Paddle Shifters- Anybody?

[jjrally85]

Do you use your paddles or shift from the stick when in manual mode? I find the paddles have a bit too much travel and I don't feel as engaged unless I'm gripping the stick. I feel like I can slam it through the gears a little easier too.
Thoughts?

[Jdmboi]

yea same here.....plus i still like to feel like im in control with i use the stick.....

[geargrinder]

Always from the stick +/-. So stupid to make paddle shifter that doesn't turn with the steering wheel.

[Blaze]

Always from the stick +/-. So stupid to make paddle shifter that doesn't turn with the steering wheel.

+1

I believe there is an aftermarket fix for that. JDM of course.
You can also get larger paddles.

I normally drive about 50/50.

[Jackal]

The paddles are useless unless your driving in a straight line and that's just boring. I like using thr stick to shift while in sprt and manual modes.

[MTZL]

Not really. I was the same way before with the paddle shifter.
I finally understood why it is the way it is.
You shift down before you turn & shift up after the turn.

So the hands are 9-10 & 2-3 o'clock both paddles are within reach
Before going into the turn click shift down paddle
with hand positions on LH @ 10 o'clock RH @ 2 o'clock

If you are turning LEFT after paddle down shifting,
you turn the steering wheel with your Right Hand from 2 o'clock to 9-7 o'clock depends on how much you need to turn.
or reposition RH to 4-5 o'clock & end up @ 12-10 o'clock position.
Your Left Hand is on stand by & off the steering wheel
your left hand is needed to control the steering wheel spin.
Gas &/or brake appropriately going into the turn.
After hitting the apex the steering wheel will straighten itself out.
Dont fight it, let it straighten itself out. Its automagic!
Use your Left hand to control the steering wheel spin
as your right hand should be free to position back @ 2-3 o'clock
& ready to shift up.

Steering wheel spin control take a little bit of practice but will help with your rapid handling maneuvers.

ps: Feel free to comment or add more driving techniques.

[GTS_Rob]

i use the floor shifter not the paddles....and thats in my gts lol....paddles seem to lag a lil....

[MTZL]

I dont have any lag in Paddle shifting on my RA. :D

[GTS_Rob]

its more of a power lag, that a shift lag....

lolzzzzz

thats why im upgrading....too bad no desert sand. i love my color

[Xorro]

I use a mixture, as mentioned paddles are fine in a straight line. If I'm accelerating out of a roundabout it easier to change up using the gear stick. Mind you I've always had manuals so the gear stick seems more normal to me.

[MTZL]

I use a mixture, as mentioned paddles are fine in a straight line. If I'm accelerating out of a roundabout it easier to change up using the gear stick. Mind you I've always had manuals so the gear stick seems more normal to me.

paddle shift down before roundabout & paddle shift up after roundabout.
I dont have a problem at all, either way.
Paddle shifting has its advantages, with experience you'll know why its there & why it doesnt rotate with the wheel.

I use gear stick on the normal day to day driving. with one hand steering.
but sometimes you can slip pushing the steering wheel while turning = bad.
Happened to me on my first time on the cone track in back to back hairpin turns I didnt hit any cones but I wasnt smooth driving the RA. Since than I thought about what I did wrong in steerng input & switching gears.

I figured out if I pull the steering wheel instead of pushing I have better result in steering input sometimes that mean switching hands to pull the steering wheel instead of pushing . Letting the wheel spin back to neutral position after apex. After doing that for a while & alit mental awareness I notice the paddle are there when I need it My arms doesnt cross each other & I have full control steering input of the car & gears. before & after roundabouts.

[TheBlackBeast]

So I've been finding that when I blast through downtown LA, I find myself using the stick. I guess I'm reverting to my old aggressive driving habits when I had other manual transmission vehicles. Its a more aggressive environment where I like one hand on the wheel and one on the stick. For twisties, I use paddles only as they allow me to focus more on the road and less on body placement within the cockpit. They really came through at the track event the other weekend. I'd have to agree with MTZL - with experience, you'll find the paddles are right where they should be.

[Xorro]

I don't think I could use paddles in a roundabout, there is a large one near where I live and you need to change gear as you exit, rather than after. If I left it much later the car would be revving quite hard.

