Porsche Enthusiasts Club Forum

I know this isn't porsche specific but we have some very knowledgeable chaps on here.

I have pondered this for many a year and asked on other forums with no joy. I have had one answer which sparked my curiosity and I could have believed to be the solution but I am not wholly convinced. I will not post that answer yet as it may sway your thoughts. SO the question I pose to you is.

Why is the auto gearbox laid out as follows

P
R
N
D?

90% of my life I drive manuals. But one of the company cars is auto and to me naturally if I want to move forward of the three positions (excluding park) I choose the first position. I can only surmise this is before it is the foremost position and there for should result in a forward motion. And vice versa for reverse. My colleague drove and automatic every day for 8 consecutive years, and still he often made the mistake of put the stick in the forward position to go forward and would then jolt backwards.

Why on earth is the stick laid out arse about face when it is so very counter intuitive and surely has cause some accidents?

Forwards for forwards and backwards for backwards, simples?

I do hope you are as intrigued as I am, rather than bored.

Think in terms of long before floor mounted gearshifts they were all column mounted. In fact that was a prime reason behind column gears as you had a full width bench seat.
As for the positioning I can only presume you get confused with a manual going from 1st to 2nd & 3rd to 4th when you have to move the gearlever backwards?

I cant relate the column change to the pattern, could you elaborate?

As far I can tell its not that as I don't move it once its driving. Though I have gone for the clutch once of twice haha. Its less me and more noticing my colleague doing it, after 8 years of driving one it hasn't changed in his mind and as such tells me its wrong. I know no one is ever going to change the order but im curious as to why the manufactures so it arse about face. I can only assume its historical, but what was the reason why back when?

It's so that reverse is the opposite direction of Drive - to hopefully prevent you accidently changing one notch and putting it in reverse at 60 miles per hour etc.. - as there is no clutch

Yes I understand why N is in the middle. That's not what im questioning. What I asking is why is it not.
P
D
N
R?

Because the above way you could accidently put it in park at 80- mph etc - which is just as bad.

Ah im with you, you make a good point and that's more logical and better than the previous best answer I had.

I had an XJ6 mk2 which was

P
R
N
D
2
1

I was driving while using the gear box shift - wanted to go to first - pushed the shift fully the wrong way into P - that locked the transmission and the car skidded to a violent stop. Actually did that twice... Luckily no damage.

Not done it on a 944. Modern cars may prevent you doing that - not tried it recently.

I just leave it in D and use ther kickdown if needed.

Yeah I hadn't thought of that because its a 57 plate astra or a 53 discovery which i drive both of which require you to put you foot on the brake in order to move the stick to the pack postion.

I recon youve cracked it