Paddle Shifters - Smart Car of America Forums : Smart Car Forum

rainmaker · 10-31-2009, 11:37 AM

I'd like to disable the paddle shifters on my SmartCar. My wife continually hits a paddle and then drives at 6000rpm because she can't see the "D" is now a "2" on the dash display. Yes, she's blonde.

fastturb · 10-31-2009, 11:47 AM

put something solid in between the paddle and the wheel. other wise keep the paddles and get rid of the ......

SuperGeek · 10-31-2009, 12:33 PM

There's no way to disable the paddle shifters, I doubt even the dealer can do that. She'll learn over time to shift on her own and treat it as a manual. It's not hard to do. Even for a blonde.

Seriously, if any driver needs to disable innate features of the car because they haven't learned them, don't disable the feature. Learn to use it. Learn to drive on ice, water, snow, dirt, without freaking out. Learn to pass, shift, swerve. Anyone can learn these things. And everyone should. We're all safer for it. Even at 1800 lbs, this hunk of steel is a deadly weapon and the driver is 100% responsible for its proper use.

Brabus007 · 10-31-2009, 12:50 PM

Paddle Shifters ~ You could just take them off
They are held in place by a single screw. Remove the screw and the shifter comes loose. There is a single connector on the shifter that just slips out. The left shifter has a small connector that very easily slips off. The right shifter has a little larger connector and you just press the top of the connector and the release mechanism lets go.

3slndr · 10-31-2009, 12:58 PM

WTH? Paddles are one of the best features on the car.Perhaps a bit of training?......

forestacademy · 10-31-2009, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brabus007

Paddle Shifters ~ You could just take them off
They are held in place by a single screw. Remove the screw and the shifter comes loose. There is a single connector on the shifter that just slips out. The left shifter has a small connector that very easily slips off. The right shifter has a little larger connector and you just press the top of the connector and the release mechanism lets go.

Ding Ding
We have a winner. Its cheep and can be cone at home.
The other option is to trade it in for a Pure. The car, not the blond

donnyonee · 10-31-2009, 08:20 PM

the car will eventually shift by itself.

fortow · 10-31-2009, 08:38 PM

Wouldn't it be better to just disable your wife by having her hair colour changed?

**SmartDigger** · 10-31-2009, 09:03 PM

I would like to switch sides. (Of the paddles that is) put the up shift on the left.

**jimvw57** · 10-31-2009, 09:56 PM

Years ago I worked on delivery trucks that constantly had broken turn signal levers. We figured out that the drivers were wearing coats with big sleeves and they were catching on the levers and breaking them off.

I figured the paddle shifters would just get in the way for me so I wasn't disappointed that my Pure doesn't have them. Never missed them.