not to sound dumb but since ive never driven anything with a 6 speed manual (or a manual at that) i've been thinking and had some questions about the reverse gear in some 6 speeds. in cars like the Terminator Cobra, GT500, and Corvettes reverse is right next to 5th. on some 4 cylinder cars with a 6 speed reverse is right next to 1st. my question is, is there some type of technology that prevents the driver from accidently engaging reverse instead of 5th (if in a Mustang or Corvette) or 1st (if in a 4 cylinder with a 6 speed)??? or would the driver have to learn not to do that and learn the throw or spacing of the gears?? if it sounds like a dumb question, bear with me im new to manual transmissions....besides knowing how to shift and all the other basics.

 

ususally it's just extreme gating. the reverse gear is not very eaily just slotted into you have to kinda go out of your way to get the car into them.
In my old Cobra the reverse was next to 1st gear. and you had to actually push the stick into the tranny to unlock the reverse gate.

 

yup, VW's use the push the stick down and to the side to put it in reverse

I dont like it though, I'd rather have it over to the far right and down. but it's quicker shift to push down, when you have to make rapid forward/reverse movements

 

On my wife's car there is a mechanism on the shift lever you have to pull up on to get it into reverse.

 

My 2009 Wrangler has Reverse next to 6th .. Far Right and Down. There is nothing that prevents you from going to far from 5 to 6 and grinding R ...

 

In the Corvette, 6th is below 5th and a half notch more to the right against a spring. It takes extra effort to get it there. Oh and in the vette, its geared so high that 6th is useless unless your grossly breaking the speed limit. Usually just ignore its even there. 5th gear will take it to its max speed of over 200 MPH. 6th would be good for cruising in over drive at 130. But I don't know where one could get by with that for long. Germany perhaps.

 

same as the 2011 MT82

 

In my dad's Mazdaspeed6, you have to push down on the shifter then move to the left for reverse as well.

Edit: In my old Nissan Sentra it was just farther to the right than fifth and sixth, then back. This worked since 5-6 was straight, so there wasn't any possibility of going to reverse instead of fifth or sixth.

 

ah i gotcha. so all of things u guys are saying are preventive measures from putting it reverse misstakingly

 

for trhe most part yes. on rare occasions you will get a grind but you are in no way in hell going to do a mad max and get your car into reverse while going forward. If you could do that the tranny would more than likely detonate.

 

So they moved revesre to infront of 1st now for 2011? I like that

 

Some 6 speeds have the reverse gear by 1st gear. 350Z's and others require you to push the shifter handle down, then pull it over by 5th to engage reverse. Supras have a little ring right under the shifter **** that you have to pull up, then pull over by 5th to engage reverse. I actually prefer either of those to simply just moving over and engaging reverse. Its much safer for the "just in case" variable.