Using the stick will always seem more natural to me as I've primarily driven manuals for the last 17 years :)

[MTZL]

I don't think I could use paddles in a roundabout, there is a large one near where I live and you need to change gear as you exit, rather than after. If I left it much later the car would be revving quite hard.

Using the stick will always seem more natural to me as I've primarily driven manuals for the last 17 years :)

How high were you revving (rpm) when you say "revving quite hard"?
Ease up on your lead foot if you dont want to rev high or gear up.
Sweet spot is between 3k to 5k rpm. Power band start to taper down after 5-6k
Paddle shifter do take more experience & muscle memory.
Like you said since driven 17 yrs of old technology its hard to adopt new technology.

As far as "how fast you can switch gears" paddle shifter is faster than gear stick especially when your gear-switching hand is on the wheel when you have to do sharp turns & to go from steering wheel to the gear stick is a long way compared to paddles which are behind the steering wheel. ;)

Im still learning how to drive this awd+turbo car, Im not an expert so drive however you are comfortable.

I personally like the paddle shifter getting more familiar with them now.
Daily driven 19,000+ miles.. Tires are getting bald from hard turns & hairpin turns..paddle shifting + left foot braking + ebraking.

[TheBlackBeast]

As a racing instructor once told me, stop shifting so much! You can gain better speed if you keep it in gear a little longer, even if you are close to redlining it. No sense to upshift if you are real close to a corner for that last bit of speed when you will have to downshift 2-3 secs after the upshift.

[MTZL]

As a racing instructor once told me, stop shifting so much! You can gain better speed if you keep it in gear a little longer, even if you are close to redlining it. No sense to upshift if you are real close to a corner for that last bit of speed when you will have to downshift 2-3 secs after the upshift.

^+1 down shift before turn & up shift after turn. 3k to 5k rpm power band.

[Ralliheart]

I use the paddles exclusively. I test drove an A3 that had the paddles on the wheel while it turned and you had no idea where they were if you were getting onto the highway and had to shift while the wheel was turned.
I come from many years of driving standard and I feel very comfortable with the paddles. With my other cars you knew when to shift cause the engine is screaming raddling and vibrating and then you just knew. This you don't, there's almost no feel. But it does tend to get pretty loud when the RPM's climb.
Ya Paddlers all the way!

-Ralliheart

[Xorro]

@MTZL

I feeling like I'm expected to defend my driving style!

If I stop at a roundabout and wait I will be in first gear, going all the way around in 1st gear just seems silly. Would you really do a whole roundabout and not change gear until after the exit just so the wheel/paddles are in the 'right place'?

I still use a combination of gear stick and paddles, whatever feels most appropriate.

And as an IT person I have no problem with new technology and as a rock climber my muscles are fine thank you! ;)

[MTZL]

@MTZL

I feeling like I'm expected to defend my driving style!

If I stop at a roundabout and wait I will be in first gear, going all the way around in 1st gear just seems silly. Would you really do a whole roundabout and not change gear until after the exit just so the wheel/paddles are in the 'right place'?

I still use a combination of gear stick and paddles, whatever feels most appropriate.

And as an IT person I have no problem with new technology and as a rock climber my muscles are fine thank you! ;)

I sorry If I sound offensive.
I am not trying to be a know it all.
All I am trying to do was share info.
There is nothing to get defensive about.

Just drive however you feel comfortable.

[MTZL]

Does the roundabout look anything like this???

http://www.bbc.co.uk/wiltshire/content/images/2007/10/22/msn_magic_roundabout_470x350.jpg

Whats the speed limit? Is there speed limit at all?
Are you driving on the public road or a track?
Are you trying to drive as fast as your Ralliart is capable of?
What does your tachometer read when you are in first gear?
If you feel no more power in the amount of gas pedal pressure your foot is pressing, it time to switch gear.

[larmyca]

I like the fixed paddle shifters, rather than ones that rotate with the wheel - that way you know where they are at all times ....no guessing!

