What is the gear shift lever called?
4 Answers
The lever used for shifting gears is called the gear shift lever, also known as the gear stick. Both automatic and manual transmission cars have a gear shift lever. A manual transmission, also referred to as a manual gearbox (MT), requires the driver to manually move the gear shift lever to change the gear engagement inside the transmission, altering the gear ratio to achieve speed variation. The manual transmission uses shift forks to change the gear ratio (tooth ratio) of the meshing gears, thereby altering the driving torque to suit different operating conditions. An automatic transmission typically refers to a car's automatic gear-shifting mechanism, where the control system of the automatic transmission selects the appropriate gear based on the engine's speed and load during driving, replacing the driver's subjective judgment of timing and gear-shifting operations.
I've been driving trucks for over 30 years, and we always called it the gear stick. Manual transmission vehicles have a dedicated lever for shifting gears - anyone who's driven old Jiefang trucks knows you need to coordinate it with the clutch pedal to engage gears. Driving stick shift is all about feel: you must fully depress the clutch before selecting the appropriate gear based on speed - first gear to start, second for slow movement, and only when reaching third can you really get going. Nowadays, automatic transmissions use a gear selector instead, eliminating the hassle of clutch operation - just push or pull. There's also the column-mounted gear shifter behind the steering wheel, which operates like a windshield wiper switch.
During driving tests, instructors always emphasize the importance of proper gear lever operation. Back when we were learning to drive, it was called the gearshift, which is actually the control component of a manual transmission. Every time you shift gears, you must fully depress the clutch, otherwise the gears will grind. Nowadays, driving an automatic is much more convenient. A straight-line gear lever only requires pushing and pulling, while some cars have button or rotary gear selectors. Shifting to N (neutral) at red lights can also save a bit of fuel. The most dangerous mistake is shifting into reverse (R). A friend of mine once mistook R for P (park) and almost hit a wall.
Last time when I accompanied my best friend to pick up her car, the salesperson called this the gear shift lever. Nowadays, many new cars have switched to electronic gear selectors that look like game controllers. The SUV I drive has a rotary gear shift knob, which slowly rises when starting the car and automatically retracts when pressing the P button to park. Beginners should be careful not to shift gears incorrectly. Once, while reversing, I accidentally bumped into the driving mode rotary knob, and the car suddenly lurched forward, which was really frightening.
