When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I'm really interested in getting the C300/400 but I noticed that the gear knob is located on what is usually the windshield wiper stock. I find this odd, but I'm sure it's something you have to get used too.
But since I've used the windshield stock for so many years, there will definitely be many times where I would probably accidentally press it and the fact that I'd be sharing my car with my family who wouldn't get used to it.
So my question is... what if I'm driving in the highway and I accidentally pull the gear knob up (which is reverse I believe) or whatever position.. what will the car do?
Will it be like, "Yo dumba**, this ain't the windshield wiper, get yourself together" if its got a mean attitude or a nice one (I'm sorry Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that.") warning, or will it actually obey my command?
I'm sorry if this is a stupid question. thank you.
If you flip the gear lever into reverse whilst driving it just goes to neutral. No damage - the electronics won't allow it. You jut flick it back into drive and continue driving as usual.
It's only at really slow speed (i.e. crawling) that you can fling the gearbox into park apparently.
The stick placement is odd (especially in RHD cars where that position is usually reserved for the indicator) but doesn't take long to get used to. I only got muddled up once with it.
What tends to get me more is the close proximity of the indicator stalk and the cruise control. There's been a few times on the highway when I've indicated instead of setting the cruise.
Back when I learned how to drive ... when horse and buggy still roamed the road ...
The gear selector for an automatic was on the steering column. It wasn't until the mid 1980s when the gear selector went to the center console in most cars.
My fraternity brother had an old truck from the late 60s -- with a manual transmission shifter on the steering column. I thought that was bizarre. Apparently, not.
The cruise control stalk is a lot shorter than the indicator stalk so I have fortunately never made that slip up.. having the transmission selector on the right side of the column (RHD) makes real no different to the indicator placement as I came from a vehicle that had a left hand indicator stalk already.
I actually find having the transmission stalk on the the column so much better, its easy to reverse out and with the flick of your finger your in drive and off.
As for accidentally knocking it into R or P, like DBOC205 said ..cant be done.
If you look at the screen in the dash, when stationary in Drive, there is a little upwards arrow next to R and N and a sideways arrow next to the P... as you drive and get faster, these icons disappear, indicating what positions can be selected and which can't. Over about 5-10km/hour they all disappear except the N (only position that can be selected intentionally or unintentionally is Neutral) ... I have only once in a month accidentally knock it and as and nothing happened.
Last edited by digitallust_aus; Apr 30, 2015 at 12:15 AM.
Reason: Typos ;-)
I have been driving a loaner W204 C Class for the last week. After 4 months with my W205 I am so used to the column shift, that half the time I find myself reaching for the non existent gear lever on the wheel.
BMW e89 Z4 sDrive 35i & MB S205 C200 AMG Premium Plus
I really wanted to be the first person to reply to this, as I really wanted to say if youre doing 50 mph and flick it into reverse your engine and gearbox explode into 1 million pieces and fly all over the road. Lol
I really wanted to be the first person to reply to this, as I really wanted to say if youre doing 50 mph and flick it into reverse your engine and gearbox explode into 1 million pieces and fly all over the road. Lol
I really wanted to be the first person to reply to this, as I really wanted to say if youre doing 50 mph and flick it into reverse your engine and gearbox explode into 1 million pieces and fly all over the road. Lol
LOL just sprayed my screen with some juice after reading this...I"ll get you for this, Maniac.
I really wanted to be the first person to reply to this, as I really wanted to say if youre doing 50 mph and flick it into reverse your engine and gearbox explode into 1 million pieces and fly all over the road. Lol
Believe it or not, I was actually expecting this kind of response where the car would probably explode into pieces heh
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
heh
