Model update s

[SouthernComfort]

Originally Posted by LeCheese

...Having owned a 5spd 2011, currently owning a monostable shifter-equipped 2015, and spending a bit of time driving a 2018 with the updated shifter, the updated shifter is fantastic and my pick of the bunch. Comfortable, intuitive, and without the clunkiness and long sweep of the pre-MY14, while avoiding the mess of the monostable shifter.

Good to know they eventually found the sweet spot, just a pity they didn't just move directly to that from the 5sp. if they were intent on changing. Sometimes I think designers get to preoccupied with what's gimmicky rather than practical.

[LeCheese]

Originally Posted by SouthernComfort

Good to know they eventually found the sweet spot, just a pity they didn't just move directly to that from the 5sp. if they were intent on changing. Sometimes I think designers get to preoccupied with what's gimmicky rather than practical.

My understanding behind the design was that, given the greater freedoms of an electronic shifter, they wanted something that took up less space on the console, and was probably cheaper to manufacture too, with fewer parts and less waste - it's just unfortunate the drawbacks weren't picked up (or were ignored) during the user testing phase.

I honestly don't mind the shifter all that much, and it's reasonably comfortable to use once you're familiar, but I very occasionally still get it wrong (mainly park to neutral instead of drive, and drive to park instead of reverse) if I'm in a rush. But you're right - moving straight to the recent update would've been excellent.

[Jeeper6]

Thanks for that LeCheese. I am so glad they have got rid of that...

The "monostable shifter" is absolute crap though...what were they thinking! It's a 4wd for gods sake.
Besides being totally useless, try rocking forward to reverse when in a bog!

Then you cannot get it in neutral to tow or move without having to remove a bit of the console and pulling on a lever...I hate this "fly by wire" stuff...give me a mechanical coupling any day.

I very often get Park when I'm looking for reverse...and as for their dopey retarded fix for the difficulty a huge number of people had ensuring it was actually in Park and not reverse, the driver door has to be closed or it will not go in to gear...just flicks back in to Park...seriously!!

I have got around that utter stupidity by clipping the seat belt in and then sitting on it when I want the door open to move the thing...

[drover]

Well, at first I thought it was dumb but now it doesn't bother me, like all these electronic do dads they are made because so many dumb pricks who cannot drive, forced to change because of design is caused more by imbeciles behind the wheel, proven by some yanks saying the hand brake is only for parking on hills ................ doing the mud/sand rock is a big bluddy pain, haven't got bogged in the crap for a long while, it was certainly incentive to not do it again......... If I'm going to get back into real FWDing it won't be with one of these Toorak Tractors thats for sure.... a ZG would be the latest Grand I would use, later models are just too damn close to the ground.

[Trailfirst]

Having had our 2015 WK2 for a couple of months now, I find the shifter to be fiddly and annoying to operate, but IMO not dangerous. I suspect a lot of US drivers don't use their Park Brake tho - so yeah, pulling up and shoving it into what you think is Park and jumping out when its not in Park could be nasty. The whole process of using Park Brake is different - ie. you 're taking more time and checking the gear selection etc. as part of it.