How to Operate the Electronic Gear Lever of Buick GL8?
3 Answers
Detailed instructions for operating the electronic gear lever of the Buick GL8 are as follows: 1. "P" stands for Park: Engage the "P" gear after the vehicle is parked. 2. "R" stands for Reverse: Shift into "R" gear when you need to reverse the vehicle. 3. "N" stands for Neutral: Use Neutral for short stops. 4. "D" stands for Drive (Automatic Mode): Shift into this gear when you need to move forward. 5. "M" stands for Manual Mode: Use this for manual upshifting and downshifting. Precautions: 1. Shift gears according to actual needs. 2. Control the speed and avoid overspeeding.
During my time driving the GL8, I use this electronic gear shifter every day, and the operation is actually quite intuitive. After starting the car and pressing the brake pedal, when the dashboard shows 'Ready,' I press the unlock button on the left side of the shifter with my thumb and gently pull it backward to shift into D (Drive) mode—pulling it all the way engages the forward gear. For reverse, I press the same button and push the shifter forward until it reaches the top position for R (Reverse). The most convenient feature is parking—just press the large button with the 'P' on top, eliminating the effort required with traditional mechanical shifters. At red lights, I usually shift to N (Neutral) by pushing the shifter forward without pressing the button. The gear changes are smooth with noticeable damping, making it comfortable even after long drives. The dashboard also displays the current gear in real time, so even beginners don’t have to worry about shifting incorrectly.
The first time driving the GL8, I was worried about getting used to the electronic gear shifter, but it turned out to be much simpler than I imagined. After starting the car, you must press the brake pedal to shift gears. The unlock button is on the left side of the shifter—press it with your thumb while pushing forward for reverse gear, and pull backward for drive gear. I particularly like the quick-shift design. For example, when making a U-turn on a narrow road, you can shift directly from D to R by pushing forward lightly twice without pausing at N. The P button is prominently placed and easy to reach when parking. Two reminders: never press the P button while driving—in emergencies, step on the brake first; when parking on a slope, remember to engage the electronic parking brake before pressing P to avoid straining the transmission gears. Once you get the hang of it, it’s much more effortless than a traditional shifter, especially in stop-and-go traffic where frequent shifting is no hassle.
