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I like it. I touch the gear selector maybe four times during a drive. Why should it take up such valuable real estate as the middle of the center console, especially with the redundant flappy paddles on the wheel?
While new and a departure from the norm, I like it. Once in drive, it's paddle shifters and sport button. No need to go back to shifter until stopped. I like having open space on lower console.
I totally prefer dashboard or even steering column gear shifters for automatic transmissions. The two vehicles we purchased prior to the Cayenne both had dashboard mounted gear shifters - 2012 Prius v and 2014 Toyota Sienna.
I can see how center console and floor mounted gear shifters might be more practical designs on vehicles where there is a choice between manual and automatic transmissions. A manual transmission was available on the first generation Cayenne.
I remember when Mercedes gave buyers a choice between having the automatic transmission gear shifter mounted on the steering column or on the floor/center console. IIRC, it was a no-cost option. There might have been a similar choice for manual transmission gear shifters but I'm not sure. I vividly remember test driving a late 1950's Mercedes 219 sometime in the 1960's that had its "manual" transmission 4-speed shifter on the steering column - especially memorable for its Hydrak automatic clutch. VW also used automatic clutch manual transmission technology in the "Automatic Stick Shift" in the Bug and Karmann Ghia. Porsche's version of the automatic clutch manual transmission in the Porsche 911 was the Sportomatic. But I digress ... again.
I didn’t like it at first. I’ve been driving mine all winter and now I don’t mind it. Got used to it. But I’m a trained monkey. It was warm enough to drive my 911 TTS the other day and I reached for the dash like a moron to put it in gear.
If in the center I prefer what’s in my 05’ or 15’, driving a 22’ currently and not a fan at all of the rocking lever and push for park set-up. In the dash makes sense.
For automatic transmission, I feel like the dashboard is the best location for the shifter and the parking break. I prefer it over MB steering column shifter. Dashboard and center console look very clean.
I just wish Porsche would make up their minds. My 958.2 had a center console shifter that actually moved forward or backward into the gear you wanted. It was simple, easy and precise. My 2023 has a center console shifter which is fixed at the base and "bumps" forward or backward into gear. Park is a small button on the front of the shifter that is a totally different motion. It is not so easy and going from drive to neutral to reverse, you have to actually look at the center gauge cluster to make sure it has shifted into the correct gear. The current PDK 911s have the braun razor design on the center console. Totally different. And now Porsche appears to be looking at the shifter on the front dash.
In the mean time, we have had numerous Mercedes in our family over the past 15 years including one currently. All the shifters have been stalks on the right side of the steering column with an up or down motion for drive or reverse. Very consistent. Stuff like this makes me question what is going on with Porsche.
Literally the layout of the center console and the dash mounted shifter is the only thing I am missing out not having the '24 update. I really would like having the console cleaned up and more useful than it is now.
03-22-2024, 11:09 AM
2024 CAYENNE REPORT: NO CENTER GEAR SHIFT
