Thoughts on paddle shifters

[Dash Riproc]

It took me a while but I finally got the hang of driving my wife's 2024 Prem Plus in manual mode. It has the paddle shifters but I find them to be awkward and not conveniently positioned a lot of the time because I'm turning the wheel and can't easily access the correct one. I always gravitate back to the floor shifter.

Am I doing it wrong? What's the point of paddle shifters? Is there a particular situation where they might offer an advantage?

 

[N7turbo]

I use them for downshifting. Most of the time if I need to upshift I do it with the shifter, especially if the wheel is turned.

 

[paris1]

It took me a while but I finally got the hang of driving my wife's 2024 Prem Plus in manual mode. It has the paddle shifters but I find them to be awkward and not conveniently positioned a lot of the time because I'm turning the wheel and can't easily access the correct one. I always gravitate back to the floor shifter.

Am I doing it wrong? What's the point of paddle shifters? Is there a particular situation where they might offer an advantage?

Absolutely! I've been driving CX-5s and Mazda 3s for 12 years now and rarely resort to using manual mode. Paddle shifters are another matter. I frequently find myself pulling a grade (either up or downhill) with the trans not dropping a gear exactly when I would prefer. No fault of the 6AT, it's just a subjective thing and the paddle shifters really come in handy for fine tuning the transmission's behavior in those circumstances. Of course the same thing can be accomplished with the gear shift lever in manual with the added advantage that it will hold the gear until you decide otherwise. But all things considered, I usually find it more convenient and intuitive to just reach for a paddle.

 

[GrampaSlade]

I think I bought an automatic for a reason.

 

[paris1]

To each his own Grampa. Some people want a little more involvement! (even at age 76!)

That, and some people get an automatic because that's all that's offered!

 

[N7turbo]

I see the Auto as gear control with the ability to throw it into Automatic when you get tired of shifting or need both hands. Can't do that with the M6.

Conversely, driving in Auto but wanting to downshift to pass, engine brake, or in preparation for a turn.

 

[GrampaSlade]

To each his own Grampa. Some people want a little more involvement! (even at age 76!)

That, and some people get an automatic because that's all that's offered!

Very true. But I put 20 years of my life into shifting at work. I'm honestly tired.

 

[200955]

Very true. But I put 20 years of my life into shifting at work. I'm honestly tired.

Just another piece of techno crap -something else to go wrong. What ever happened to "put it in drive and go"? Who you gonna impress anyway? Maybe the wife will want to drive it so keep it simple - she'll love you another 55 years.

 

[ADS-B]

My thoughts on the matter: useless.

 

[GrampaSlade]

Just another piece of techno crap -something else to go wrong. What ever happened to "put it in drive and go"? Who you gonna impress anyway? Maybe the wife will want to drive it so keep it simple - she'll love you another 55 years.

My wife picked it out and her name is first on the title, thought I do most of the driving. it's a toss up between the paddle/manual/sport/hill holding and the moon roof , which fancy tech I will use least. I do like the seats, especially the heat.

 

[skid00skid0]

Anyone of us who loved grabbing a gear lever, can now appreciate paddle shifters. I really wish my 2016 had them.

For aggressive driving, or quick passing maneuvers, manual shift control is needed.

If you don't intuitively understand this, then you are among the majority of drivers who choose auto transmissions...

 

[Dash Riproc]

Absolutely! I've been driving CX-5s and Mazda 3s for 12 years now and rarely resort to using manual mode. Paddle shifters are another matter. I frequently find myself pulling a grade (either up or downhill) with the trans not dropping a gear exactly when I would prefer. No fault of the 6AT, it's just a subjective thing and the paddle shifters really come in handy for fine tuning the transmission's behavior in those circumstances. Of course the same thing can be accomplished with the gear shift lever in manual with the added advantage that it will hold the gear until you decide otherwise. But all things considered, I usually find it more convenient and intuitive to just reach for a paddle.

Wait - are you saying I can control the gears through the paddle shifters without moving the floor shifter over to M? I was not aware that it worked that way.

 

[Dash Riproc]

I think I bought an automatic for a reason.

Yeah that was kinda my thinking for a while but after playing with Manual mode for a bit I started to see the benefits. Plus it's fun and invokes memories of the manual transmission vehicles I had in my younger days, specifically an 84 RX-7.

Also there's not a manual transmission option with these cars.

 

[vrsick]

I only use paddles to down shift when needed.

 

[Losdawg]

The paddles makes driving more engaging. Less distracted by phones and text. Also great to hypermiling - trying to get the best gas mileage by forcing a higher gear and letting the engine relax. Basically mimicking all the advantages of a manual, but having the auto so my wife can drive home if I have a few .

 

[Buzzman12]

My thoughts on the matter: useless.

Yup. My 2017 6 had them, and my current 2023 Stinger has them. Never use them once the novelty wore off. The Stinger especially. Who wants to manually shift through 8 gears while driving to Costco? They are a gimmick.
Just for background, I grew up driving manuals. Took my drivers test in a manual back in the late 60's. I loved them back then. If I'm going to shift gears again, give me a clutch pedal and not some lever on a steering wheel, that gives absolutely no physical feedback of what gear you are in.
I want to shift gears by sound and feel, and not by having to look on the dash for a little number at the bottom of the speedo display.

 

[N7turbo]

They are a gimmick.

This just in: gear control is a gimmick. Message brought to you by the AT & CVT Manufacturing Association

 

[Buzzman12]

This just in: gear control is a gimmick. Message brought to you by the AT & CVT Manufacturing Association

Manual transmissions are not a gimmick, nor is gear control. Paddle shifters on an 8 speed automatic, well, that's a gimmick.

 

[paris1]

Manual transmissions are not a gimmick, nor is gear control. Paddle shifters on an 8 speed automatic, well, that's a gimmick.

If gear control is not a gimmick, how is a device that offers some measure of gear control on an eight speed (or six speed) automatic with a mind of its own a gimmick?

 

[MrViking]

This is my third vehicle with paddle shifters so a few thoughts here. My first was on a CVT so the paddle shifters and stick shifter mimicked actual gears rather than the "rubber band" affect of the CVT. I realize that's not the question here. But think Formula 1 car. Paddle shifters or buttons. The hands don't come off the steering wheel so your steering remains precise on hilly and twisty roads where you don't want to take a hand off the wheel to use the manual shifter. The manual shift in general lets you choose the gear on the twists and hills for optimum performance going into and coming out of turns as well as giving you a jump on acceleration rather than waiting on the transmission to downshift on it's own.

With all that said, the automatic is tuned for optimum gas mileage so the manufacturers can avoid taxes (fines) by the government by meeting their standard for minimum MPG. So if you want better/best performance, use manual shift (paddle or otherwise) to be in the gear ratio/RPM range where you want to be instead of the computer. I seriously doubt that many of us could get better gas mileage manually shifting as a lot of R&D went into programing the computer for maximum fuel economy.