Durango lose the knob?

[GasAxe]

My local dealer is dangling employee discount pricing, so I’ve been snooping through the new Durango inventory and found the transmission knob has gone back to a more traditional T-lever. When did that happen? I prefer the knob in our 2017 Durango. Not a fan of it in my ‘18 Ram.

 

[UN4GTBL]

A year or more now I think.

 

[Ryan]

It was for the 2018 model year

 

[GasAxe]

Hmm.. weird. Know if it was it a styling or design decision? The knob definitely opens up console space in the Durango. The T-handle is a definite step backwards.

I met with the dealer today. They offered a nice deal on a ‘19 Durango but there’s really no reason for me to extend my payment schedule for an identical vehicle that’s 2 model years newer and sans knob. Now if there had been a refresh of the model, I likely would have taken the deal.

 

[UN4GTBL]

Hmm.. weird. Know if it was it a styling or design decision? The knob definitely opens up console space in the Durango. The T-handle is a definite step backwards.

I met with the dealer today. They offered a nice deal on a ‘19 Durango but there’s really no reason for me to extend my payment schedule for an identical vehicle that’s 2 model years newer and sans knob. Now if there had been a refresh of the model, I likely would have taken the deal.

Ironically, they added the T-handle as a response to people who didn't like the Knob in the Durango. And to keep in line with it's "7 passenger Charger" idea.

 

[GasAxe]

Now if I ran the zoo (a highly underrated Dr Seuss book), I’d have the T shift paired with the go-fast models and keep the knob on the sxt and Citadel models. All Chargers get the T shifter and all 300’s would have the knob. Only high trim Rams would get the knob while us working slobs can keep the work truck friendly column shifter.

 

[Ryan]

Now if I ran the zoo (a highly underrated Dr Seuss book), I’d have the T shift paired with the go-fast models and keep the knob on the sxt and Citadel models. All Chargers get the T shifter and all 300’s would have the knob. Only high trim Rams would get the knob while us working slobs can keep the work truck friendly column shifter.

Just curious, how is the knob less work truck friendly than the column shifter?

 

[vipergg]

The T shifter on the SXT is one of the reasons I bought a new 2020 . It also allows you to shift thru the gears manually up and down . Totally disagree it was a step backwards . Best thing they could have done.

 

[GasAxe]

Just curious, how is the knob less work truck friendly than the column shifter?

I only say work truck because the knob can be viewed as an upscale feature. I admit, the dash looks cleaner without the column shifter. However, after 18 months of use, I am decidedly against ever getting one again if I could. The knob in my tradesman feels like a cheap toy like the internals are thin plastic or white metal. In contrast, the knob in our act Durango feels solid with smooth movement and secure shift points, not clicks or ratchety. That’s just my opinion on quality. Where I really dislike the knob in my truck is how I have misidentified it with the fan control a few times. Having the dial in the same plane as the climate and radio controls has increased the likelihood of misidentification. It’s not on par with the return to center shift handle that was removed from the Grand Cherokee, but after making a mistake 3-4 times myself (without any major incident), I don’t want to ever have a truck equipped with one ever again. The consequences can be too severe. Now having the knob on the console like in our Durango, I think it’s great. There’s nothing to confuse it with and it allows better access to the little cubby without having a shifter stalk in the way. That’s why I was really surprised to see it no longer available in the new Durango’s yet still pushed on all Ram trucks.

 

[Rustydodge]

The knob on my laramie feels much better than the knob on my durango RT. I prefer the location on the Ram as opposed to the location on the Durango and have not yet mistaken it for volume or HVAC controls. Also, the wife has mistakenly rotated the 4wd range knob into low on our durango at least 1 time i know of.

In response to one comment above, you can still select gears manually on a durango via the paddle shifters.

Both are good solutions to free up space. The durango especially, where the center console is tiny.