it's clearly a question of getting used to it, I vastly prefer the floor/center console manual transmission layout.


And yes, the photo below shows a Mercedes-Benz W124 E-Class with a column-mounted manual transmission shifter!!! They must have sold like 12 of them! 

[FoMoJo]

Column shifters are just not cool.

[SJ_GTI]

Column shifters are just not cool.

+1

Don't like them as automatics, can't imagine liking it as a manual.

To answer the question though I guess I'd have to try it to be sure, but I think I'd probably just prefer a paddle shifted automatic at that point.

[cawimmer430]

Column shifters are just not cool.

On A/T cars they don't bother me much, but a manual transmission column shift is annoying. The Mitsubishi L300 Van I drove had one of those and I just didn't like it.

[Soup DeVille]

If a column shifter could be made that didn't feel like it was connected to the gears through an intricate system of rubber bands, it might be OK.

Never drove one that was any decent at all though.

[shp4man]

When three on the tree was common in the 50s, the Ford's had the best shifter feel.

[MX793]

If a column shifter could be made that didn't feel like it was connected to the gears through an intricate system of rubber bands, it might be OK.

Never drove one that was any decent at all though.

This.  If the shift linkage provided positive feel and precise action, I wouldn't mind too much.  I don't believe any column shift has ever provided that.

[cawimmer430]

Plus, try speed-shifting on a column shift manual! 

[Cookie Monster]

I'd rather have the column shift manual.

I've been driving the Mdx for the past 3 days and I'm going crazy.

[veeman]

The old Indian Ambassadors (based on Morris Oxford Series 111) and Premier Padmini had column manual shifters. Never drove one. 

[FoMoJo]

Plus, try speed-shifting on a column shift manual! 

I've tried.  1st to 2nd is a real bitch.

[CALL_911]

You know I thought I wouldn't like a manual in a big comfy cruiser. But after driving a pretty big, cushy Passat wagon around for the past few days, I would totally get a manual in a bigger car too

[Soup DeVille]

You know I thought I wouldn't like a manual in a big comfy cruiser. But after driving a pretty big, cushy Passat wagon around for the past few days, I would totally get a manual in a bigger car too

When the transmission goes on the wagon, it's getting a five speed from an F-150.

[93JC]

Keep the 2-ft-long shifter too.

[shp4man]

With an 8-ball gearshift knob! 

[Vinsanity]

Just wondering, what was the reason for the column shifter on that W124? Front-row bench seating like in an old school Caddy? My car has the column shifter seemingly to make room for the COMAND controls, but that's obviously not the case with that W124.

[Soup DeVille]

Keep the 2-ft-long shifter too.

The Panther cars I've seen hat have done this largely have, or have shortened it only slightly.

None afaik have been 1st gen wagons.

[CaminoRacer]

With an 8-ball gearshift knob! 

[cawimmer430]

Just wondering, what was the reason for the column shifter on that W124? Front-row bench seating like in an old school Caddy? My car has the column shifter seemingly to make room for the COMAND controls, but that's obviously not the case with that W124.

It's a relic from the old days since every "E-Class" prior to the W124 (W123, W114/W115 and W120 [W120 was only available with a column shift manual transmission]) had a column shifter or column shifter option (in the W114/W115 and W123 you could also specify column shift automatic transmission)..

Manual column shifters declined in popularity with the W114/W115 and finally the W123. It ultimately found its demise in the W124 as the successor W210 was not offered with a column shift manual.

I suppose at Mercedes they offered it on the W124 for the few diehards out there who wanted it, but as you can imagine it probably was not a very popular option. These days these column shift manual W124s must be rare and are probably quite prized just because of this wacky feature.

[12,000 RPM]

No way would I do a column shifted manual. Hell I passed on the manual version of my G because the shift quality is awful. I'd rather have something like the ZF8 or even the Nissan CVT.

[BimmerM3]

They sold the same car with both center console and column shifter options? That seems odd lol.

[cawimmer430]

They sold the same car with both center console and column shifter options? That seems odd lol.

See my response to Vinsanity. 


W123 had it...




W114/W115 had it...




W120 had it...

[93JC]

They sold the same car with both center console and column shifter options? That seems odd lol.

Up until the '70s many American cars came with one or the other depending on trim. Often the base trims got a 3-speed on the column and higher trims got a 4-speed on the floor. Even into the '90s both could be had in the same car. E.g. my old Dodge Spirit was a 4-speed automatic on the console because it was an ES V6; base model four-cylinders with an automatic (3-speed) had it on the column.

[Vinsanity]

Ha, the dashboard of that W123 looks like it can house a COMAND screen in that upper portion

[cawimmer430]

Ha, the dashboard of that W123 looks like it can house a COMAND screen in that upper portion

It's a taxi-spec car. Some W123 taxis had this special cabin which was offered by Mercedes. It included the taxameter which told the passengers how long they've been riding in the car and the cost of the ride. 

[12,000 RPM]

Ha, the dashboard of that W123 looks like it can house a COMAND screen in that upper portion

You've been conditioned

[ChrisV]

My first car ('62 Mercury comet) had a 3 on the tree column mounted manual trans. Much like this:



it was no Honda for shift speed or smoothness, but it was a great car to learn manual shifting on.

[Submariner]

You've been conditioned

[Laconian]

I want to try a column shifter at least once in my life.

I'd also like to try the weird shifters that came out before auto manufacturers standardized on the "H" layout, like the Model T.

[Soup DeVille]

I want to try a column shifter at least once in my life.

I'd also like to try the weird shifters that came out before auto manufacturers standardized on the "H" layout, like the Model T.

I got to try both a model T and a 1916 Cadillac a few years ago.

Thank god those are slow cars.