Japan Trib Gear Shifter?

Take a look at this Japanese Tribute's automatic gear shifter:<br><br><a href=http://www.artex.co.jp/Pages/TRIBUTE/magazne/44_00_12_05.htm target=new>http://www.artex.co.jp/Pages/TRIBUTE/magazne/44_00_12_05.htm</a><br><\ br>Does it seem to have an offset rearward bend to it as to not interfere with the radio controls?

Looks like it might have more bend but would probably still be in the way since it would not significantly change what it was in front of. <br><br>What I noticed more is the small A/C and recirc buttons below the heater controls. I wish the North American versions had those. I hate not being trusted to determine my own ventillation preferences. Even worse, not being able to temporarily cut vent out when pass belching vehicle

Sure looks that way to me tribby. I'm curious as to why Mazda's Japanese engineers apparently paid attention to details that their American conterparts did not.<br><br>Brian

Man ddeemo do I ever miss that recirculate button.....I know what you mean and totally agree!<br><br>bob

according to the manual, the only way to cut ventilation is to turn it to OFF. of course you loose ventilation all together. but at least you don't get the 'bad' odors from outside.<br><br>yes, i do miss having full control over what ventilation settings i want.<br><br>btw, the Mazda MPV has the same shifter as in the japanese tribute, i.e., much more 'bend'. how much of a difference it makes, i'm not sure.<br><br>i called mazda and complained about the shifter and the wind noise. according to the rep, this doesn't become a recall unless a LOT of people complain about it.<br><br>if the shifter and wind noise bothers you, it would help us all if you called mazda.<br><br>here's mazdas # 1800 222 5500 option 4. give them your vin #.

FYI - the MAX A/C setting also cuts ventilation by only recirculating inside air. It would be nice, however, to have separate outside/recirc buttons for greater control on other settings besides the A/C.

The problem with using the 'cant' of the right-hand drive Japanese shifter on a left-hand drive Tribute probably has to do with the fact that it appears that the headlight and windshield wiper switchgear stalks are in the same location on either a right- or left-hand drive vehicle.<br><br>On the right-hand drive vehicle, the shifter has less to clear with the headlight stalk. On left-hand drive, however, the windshield switch stalk is larger and sticks out more than the headlight switch stalk, making the cant of the shifter to clear the radio knob more difficult (if not impossible) to achieve.

Actually, when I test drove the trib I immediately noticed the problem and it appeared to me as thought the lever was just made too long. I think that shortening it by two or three inches would easily resolve the problem.<br><br>Brian