No likey more and more I drive using the paddles
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 248
Likes: 6
I hardly have to use the paddles on the straight, almost never when turning. When I braked hard, the car down-shift (rev matching), and if this is the beginning of a turn, I would just coast or accelerate thru the turn. Down shifting during a turn will just upset the balance of the car. I experienced the car rev matching when I was lost in Yellow stone. It was a foggy night on a winding road and the rev matching held the car after each turn, no shifting required...
At least for me, its very uncomfortable to be taking a sharp turn, my elbow and arm end up in an awkward position to begin with, much less if I had to keep them in just the right spot on the wheel to get to the shifters.
Maybe its just my positioning, but I find it a lot easier to just reach my index or pinky finger back to hook onto the paddles if they are stationary with the column.
Funny thing about the Vette setup....I told my dad it freaked me out, since I accidentally downshifted after using the "upshift" paddle (pressed the right side like I always do on the G). He used them for a few days and agreed its a horrible design. Went on the web and found all sorts of sellers for the mod to make them work just like the G - both up/down paddles on right are now upshift, both paddles on left are now downshift
Maybe its just my positioning, but I find it a lot easier to just reach my index or pinky finger back to hook onto the paddles if they are stationary with the column.
Funny thing about the Vette setup....I told my dad it freaked me out, since I accidentally downshifted after using the "upshift" paddle (pressed the right side like I always do on the G). He used them for a few days and agreed its a horrible design. Went on the web and found all sorts of sellers for the mod to make them work just like the G - both up/down paddles on right are now upshift, both paddles on left are now downshift
Gotcha...You or your dad shoudl try out the new 2014 Stingray...leaps and bounds better than the out-going 'Vette.... I had a track day with a bunch of them 2 weekends ago
Which actually ruined me from buying one b/c now I know it's capabilites and you can never do that on the street without killing yourself or others...The cars we drove had the Z51 track package.
I hardly have to use the paddles on the straight, almost never when turning. When I braked hard, the car down-shift (rev matching), and if this is the beginning of a turn, I would just coast or accelerate thru the turn. Down shifting during a turn will just upset the balance of the car. I experienced the car rev matching when I was lost in Yellow stone. It was a foggy night on a winding road and the rev matching held the car after each turn, no shifting required...
You are so incredibly *** backwards on the way paddles are supposed to be fixed in a car. PERFORMANCE cars are all mounted on the column, not the wheel. It is so when your doing high speed maneuvers the paddles are always where you expect them to be. Less of a 'hunt' to find them.
Registered User
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 376
Likes: 23
From: NYC
I'm guessing you're the only one that agress with me....I just dont' get why everyone like the fixed paddles on teh steering column. When you're driving stright your hands are usually at 10 and 2...so when you turn they should still be at 10 and 2 in realtion to the steering wheel, BUT your hands will physically be at, let's say you're making a hard right turn, 12 (right hand) and 7 (left hand). So how the heck are you supposed to hit the paddles that are fix-mounted on the steering at 2-4 and 8-10 (I gave it some hours b/c the paddles span those hours)? You can't..your fingers start to flail around looking to shift as you hit the limiter. I've done this manys of times.....I still think the paddles located on the back of the steering wheel itself is the way to go...so they turn as you tun and are always at your finger tips when you need them...
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 237
Likes: 4
Every time I get to drive a car with flappy paddles, it only takes a few minutes of use before I abandon them and use the ratchet shifter on the console to bump through the gears. And then it only takes a few minutes more to get bored of that and just put it in Drive. No clutchy no likey.
Never got the hang of shifting automatics manually. It's not fun, not natural, and nothing like driving with a clutch and stick.
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 38
Likes: 1
it depends the situation. alot of times coming out the corner you just don't need 2 hands. i have a auto and honestly DS does a pretty damn good jod and you dont need to shift but every once and a while the manual mode gives you more control..
as far as driving the auto in manual.. its better IMO sure its drive by wire but once you get the shift points etc i think its fun plus its faster shifting...
also you should have the proper seat belts in your on the track.. that makes a big difference..
as far as driving the auto in manual.. its better IMO sure its drive by wire but once you get the shift points etc i think its fun plus its faster shifting...
also you should have the proper seat belts in your on the track.. that makes a big difference..
Registered Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 336
Likes: 1
My GF's IS250 AWD has them mounted to the back side steering wheel....the IS-F does too...as does the 2014 Stingray and many other sporty cars (i.e Porsche). So when you're turning the paddles are always at your finger tips! THIS is the way it should've been if Infiniti wanted a "Sport" version/option!
Different manufacturers, different designs, that's all. BMWs don't even come with paddles, they're more like buttons.
I prefer them on the column rather than on the steering wheel. When I was searching other forums to see what their opinions were on this same topic I came across one post in the GTR forums that basically summed up why I would rather have the paddles on the column.
Most of my shifting is done going into corners and coming out of them, not during them, so shifting isn't a big deal. I mean, with a manual, you'd move your hand completely away from the wheel. Here you just let go a little move up or down slightly, tap the paddle, and go back to the wheel.
So with the paddles, you always know where it is, and which one is where. I equate this, for people who aren't sure what I'm referring to - as (for those who have bluetooth buttons on their wheels) trying to answer your phone in your car mid-corner. You have to look at the wheel, don't you?
So with the paddles, you always know where it is, and which one is where. I equate this, for people who aren't sure what I'm referring to - as (for those who have bluetooth buttons on their wheels) trying to answer your phone in your car mid-corner. You have to look at the wheel, don't you?
