I realize this could be a potential hot-button issue for some people, but I'm curious: What advantages do you gain from having a center-console shifter?

Let me elaborate: It'* still an automatic transmission, -do you guys shift manually? At a drag-strip or something? Is there a speed advantage? Or do you still just let the transmission shift automatically?

I admit the center console Bonnies have nice bonuses: You can have the rear seat heating A/C vents, you get the bucket seats -which are very comfortable, you can have that funky 9-button seat controller, but of the shifter itself, is there any advantage to it being center-console mounted -vs- steering column mounted? -Or is it simply in a different place?

I have a steering column mounted shifter in my SE, and I rather like my large "captain'* seat", and I've had to fit three people up front before, and I like the larger cupholders in my aftermarket hump-mounted stuff-tray, and I have easy under-dash access.

So let'* hear it from you center-console owners, what advantages do you enjoy?

i dont know if shifting helps but i love having a floor shifter. when i think of a column shifter it makes me think of a van (thats what i learned how to drive in) and a floor shifter just seems sportier.

there is no advantage one way or another...the Console shift is much better IMO, cause i rest my right arm on the console lid and hand on the shifter everytime i drive

IMHO it looks nicer. But thats about it. Yes its easier to work on a column shift dash, but do you spend more time working on your car than driving in it??

They were often equiped with different gear ratios weren't they?

Sometimes I think I would prefer a column shifter versus the console. I can't see any advantages or disadvantages to having one or the other, just preference. I drove a Citroen over in Europe one time where the gear selector (manual transmission) came straight out of the center of the dash. Now that was too cool!

yes typically a column shift has the 2.84 ratio and the console shift has the 3.06 this is for the years 92-95....that changed in the later years tho

So I guess that in itself could be an advantage or disadvantage depending upon what type of driving you do... :P

Yea I was pretty surprised to find out that I have the 3.05 drive ratio equipped with the ultra cool column shift!

On the 00+ (well, at least on '04), there is a column shift AND cupholders (in the arm rest that folds down)

I test drove a sandstone color bonneville with a console shift, then test drove this white one... both were nice. I personally couldn't tell much difference in the seats. Bought the white one since it was $500 less and had less miles.