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#2
10-27-2008, 09:14 PM
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not really
Not really. This took place during a time when the floor shift was considered cool. Porsches had floor shifts, VW's had them. All sports cars had them. You could also have a console with the floor shift.
All upscale cars came with and automatic, but with the 108 you could still get a four speed and Mercedes even made those with colume shifts. I think that in the US Mercedes went with floor shifts as it set them apart and let you use the unuseable space between the front seats for something. All in all, the return to floor shifts was more of a marketing thing. Pooka 
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#3
10-27-2008, 09:20 PM
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As an owner of lots of American trucks over the years, I just identify the column shifter with the trucks and the floor shifter for the cars. Therefore, I always prefer the floor shifter.
__________________
- Brian 1989 500SEL Euro 1966 250SE Cabriolet 1958 BMW Isetta 600
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#4
10-27-2008, 09:21 PM
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the steering column is easier, more convenient, tho they do seem to need a lot of tlc (if u don't want to lend your car to anyone, get the column; few people drive standard today, and even fewer know column)
__________________
"The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread."
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#5
10-28-2008, 12:25 PM
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Only for your own preferences, the only thing desirable market-wise is the 5spd. I like the column shift for manuals, for the retro "cool" factor and convenience alone and the floor shift for autos due to less maintenance and bushing hassles (see other post for bcollia's car) and the fact that a column-shifted automatic reminds me of big chevys and caddies.
One caveat is that the column-shifted manuals usually were only 4 or 3-speed depending on the make. If you wanted an overdrive gear you had to get the formerly cool and exclusive, now ubiquitous, floor shift for your manual.
__________________
___ /<>/>/> 1967 230S automatic Boston, MA
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#6
10-29-2008, 01:22 AM
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Having driven both versions in 110 sedans, and my coupe is 4 on the floor manual trans, I think the floor shift is much easier to use, much faster to shift, and just makes for a better driving experience.
In the column shift manual trans Mercedes that I've had, I found myself always having to sort of sit forward and reach around the steering wheel for each shift. There was no sitting in one normal position and just going click....click.....click......click through the gears. With the floor shift sedans and my coupe, it was very easy to remain in a normal seated position and make nice, smooth shifts either up or down. I agree, for retro, there's nothing like column shift manual trans, but to me, it's equally cool, retro and sporty to have 4 on the floor.
__________________
 1966 W111 250SEC:
DB268 Blaugrün/electric sunroof/4 on-the-floor/4.5 V-8 rear axle
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#7
10-29-2008, 10:29 AM
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Of course 108s aren't really worth much but on 111 coupes and cabriolets a floor shift is considered far more attractive, and worth thousands of dollars more, to the extent that some have actually performed very expensive conversions from column shift to floor shift. A really high end 111 cabriolet must be floor shift.
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#8
10-29-2008, 10:57 AM
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I think the column shift preference might come as a result of watching too much "Columbo"...
http://www.columbo-site.freeuk.com/inside.htm http://www.columbo-site.freeuk.com/crash.htm
__________________
___ /<>/>/> 1967 230S automatic Boston, MA
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