Paddle Shifters

[Richard Porter]

Sorry about floggin that dead horse. Poor thing. No offense intended was just an opinion nothing moe. To each his own.

[fortow]

Originally Posted by stressed member

The paddle shifters are great as long as you are going strait. I have noticed in turns that I end up in a knot of stearing wheel, arms and paddles. I,m sure they work perfect on F1 cars etc, that have less rotation of the steering wheel. But hey, you do what you have to, to win races. Right?

That's not my experience. Hands can be kept on the wheel at 3 and 9 o'clock as normal and a 90 degree turn is quite possible. Even if you need to remove a hand from the wheel it's a simple matter of placing either hand at the desired paddle position to shift. On the other hand, it's really not a good idea to shift while turning. Be in the right gear prior to the turn and accelerate out of it then do the next upshift.

The paddles are designed to turn with the wheel for a good reason - that is to have them at a position to shift if required with hands at the correct location. It's a matter of control.

[powerbookguy]

i love the paddles, really the main reason i got the passion over the pure.

i find that for 90% of turns i can cross my forearms over each other to execute the turn F1 style and still have my fingers on the paddles for a shift if needed.

while shifting in corners is generally frowned upon, the car has such low power that having the back step out due to lack of grip during a shift is highly unlikely. besides, the gearbox is so slow that by the time the car actually shifts the turn is usually over!

[forestacademy]

Originally Posted by fortow

That's not my experience. Hands can be kept on the wheel at 3 and 9 o'clock as normal and a 90 degree turn is quite possible. Even if you need to remove a hand from the wheel it's a simple matter of placing either hand at the desired paddle position to shift. On the other hand, it's really not a good idea to shift while turning. Be in the right gear prior to the turn and accelerate out of it then do the next upshift.

The paddles are designed to turn with the wheel for a good reason - that is to have them at a position to shift if required with hands at the correct location. It's a matter of control.

Have you never started from a stop making a left hand turn? Do you stay in first and only go 7 MPH untill you are going straight again?

This is why I only drive in Auto except when more power is required

[picksa5string]

Sounds like operator headspace error to me!

[picksa5string]

OK, here, I'll make it simple for you. If you look at the brake acellerator pedal location and refer them to the paddles, then the solution is that the right paddle makes the car go faster in gears and the left paddle make the car go slower in gears. Like the brake and acellerator pedals do.

[Big Panda]

Originally Posted by fortow

That's not my experience. Hands can be kept on the wheel at 3 and 9 o'clock as normal and a 90 degree turn is quite possible. Even if you need to remove a hand from the wheel it's a simple matter of placing either hand at the desired paddle position to shift. On the other hand, it's really not a good idea to shift while turning. Be in the right gear prior to the turn and accelerate out of it then do the next upshift.

The paddles are designed to turn with the wheel for a good reason - that is to have them at a position to shift if required with hands at the correct location. It's a matter of control.

I use the paddles most of the time, with my hands at the traditional "10 and 2" position. I'm fortunate to have long fingers and I use my 'pinkies' to shift with.

[fortow]

Originally Posted by Big Panda

I use the paddles most of the time, with my hands at the traditional "10 and 2" position. I'm fortunate to have long fingers and I use my 'pinkies' to shift with.

Even though 10 and 2 are positions that some driving schools are still recommending, the correct positions to hold the wheel are at 9 and 3, and that is what is being taught in more up-to-date driver training, police training, racing schools, etc. - that is where the most stable control is obtained. That is also why many steering wheels designed now have obvious hand positions at those locations and why paddles are positioned there. There is less liklihood of body sway affecting steering, hands can be left on the wheel while turning, there is greater muscle control, and more.
Even though the following mentions the 10&2 position, it may actually be recommending to hold the steering wheel at the quarter to three position as explained in this reference and as illustrated - http://uws.clients.squiz.net/__data/...rivingTip2.pdf
There is also a matter of being protected from exploding air bags. If the hands are at a higher position on the wheel they are thrown upwards and injury is the result. Held at 9 and 3 that is less likely. Interestingly, there are some advocates of holding the wheel below center for this reason as well but steering control is less optimal.
Racing Schools - Driving Tips - Steering - RacingSchools.Com

Manitoba Public Insurance > Driving Tips

Where to put hands on the steering wheel? - Smart Motorist

and another - Steering: Proper Hand Position

Even though I do hold the wheel at 9&3 the fingers used to activate the paddles can vary - sometimes index, and sometimes any one of the other three.

And, yes, turning immediately after starting off from a stop light does require shifting while turning. If the hand is at the 3 position the shift is easy to make. Hands do not have to be lifted from the wheel. Max speed in first gear is considerably faster than 7 mph by the way.

And, no, the auto mode is not an option - it is absurd in its choice of when to shift and the speed at which shifts take place (road speed) and does not hold the gear when holding is appropriate, and continually wants to shift up regardless of suitability - and some other frustrating and annoying absurdities. I do enjoy proper behaving automatic transmissions but this is not one of them - and the manual mode using the paddles or shift lever is just so enjoyable that it makes no sense to use the auto mode.

[fastturb]

Originally Posted by fortow

just so enjoyable that it makes no sense to use the auto mode.

I disagree 100% - I love using the auto mode and would love to run you side by side any day!! Now here is how I am also different than you - I won't put anyone down for using full time shifting or make remarks about how bad it is. I think people need to make a choice and I'd be very glad to explain to people how to use your gas pedal to drive in auto mode and never have a complaint. I promise you will never complain about hill climbing, merging in traffic and passing another vehicle.

Of course I am a regular drag racer and have beaten so many "shifting" people with my powerglides, dynaglides and gm 400's 200's and 700's I've lost count. Why can't you just say you enjoy shifting and leave it at that????

The tracks I go to are Englishtown, Atco, Maple Grove, Cecil, Bowling Green, and I would pay a track fee to run up against your shifting smart with mine in auto. Friendly race because I think everyone here should be friendly with each other regardless of how they drive their car....

[jetfuel]

Originally Posted by fastturb

I'd be very glad to explain to people how to useyour gas pedal to drive in auto mode and never have a complaint.

...here in SCOA we will not put anyone down from sharing their knowledge...we may poke some fun but I know that everybody here likes to hear new ways for improving/changing driving habits...

jetfuel....all ears