I know the automatic has paddles, but.....
 

Every once in awhile I like to play with the sequential style shifter. There doesn't seem to be an issue here until you realize that for some unexplained reason the shift pattern is backwards? Why would a manufacturer such as Toyota or Subaru do this? Both companies have Motorsport ties that reach back decades. I am fairly confident that someone on the development team knows pulling the shifter towards the driver should be an upshift and pushing it towards the dash should be a downshift. This makes sense because under braking it is easier to push the shifter forward to downshift and exactly the opposite is true under acceleration.

I say that to ask this. Does anyone out there know if we can just pull whatever plug the sequential stick engages and reverse it, or would that cause the ECU to throw a raging tantrum?

Just curious. Thanks to anyone that might have some input on reversing the shift direction.

Sean

There is no "right" way to design it. It varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. If I remember correctly the Porsche PDK system is also forward to upshift.

It could be done if you reprogrammed one or more of the control modules. Or maybe if you repinned an electrical connector.

Why is it like that in the first place? It's probably because that's what their customer clinics told them the expected buyer wanted. Or maybe they didn't bother doing any evaluations. Nobody actually uses manual shifting functions on a regular basis. They try it out a couple times and then forget about it.

Yep, PDK is backwards when it comes to this as well.

I know it comes down to the manufacturers choice. But what I don't understand is why manufacturers with massive racing backgrounds choose to do this backwards. It's odd to me.

That would be a cool mod. Pull to shift up, the way it should be.

I will be looking into the possibilities.

I guess whether its an easy change depends if the gear selector is switch activated or mechanical (inside the tranny?).
If switches, I would presume you could swap the switches or wiring from front to back which would reverse the shift direction to the correct way.

Hoping for the switch option.

Personal preference.

Sorry, its not personal preference when every sequential box put into any modern era race car is upshift towards the driver and downshift towards the dash. If you personaly like it the other way around, that's cool. But, it is backwards when compared to track specific sequential boxes.

it would be easiest to change the wiring at the ECU (or junction block), rather than make physical changes to the switches.

Cleanest way would be to have two mini jumper harnesses.

One that swaps the wires, and one that reverts it back to stock.

The manual-mode autos aren't set up for people who have spent time using a proper sequential manual, they are made for people who drive automatics (no offense intended). And from a certain viewpoint it does kind of make sense; push forward to go faster, pull back to go slower is kind of intuitive. That said, I completely agree with you.

Wake up. This isn't a race car. They are trying to maximize sales through good impressions from "regular" people taking test drives, not please internet car forums. Either they don't give a crap or they have data from customers saying that's the preference.