Lxi

Does anyone manual shif?. Every video and you tube track test I've seen paddle shifts - I've never seen manual mode used - ever. I love the idea, but is it impractical? Not authentic enough?

drbazing

They do the same job, and are both in manual mode if you put it in manual mode, except you gotta take out your hand from the wheel and reach for the stick.

kinglexus99

The paddles can be used in D mode and M mode. They do the same thing as physically moving the gear shifter when in M mode. In D mode they can be used to temp downshift or upshift but auto mode resumes shortly after. What you are seeing in videos is people using the paddle shifters most likely in M mode.

Lxi

Yeah
Do you think most people don't use it because it's not authentic enough, or is it that the paddle is just more convenient? I haven't had a chance to test drive because of bad weather.

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

Honestly its drivers preference. There is no right answer.

On older cars or even my 2IS I prefer the manual mode (S) over the paddles because the paddles are slower to respond than the actual shifter

Perfect for engine braking, mountainous terrain

drbazing

It's not that it's not authentic. It's a semi-automatic car after all. Paddle-shifter gives me the F1 racing mentality, since I'm a fan. It's more readily available to you to shift without really taking your hands off the wheel. Less hands on the wheel means less control and vice versa.

drbazing

Yah but if you engine brake in D mode, it's not as smooth.

Also to add that in D mode, it doesn't upshift all the time. I think it depends on what mode you're in (eco/norm/sport/+)

Aeromotive

The only reason I never use the stick/manual mode : it's inverted. Look at this post and all the videos.

kinglexus99

That's why I don't like using it too. Never realized it was because of this until you mentioned it though. I prefer the paddles on the steering wheel when in M mode...more control especially when driving through canyons.

Aeromotive

Both hands on the steering wheel FTW.

4WDrift

As much as everyone has opinions on which way is correct - Lexus, Acura, etc. who have forward = up and backward = down in a STREET car are right. Just because the race sequentials have it reversed the other way doesn't mean that's right for a street car. Racers can be shifting every 3-6 secs. and are very in tune with what's going on.

After 0-60 street cars don't shift all that often unless you're on a track. In a plane, an emergency manuver is to pull back on the stick to pull up, a natural body reaction vs. push forward. In a downshift, it's most similar to a 3/2 H-pattern downshift, i.e. pull back. When autosticks first appeared, Everyone but BMW was pull back = down. Now you've got half one way or the other. Plus non-autosticks have always been pull back to drop to 2 & 1 since the beginning. So pull back to downshift has been engineered that way for every Joe Average to react to in any situation, like it or not.

waleedj3is

Manual mode works best when car is in Sport S+ and the Trac is completely off! The gear changes are fast and responsive. And best part is it doesn't up-shift when you hit the limiter!

byro

I refuse to use the shifter until they fix the orientation for gear changes.

Up should not be gear up.
Down should not be gear down.

Only a couple manufacturers get this right these days (BMW and Mazda).

dizlex

On the other hand, at least the stick is always in the same place. When turning, the paddles are turned and not accessible.

drbazing

I agree on a street 90 degree turn, but on the track, there shouldn't be too much turn angles that you'd have a hard time up shifting. For the majority of the turns on a track, you down shift right before turn entry and then shift up after exiting the turn.