paddle shifters VS. manual stick shift
- Thread starter BigAl3
- Start date
imported_dfazekas
New member
i'd definitely have a stick any day
on most cars the paddles suck
it just feels like a more connected driving experience
with an old-fashioned manual
on most cars the paddles suck
it just feels like a more connected driving experience
with an old-fashioned manual
Dan
Well-known member
BigAl3 said:
Even though I live in the DC metro area, I prefer a real manual. I need three pedals, the clutch adds a lot of control. DSG may be faster, but I'll take my real 6-speed anyday. There is nothing like taking out your aggressions by ripping through some gears. I would be interested in a self shifting manual if one were to become available for those times when someone else needed to drive my car.
SilverSeven
New member
I don't know about Paddle Shift on long time use? My friend's BMW, he played with the Paddle Shift very often and it's spoilt. He spend a lot of money to change the gearbox. U can almost not break the old school manual gear on normal used tho. So if my opinion, if I'm using a Paddle Shift, I wouldn't use it too often, maybe once a while, when I need some control to over take cars. But I wouldn't think of using the Paddle Shift so much as like a Manual gearbox. Maybe I'm not so confident on the reliability of the Paddle Shift? 
Tht's just me.
Tht's just me.Alexshimshimhae
New member
imo if you're going paddle shift---maybe you might as well just get a regular automatic...
Accumulator
Well-known member
IMO if a person can't (or doesn't want to) heel & toe/double-clutch/match the spread perfectly, then they oughta just let the car do the shifting for them.
Alexshimshimhae
New member
not that I drive manual all that often (every now and then I'll take my brother's protege out when he's over and I need to run an errand) but I find it kind of works well for my ADHD..keeps my brain busy...though no-one's ever taught me how to heel-toe or double-clutch, but i'm getting it =]
Accumulator
Well-known member
Alexshimshimhae said:
You can teach yourself, my wife and I both did it that way (though our various driving instructors sure helped us fine-tune our abilities). Most books on high-performance driving cover it pretty well and once you get the theory it's just a matter of practice. Best way is probably to have an instructor teach you (insert my usual "everybody needs extensive driver training" rant here...) but it's not that hard to DIY.
Note that without double-clutching, every downshift is wearing out the synchronizes (heh heh, seems like every used sportscar has worn second gear sychros these days). Doing this stuff shouldn't affect the clutch any as long as you engage/disengage it right; we never wore out clutches even on our ~100K cars.
Yeah, yeah...I take driving *AWFULLY* seriously
Alexshimshimhae
New member
yea, the way someone explained double-clutching seemed super complicated--just looked it up--realized that I've already been doing it lol
Accumulator
Well-known member
Alexshimshimhae said:
Heh heh, cool
David Fermani
Forza Auto Salon
I prefer an Auto, but if not, I'd choose a stick over an autostick.
Rob Tomlin
Lotus Exige S
BigAl3 said:
Absodamnlutely!!!!!!
It's getting pretty bad out there though. The paddle shifters are becoming a nightmare situation for true car enthusiasts. What I mean by this is that car companies are starting to do away with manual transmissions altogether, and they say that those who want "manual" transmissions can just use their paddle shifters to accomplish the same thing. What a crock!
The really scary thing? Even Ferrari is guilty of this!
It has become so bad that Car and Driver has started a new campaign called "Save the Manuals"!
Save the Manuals! Official Headquarters
Rob Tomlin
Lotus Exige S
Accumulator said:You can teach yourself, my wife and I both did it that way (though our various driving instructors sure helped us fine-tune our abilities). Most books on high-performance driving cover it pretty well and once you get the theory it's just a matter of practice. Best way is probably to have an instructor teach you (insert my usual "everybody needs extensive driver training" rant here...) but it's not that hard to DIY.
Note that without double-clutching, every downshift is wearing out the synchronizes (heh heh, seems like every used sportscar has worn second gear sychros these days). Doing this stuff shouldn't affect the clutch any as long as you engage/disengage it right; we never wore out clutches even on our ~100K cars.
Yeah, yeah...I take driving *AWFULLY* seriously
There are a *ton* of videos on you tube as well. Here's one (not the best, but I picked it because the car is a Lotus
)YouTube - Heel-toe shifting technique
imported_Picus
New member
I'm surprised no one has mentioned dual clutch gearboxes? Sure, old "manumatics" are just autos with the ability to manually shift, torgue converter, slow shifts, terrible downshifts, etc... dual clutch gearboxes are manuals in every respect except there is no driver operated clutch. More and more cars are using them, in fact even the new Ford Fiesta has one as an option. An "f1" gearbox like in a Ferrari is faster than any human can shift, will blip the throttle, has no torque converter, will hold a gear... aside from the analog input (which I agree is fun), they are the way things are going, because they generally, are just better.
Rob Tomlin
Lotus Exige S
Picus said:
That really depends on your definition of "better".
Give me that analog input any day of the week.
imported_Picus
New member
Ya, I sort of figured that would be the general feeling in this thread. I agree, mechanical, analog input is nice. I like it too.
For my track car I prefer a manual, but that's only because I don't care if I lose half a second in a corner going from second to fifth; it's more fun and that is what I am after. But if I wanted to be the fastest I could be a dual clutch would be "better". They are just straight up faster and more efficient than a human.
For my track car I prefer a manual, but that's only because I don't care if I lose half a second in a corner going from second to fifth; it's more fun and that is what I am after. But if I wanted to be the fastest I could be a dual clutch would be "better". They are just straight up faster and more efficient than a human.
Rob Tomlin
Lotus Exige S
Picus said:
Yep, I agree with you completely.
more people should learn how to drive stick, maybe then we would have less people texting/talking while driving. i wish law enforcement would crack down and be more harsh on people who text/talk on cell phones while driving. it's like this new law doesn't mean anything as i still see many who still do it...
Dan
Well-known member
Picus said:
I mentioned DSG, which is VW's dual clutch. My father's Passat has it, and while I don't have a ton of time driving in it, I can say I really don't like it. I think the tiptronic in the A4 is better in everyday driving, and there are some serious durability AND reliablity issues with the dual clutch gearboxes. I think the auto mfg's are going to see a serious backlash from that 10% that likes manuals, we're the real car guys, we'll get our way.
Rob Tomlin
Lotus Exige S
BigAl3 said:
Amazing isn't it?
AAA did a recent study and determined that *more* people are texting and talking on cell phones now than before they passed the law here in CA making it illegal to do so.