Shifter Mechanics

[SteelTerp87]

This is my first F150 with the shifter the lowers. When you do lower the shifter by pushing the button, does it seem like a smooth process for you or does it seem like the shifter struggling to lower? Mine jitters while lowering and, to my surprise, I can hear it lowering with maybe some rubbing noise.

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[GDN]

It is not a smooth action at all, others have noted it too. It is a complete drive by wire system, no real linkages, you would think it would be a bit smoother. I just rarely fold mine down, I figure it only has a very limited life in it.

 

[SteelTerp87]

It is not a smooth action at all, others have noted it too. It is a complete drive by wire system, no real linkages, you would think it would be a bit smoother. I just rarely fold mine down, I figure it only has a very limited life in it.

Yea, I don’t really plan on using it that often, I actually really like the extra space for holding my wallet where the shifter folds into

 

[monsterlag]

I use it everyday and I know it will break eventually. Cheap Ford Protect was a no brainer.

 

[Sam James]

I use it everyday and I know it will break eventually. Cheap Ford Protect was a no brainer.

Same. This and trim issues like my folks are having with their 250 made it an easy decision to go with a plan through Granger.

I wish they’d had it on the steering column as either a lever, like trucks of old, or a gear selector like on my wife’s ID.4. Once I got used to the selector it was hard to go back to anything else. Would have loved for either more storage or just open space in the center console area.

 

[Maquis]

The big-ass handle is totally unnecessary on an EV. The only reason it’s there is to make the truck familiar to ICE F150 owners. I hate it.

 

[Pioneer74]

The big-ass handle is totally unnecessary on an EV. The only reason it’s there is to make the truck familiar to ICE F150 owners. I hate it.

I totally agree with this. A simple dial would have freed up a whole bunch of space in the center console, but most "truck" people want a shifter.

I have this shifter on my 2021 and I think I've folded down the shifter twice for actual use of the work surface.

 

[SmokingtheMeats]

I totally agree with this. A simple dial would have freed up a whole bunch of space in the center console, but most "truck" people want a shifter.

I have this shifter on my 2021 and I think I've folded down the shifter twice for actual use of the work surface.

I'm one of those. Used it on a Ram truck for a little while, I hated the dial.

 

[Pioneer74]

I'm one of those. Used it on a Ram truck for a little while, I hated the dial.

I get it. But have you driven an F150 or Lightning with this shifter yet? If you haven't, the cheapness feel of it might change your mind.

 

[SmokingtheMeats]

I get it. But have you driven an F150 or Lightning with this shifter yet? If you haven't, the cheapness feel of it might change your mind.

I haven't but I doubt it will. I loathed the dial. I'd rather have a touch screen or something else. I do understand there's no need for the shifter, but coming from an old F150 ICE, I do love having it.

 

[Maquis]

I haven't but I doubt it will. I loathed the dial. I'd rather have a touch screen or something else. I do understand there's no need for the shifter, but coming from an old F150 ICE, I do love having it.

I thought I’d hate the dial until I got my MME. Once I got used to it, I find it very intuitive. A couple things I like about it - very simple to momentarily shift to R and back to D in order to activate the backup camera when pulling into the garage. This is very cumbersome with the Lightning shifter. I also am in the habit of shutting off without bothering to shift to P. The dial doesn’t move, the car simply goes into P. In the Lightning, the big, cheap handle has to mechanically position to P. It just sounds like something is going to break.

 

[SmokingtheMeats]

I thought I’d hate the dial until I got my MME. Once I got used to it, I find it very intuitive. A couple things I like about it - very simple to momentarily shift to R and back to D in order to activate the backup camera when pulling into the garage. This is very cumbersome with the Lightning shifter. I also am in the habit of shutting off without bothering to shift to P. The dial doesn’t move, the car simply goes into P. In the Lightning, the big, cheap handle has to mechanically position to P. It just sounds like something is going to break.

I had the dial for about 6 months. That was enough. I know it's eventually coming, but I'm not a fan.

 

[2bacons]

I totally agree with this. A simple dial would have freed up a whole bunch of space in the center console, but most "truck" people want a shifter.

I have this shifter on my 2021 and I think I've folded down the shifter twice for actual use of the work surface.

I had the dial in my Explorer ST for 3 years and it just makes so much sense for an EV. Wish Ford would have just gone for that in the Lightning. It would make using the work surface so much easier.

 

[BennyTheBeaver]

The big-ass handle is totally unnecessary on an EV. The only reason it’s there is to make the truck familiar to ICE F150 owners. I hate it.

The only reason it's there is actually to keep the current gen Lightning as close to the ICE vehicles as possible (production purposes). These inclusions are how Ford was able to get the Lightning out faster than competitors EV trucks.

 

[SteelTerp87]

I get it. But have you driven an F150 or Lightning with this shifter yet? If you haven't, the cheapness feel of it might change your mind.

I wish there were buttons instead, would have been so easy to have buttons in the same spot as the shifter which would then allow you to fold down the console at your pleasure, not just when in Park. Salesman asked why I would want it down when driving, I simply told him that on longer rides, my wife may need to get something for the kids and having a flat surface would help and prevent me from stopping outside of chargers. Apparently that though hadn't crossed his mind haha

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