[Xorro]

Does the roundabout look anything like this???

http://www.bbc.co.uk/wiltshire/content/images/2007/10/22/msn_magic_roundabout_470x350.jpg

Whats the speed limit? Is there speed limit at all?
Are you driving on the public road or a track?
Are you trying to drive as fast as your Ralliart is capable of?
What does your tachometer read when you are in first gear?
If you feel no more power in the amount of gas pedal pressure your foot is pressing, it time to switch gear.

I have driven around a similar roundabout on a couple of occasions :)

Public road, speed limit is 30 (as pretty much all roundabouts here are). No I don't want to drive as fast as the RA is capable as that would be stupid, I should imagine that the revs would probably be near the red if I were to attempt a whole roundabout in 1st!
Do you even have roundabouts in Fremont? ;)

And yes I understand when to change gear, lol.

I think we should draw a line under this now, otherwise this is predominately becoming a thread on how to drive round a roundabout, rather than about "do you use the paddle shifters or not".

[MTZL]

I have driven around a similar roundabout on a couple of occasions :)

Public road, speed limit is 30 (as pretty much all roundabouts here are). No I don't want to drive as fast as the RA is capable as that would be stupid, I should imagine that the revs would probably be near the red if I were to attempt a whole roundabout in 1st!
Do you even have roundabouts in Fremont? ;)

And yes I understand when to change gear, lol.

I think we should draw a line under this now, otherwise this is predominately becoming a thread on how to drive round a roundabout, rather than about "do you use the paddle shifters or not".

No we dont have roundabout in fremont, but a turn is a turn.
So the 30mph limit put you in second gear. 1st gear to the redline 7k will speed you to 40-50mph I've tried it. To drive comfortably without stressing the engine you should either be in 2nd or 3rd gear.

So the trick of the paddle shifter is you have to pre-determine how much steering input you need to make the turn so your steering hand(s) should be positioned in a way that you end steering input hand(s) where the paddles are.
Take a bit of mental awareness & muscle memory meaning... if you are turning left, your left hand grab the steering @ 3 o'clock or 6 o'clock depends on how sharp the turn is & should end up @ 9 o'clock position.
Left hand will then control the steering unwind take a bit of practice to know when to keep hold on the steering wheel & when to let it unwind. Right hand will be free to paddle shift or gear shift or e-brake or assist in shuffle steering if needed.

Since your RA is most likely a Right Hand drive (RHD) your method will be reversed. Using your right hands mostly to hold or free unwind the steering wheel.
Mental awareness to free Left Hand as much as possible for Paddle Shift, Gear Shift or e-brake & Steering Assist in shuffle steering.
Muscle memory as where you should start/grab the steering so your hands are where the paddles are after steering input so you dont have to think & it should be a reflex.

Look up "shuffle steering technique" which is basically kinda of the same concept with a little variation.

[kenpora]

When you guys are driving aggressively like on a drag strip, do you think its better to let the car shift in sport auto or sport manual? Can we shift as fast as the computer?

I know for me in sport auto it sometimes doesn't shift fast enough and bounces off the rev limiter a couple times then shifts.

[GAbOS]

I don't know about the drag strip, but driving the car in conditions more suited for it, I am finding that the car shifts faster.

I drive AutoCross and find the paddles useless. The key to speed is being smooth and not removing your hands from '10/2'. I tried using the gear lever (as it feel more natural) and was slower in my times. The SST does a spectacular job of down shifting at the right times, and even holding a gear at the top end.

[Mkid]

I know for me in sport auto it sometimes doesn't shift fast enough and bounces off the rev limiter a couple times then shifts.

I've noticed this happen before too.

[MTZL]

I hold my steering @ 7 & 5. Shuffle steering Makes controlling the car easier & arms are relaxed for long trips/distant driving. Gloves make it easier to grab.
I have been using more paddles shifting... I dont have any issues..
I dont drive in auto mode. Im always in Manual mode. Paddles or Stick.

When I went to drag race, I bounced off rev limiter afew times. yes you will have to time the shift. So it takes abit of practice. As soon as 6k rpm hit I shift, pedal to the metal. If you look at the dyno after 6k rpm Hp & tq is rolling down so you want to be in the power band anyways. Good luck.