I couldn't help but notice that none of the 2010 press images shows the new automatic shifter. Does anyone else find that a bit odd?

 

I saw the new Automatic shifter at the LA autoshow, and...

...god was it ugly. I mean FUGLY. I forgot to take a picture of it though!

But, to give you an idea: think golf club. Think of a wooden driver. Now paint it silver. You've got the new auto shifter!

What was wrong with the old one!?

 

I liked the new one better

 

I like the new one better too, but also forgot to take a pic. Found a somewhat fuzzy pic of it on Flickr, the cropped and put it next to the 2005-09 one. For one, the old one was very hard plastic with sharp moulding edges you could feel when holding it. It was also very straight up and down- not shaped to the comfort of your hand. The new one is leather wrapped and much more comfortable to hold. And the O/D button is in the correct place!!!!!!!!!!!




The new one reminds me of the high quality shifters from VW, while the old one reminds me of a Hummer H3.

 

The new shifter is nice but it will not be a simple retrofit. At the very least it's going to require the entire floor shift and interlock assembly for the **** to fit on the shaft. Then there is the issue of the indicator bezel needing a correct size and shape hole in the slide for the new skinnier shift lever.

Interestingly though the 2010 automatic makes use of the previous model years IUP manual shifter boot trim ring but chrome plates it instead.

 

I like it. I'm still getting a 5SP, but I like the shifter way better than the hard plastic one previous.

 

what is this "automatic transmission" you guys speak of

 

Thanks for the info guys. It would seem Ford is going wait another model year before offering a manual shift feature on the automatics.

 

How long does one actually hold an automatic shifter where comfort would really be an issue? Two seconds to put into drive?

 

Atleast they didn't give us something like that little turn dial thingy out of the Jaguar XF.

 

I love the Leather Shift **** on my 97 Thunderbird. I hold the Shifter quite a bit. It is at the perfect height and angle to rest my hand on while cruising, while letting my elbow rest comfortably on the console lid.

 

I rest my hand on mine when I am pushing the seek button repeatedly looking for a good station. I think I am the only person in the world without an ipod.

 

Dude, I don't have an iPod yet either... So you are not alone! LOL!

Me and my old fashioned CD's and a six disc player.... I have not even started burning CD's as MP3 so I can get more songs on one disc.

 

Nope, No iPod here either. But I've got a Sony Xplode Head Unit that plays MP-3's and Atrac-3 files, which I can fit about 150 to 200 Mp-3's on a disk and about 450-500 Atrac-3 files per disk.