Are you a fan of the paddles? - Smart Car of America Forums : Smart Car Forum

Amethyste · 03-10-2008, 08:29 AM

I am still debating how I will drive my smart. I want to get the best MPG
but I also want to get a pattern of shifting - i am a creature of habit...

I thought the paddles would be better, but it seems people on the forum here do not like them...

What is everyone's shifting pattern?

Old smart · 03-10-2008, 08:32 AM

They are OK in a straight line, but useless during a turn. Unnecessary affectation.

**jwight** · 03-10-2008, 08:39 AM

No, but I like paddle fans! Sorry...

FWIW, once you have the car you'll work out a shift mode you're happy with. My guess is a mix of auto, stick and paddles - they each appear to have their place. If you absolutely can't stand one of them, you have the option not to use it.

Karl Roth · 03-10-2008, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old smart

They are OK in a straight line, but useless during a turn. Unnecessary affectation.

Always wanted to be in the gear you needed to accelerate out of it going in. Also thought that the paddles would make the car more fun before I got it. The shifting has gotten smooth it pops downshifts when it needs to on grades I find it to be a wonderful box. Not at all racy shifts are far too deliberate. Find myself in D most of the time.

karl

a2jack · 03-10-2008, 08:53 AM

Paddles are for boats. They are a joke on this car. Save your money and use the stick. You will love it.

A2Jack.

BandSofC · 03-10-2008, 08:56 AM

I wish the paddles were stationary so they would be where I expect them in a turn. If I had my wish, I would prefer paddles that push to down-shift and pull to up-shift (both paddles).
As it is, if I'm accelerating through a turn, I use the stick.

**jwight** · 03-10-2008, 08:59 AM

Now I know why those F1 drivers get the big bucks - they can use paddle shifters in turns.

smartyPantz · 03-10-2008, 09:29 AM

I drive stick now, and I plan on using the manual mode mostly; but I was wondering.
How does one take the transmission out of gear totally? and then how do you put it into a particular gear?
It seems like the transmission is more sequential...
Like now, when I am going around a turn, sometimes I will take it out of gear completely, and then put it in 3rd brfore I begin to accelerate.
How would this be done in the smart?

jthomas119 · 03-10-2008, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwight

FWIW, once you have the car you'll work out a shift mode you're happy with. My guess is a mix of auto, stick and paddles - they each appear to have their place. If you absolutely can't stand one of them, you have the option not to use it.

The above is the best answer. In my case, I use the stick for 1->2 and 2->3. For 3<->4 and 4<->5 I sometimes use the paddles.
I almost never use Auto except when parking. R<->D

meaux61 · 03-10-2008, 09:33 AM

I have not even tried the paddles yet. I tried the manual for the first two days. It seems like the car shifts when it whats to no matter what you do, so I switched to Automatic and I like it best. Like Karl said, it downshifts automatically when it needs more torque like to go up a hill. I think Auto gets the best gas mileage as well...or so I have heard. One of these days I will try the paddles. I am still experimenting. I might just use the paddles for instance when entering the highway from the ramp.

Meaux