Good morning

I bought a new MHEV A3 three months ago, and still have to concentrate when using the gear selector. I think the reverse and drive positions should have been the other way round; i.e. push the selector forward for drive, and pull the selector down for reverse. Is it just me, or does anyone else think the same?

Best regards.

I have had many automatic cars over the last forty years, both petrol and electric. They have all been backwards for Drive, forwards for Reverse.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_transmission#P%E2%80%93R%E2%80%93N%E2%80%93D%E2%80%93L_positions

Most cars use a "P–R–N–D–L" (also simply called "PRNDL") layout for the gear selector

But..

Some automatic transmissions, especially by General Motors from 1940 to 1964, used a layout with reverse as the bottom position (e.g. N–D–L–R or P–N–D–L–R).

Who knew! I have always pushed forward for reverse.

I see the logic of forward to go forward and vice versa, but the actuality has always been the opposite for me, and I have never questioned it.

Thank you all for the advice. I think the fact that there is no gear stick highlighted the issue.

At least I have a stumpy knob to shift!

I find the paddle shifts more confusing, first car with them and I am still not confident to use them 😉

Isn't it a safety feature,incase the lever is accidentally pushed the car will shoot off forwards .