Maybe trading Tacoma for Ridgeline

Not sure I would want a manual column shifter, but for auto, it is the way to go. Have a car with a column shifter and so much more room in the console, cup holders, cubbies, etc.
Floor shifters in automatics were a 70's thing so people could feel sporty.
With today's automatics and computers, cars are better at shifting than humans, even with paddle shifters or "dual" console shifters.

 

^I disagree. Column shifters were common in old "Detroit iron" to accommodate 3-breast bench seats. Nowadays even minivans put the shifter on the center console. I use my console shifter frequently for manual downshifts for better engine braking. For this purpose the gated shifter (as opposed to a button-latch shifter like on 1st gens) works best.

 

Meh if I had an auto I'd prefer a column shift with push buttons to shift like the newest dodge and chevy full size trucks have.

 

Yeah the push button wouldn't be so nice offroad. And I can say the auto trans in the new dodge 1 tons is garbage. The push button is merely a suggestion to the trans, not an order.

 

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The Ridgeline has a "tow button" on the end of the column shifter stalk .... GO DAWGS ...
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The tow button most likely changes the shift points as well to help the trans hold gears longer.

 

... ^^^ ... Yep .... that is my guess too ...

Or it could be a "secret nitrous button" .... ...
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NOS would be sweet.

Then ricers could have vtec and nos kick in.. yo.

 

Tow button on a Ridgeline is just for looks. It's not even attached to anything.

 

The F150 I rented last year in LA had the little toggle switch on the shifter handle. It isn't as easy to use - you have to read the little LCD in the gauge cluster to see which gear you've selected. With a gated console shifter, the shifter is moved to a different position when you select a different gear, so there's tactile feedback.