'So the Passenger Princess Has No Problems:' Woman Sits in New Ford. Then She Notices a Strange, Unprecedented New Feature
A woman gets into the driver’s seat of a new Ford and immediately notices a strange new feature.
TikTok user MK (@mckup) posted a video last week from the inside of a new Ford. She was surprised to find that the gear shifter folds down at the press of a button. “So what is the point of being able to do this?” MK asks. “Seems just, like, scary if it gets stuck down there.”
In the caption, MK wrote, “What are we doing, Ford???”
Viewers Weigh In on Ford’s New Gear Shifter
In the comments section, viewers offered practical and cheeky explanations for what Ford could’ve been thinking when it introduced this feature.
“The center console folds into a table,” wrote one Ford driver. “That’s the point.”
“One more thing to stress out about malfunctioning after the warranty has expired,” suggested a second user.
“If you are married … nothing,” joked a third person. “For all others, it could serve a purpose.”
FROM THE TRENDING NEWS DESK
Viral bits from across the social media landscape
Our team of experts tracks what's trending so you don't have to—from viral videos to online debates that have everyone talking.
Another person said, “Passenger princesses know.”
Why Did Ford Implement a Stowable Floor Console Shifter?
According to Infortainment, the feature MK is talking about is called the stowable floor console shifter upgrade. It is designed to give drivers, particularly those laborers who spend a lot of time in their trucks, more work space and convenience.
In a F-150 forum, several drivers addressed the same question. One person included a photo of their console lid folded back into a flat work surface. “For truck owners who use their truck as an on-site office,” they wrote.
Another person said they don’t know why the shifter exists anymore at all. “Realistically, why do they even have the shifter anymore?” they wrote. “I would prefer an extra seat under a foldable armrest. They could put the shifter anywhere. Make it a push button.”
Someone else answered, “Because most people still prefer shifters over push buttons.”
On another forum, a Ford owner defended the mechanism after driving with one for over a year.
“It’s been close to 15 months now and I’ve adapted,” they wrote. “What I mean is that I am subconsciously deliberate and not heavy handed with it. There’s no sign of deterioration or that it’s any different than the first time I’ve used it.”
The user continued, “Think of it like a microwave oven you purchased after reading the reviews, and a few people complained that the door latches seem less than robust. But of the 200 reviews, only a few actually had a problem related to it. You could tell what they meant to you and made an effort to never slam the door or yank it aggressively. A year later it was no different than the day you purchased it.”
Motor1 contacted MK via TikTok comment and direct message for comment.
