could you guys, speaking from experience on the IS, explain how you use the paddle shifters? currently i wait till it hits about 3500 rpm to shift, but i assume there's much more to it than that.

 

Honestly, I hardly ever use them No need...the car just seems to always be in the right gear, and shifts a lot faster on it's own than with my input.

BTW, the cnet.com review of the IS states the same thing

 

No comment.....except this comment...

 

I've played with them and find them to be a waste of time. I like you get it up to 3,500 or 4,000 then shift to 2nd gear but I find the delay to hit 2nd gear is too slow and your RPM's go up even farther and actually make the car sound kind of stupid. Now after I get my exhaust installed tomorrow I might play with it from time to time but like others have said, let the car shift itself it's so much better and more timely. I wish the 6 speed manual was an option for the 350, I would have ordered that.

 

I only use them if I'm doing some spirited driving through some twisties... Choosing a gear to hold gives much better control then going fully automatic. Other than that, I don't use them.

 

Just throw it in PWR mode, its good enough!