Paddle shift or Auto?

[JmW78]

Just wondering how lopsided or even these numbers are.

 

[JmW78]

You don't have to give your reasoning or which way you voted but I will.

I voted automatic.

I have never learned to drive a stick, sacrilegious I know. I grew up in the ridiculously congested city of Los Angeles and nobody I knew drove one...Haven't learned since.

Obviously our cars aren't true manuals but the little time I have tinkered with the shifters I just didn't feel comfortable. Didn't like having to pay that close attention, over time I may grow to enjoy it but for the time being I'll let it do it for me.

 

[SHOvinstuff]

I drive stick and I hate paddle shifters. The regular auto mode shifts faster from what I've noticed, so the paddle shifters don't bring me any entertainment. I only used them when I test drove the SHO, and haven't used them since I bought one.

Michigan is flat, otherwise I imangine they'd be pretty handy for engine braking on mountains. I'll see when I go out to NY next time in the SHO.

 

[Retnavy]

You'll find the auto shifts better and faster when your wide open throttle. I played with mine both with the OEM program and with the tune. The computer does a much better job and I'll ever be able to. I've also never seen the tach shoot by redline like it might if I were paddle shifting. I would suspect that the guys running at the track might have also found the computer is quicker.

 

[Blackwire1217]

It really depends on what your doing. Automatic is better in daily driving, drag racing, and playing around a little but for anything that you need it to hold higher rev's the paddle's are the only way to do it. If the SHO had a SPORT mode that you could switch to like the automatic lancer ralliart (which holds rev's like the paddle's), then that would be the best. All that being said, my SHO is 90% Auto 10% Paddle.

 

[buff30SHO]

I drive mostly in the automatic, but it's hard to leave the shifters alone. I learned to drive with 2 cars, my Dad's '61 Volkswagen manual and '63 Ford Galaxie 500 with a 289
V8 and automatic. Every car I've owned since my first one, a '70 Maverick manual, has been a manual until the 2010 SHO. I guess that's why it's hard to leave the shifters alone. The shifters have been very effective driving in the Colorado mountains when visiting my parents and old home town.

 

[HotRodKid]

ratchet shift w/ transbrake

 

[EcoBrick Bob]

Nice gimmick but worthless in daily driving or at the strip... Kool to demonstrate to your friends.... especially when you drive a BRICK!

 

[revivingsho]

How about neither? I want the old cone bone back!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uukjz0Gyv8s

 

[Zrolimit]

rer therold

I would say I use the auto 90% of the time as well. The only time the paddle shifters get utilized is if I'm going up some of these hills we have around here and I need the extra bit of grunt to pass someone. Not digging the auto down and upshift with the paddles though.

 

[Wileytheman]

I drive stick and I hate paddle shifters.

This. I don't do racing, and the paddle shifters are not responsive enough for me to make them useful in daily driving.

 

[typhoon5000]

If I owned a new SHO I would def use the paddle shifters very often. I say this from experience on multiple extended test drives in '10 SHOs. I would use them because I really like engine braking. It saves a lot of fuel and wear/tear on the brakes. When in manual mode I noticed it locks up the torque converter much more often than in auto mode and obviously locking the TC engages fuel shutoff and engine braking.

If I were just cruising around town or on the freeway, I would just leave it in auto, but if I have to stop for a light or slow down coming off the freeway, I would def use the paddles to downshift and engine brake. Even in my Super Duty, I'll put in in Tow/Haul mode and/or downshift to engage TC lock and fuel shutoff to get the best fuel economy I can and save on those brakes. In fact, and I know this sounds funny, but think about it, I would love to have paddle shifters on my truck because the last thing you want to do when you're trying to slowdown a 16K lb load going down a hill, is take your hands of the wheel to engage tow/haul or downshift.

 

[Wileytheman]

It saves a lot of fuel and wear/tear on the brakes.

The brakepad thinking I've never quite understood. I guess I'd rather put wear and tear on cheap brakepads than the transmission.

When in manual mode I noticed it locks up the torque converter much more often than in auto mode and obviously locking the TC engages fuel shutoff and engine braking.

Now that's interesting...I wasn't aware of that.

 

[hawkeye18]

I vote paddle shifters, but that's only because the only paddle shifter-equipped car I've ever driven was a Ferrari F458 Italia. Hitting the paddles on that thing was like being on an outstretched rubber band when it was let go.

 

[bill1]

In manual it down shifts when it wants to but will sit on the revlimiter until I shift up. I played with 2nd gear starts and upshift as quickly as it would and brought my in-towm gas milage up to 22. I wish it would down shift on paddel command in drive so I would not have to wait for the transmission/computer. Up shift at the revlimiter would be ok too. I'd rather the button be Economy/bang shift Race mode and the paddel active all the time.

 

[Frex]

Paddles. Plus, it is the only way to get my 20 year old to chauffer me around and he claims he actually gets better mileage when he is not racing Priuses (It is a long story). I agree though, automatic mode is much smoother, less clunks and bangs.

Frex

 

[typhoon5000]

In manual it down shifts when it wants to but will sit on the revlimiter until I shift up.

Oh yea, I forgot it would never downshift when I wanted to. That's annoying, but at least it downshifts more aggressively/often in manual mode.

I vote paddle shifters, but that's only because the only paddle shifter-equipped car I've ever driven was a Ferrari F458 Italia.

I hate you. I'm so envious.

 

[SHO U UP]

Auto here. I've used the paddles a handful of times over the past year and half and I suppose if they gave you the freedom of completely shifting like the paddles were designed for and not be limited or have a nice exhaust rumble to go along with the shifting, then I'd care for them more. But, then again, if I wanted to shift thru gears, I would have gotten an M series Bimmer. For now, let the auto tranny do its magic.

 

[thepawn]

The paddle shift is too slow

 

[mjhpadi]

The paddle shifters are fun to play around with but for driving I use auto probably 99+% of the time.