Billet Paddleshifters Hands on Review

[NCC1701]

OK, I know I'm gonna sound dumb, but a few questions ...

Aren't these more for looks than function? (not that there's anything wrong with that) It seems to me that my fingers would still gravitate to the stock plastic finger 'grooves'.

Does the aluminum finish look 'at home' with the stock silver trim?

If I were to change my mind and decide to remove them, would that be a major PITA?

And a comment: Pricey!

I am a paddle shifter most of the time.

[mvaldes]

Originally Posted by cubefx

Personally, I rarely bump them on when in Auto mode by accident. Most of the time it happens because I forget that I am not in the Manual.
Mvaldes, reported that he have that problem with factory paddles. I was just assuming that additional length will not help him. I hope it make sense.


CUBE

Cube, I probably didn't really make the actual situation clear. I may have actually hit the paddles once or twice back when I got the upgrade and, on rare occasion, leaving my driveway. I had shown my wife the eBay pics of the paddle cover/extensions and asked if she thought they would result in me hitting the paddles accidentally while driving in auto mode. She surreptitiously watched me drive the 100 miles back from our weekend place in CT and concluded that the way I use the wheel, I probably would find myself hitting them more often.
Personally, I think it would just be a matter of self training. In a very short period of time I would think that there location would have become imprinted on the "right" part of the brain and they become incorporated into something like your muscle memory of where things are and what you need to do to activate or deactivate them.
Excuse the rather long way of sayin, "don't worry, you'll get used to 'em son."

[Smart Enuf]

It would be nicer if the billet paddles extended in both directions so that the extension reaches into the lower half of the steering wheel. I actually prefer to drive with my hands in the 8:00/4:00 or even 7:00/5:00 positions, and the paddles in the southern half of the steering wheel would work better for those hand positions. I'd probably plunk down the cash for that if the paddles were so designed.

Having said that, they are very nice looking as is.

[stew7962]

I've thought about getting them also. They look cool. If they came in carbon fiber I order a pair instantly.

[smartdot]

Originally Posted by Smart Enuf

It would be nicer if the billet paddles extended in both directions so that the extension reaches into the lower half of the steering wheel. I actually prefer to drive with my hands in the 8:00/4:00 or even 7:00/5:00 positions, and the paddles in the southern half of the steering wheel would work better for those hand positions. I'd probably plunk down the cash for that if the paddles were so designed.

Having said that, they are very nice looking as is.

In the positions you mentioned, they would no longer be paddles, they'd be shovels.