Paddle Shifter -problem
Racer
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 396
Likes: 11
From: Las Vegas, NV
Originally Posted by dmeyers
I drove the 06 with paddle shifters and I think GM missed the boat. The natural sport position is to have your left hand on the wheel and your right hand on the stick.
My 2005 was on order when I learned of paddle shifters in 2006. For a few minutes, I thought about cancelling the order. Then I remembered test driving a Pontiac Grand Prix with GM's paddle shift system and I let the order stand.
Personally I would put radio controls on the steering wheel and move the shifter back to the console.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,775
Likes: 1
From: Rehoboth Beach Delaware
Originally Posted by steve miller
What I meant was how do you do a hand over hand turn, and shift at the same time? Answer: You Don't!! 
Right on that !!!!If you think about it a "hand over hand" turn is usually not encountered at any speed
...............more a low speed "parking" manuever ? 
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 25,455
Likes: 3
From: Damn Connecticut Yankee
I'd prefer nice big Ferrari column mounted paddles for the two weeks that I'm going to mess with the shifters until I put it in Drive and leave it there and let the A6 do its stuff.
If GM left off the paddles all together, I couldn't care less. I just want the extra gear.
If GM left off the paddles all together, I couldn't care less. I just want the extra gear.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,514
Likes: 1
From: Orwigsburg Pa.
Originally Posted by ProfMoriarty
I'd prefer nice big Ferrari column mounted paddles for the two weeks that I'm going to mess with the shifters until I put it in Drive and leave it there and let the A6 do its stuff.
If GM left off the paddles all together, I couldn't care less. I just want the extra gear.
If GM left off the paddles all together, I couldn't care less. I just want the extra gear.
To me the paddles are novelty/gimmick items that serve little purpose. I know there is an annoying delay when manually shifting the A4 and if using the paddles produces more of the same ---who needs it.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,685
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by SHOOTER 49
To me the paddles are novelty/gimmick items that serve little purpose. I know there is an annoying delay when manually shifting the A4 and if using the paddles produces more of the same ---who needs it.Corvette Stories
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Race Director
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 10,262
Likes: 4
From: Manhatten Beach, California
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '11,'18,'20,'21,'24,'25, '26
Originally Posted by dmeyers
I drove the 06 with paddle shifters and I think GM missed the boat. The natural sport position is to have your left hand on the wheel and your right hand on the stick. I was taking turns hard on a great road in back country San Diego and it did not feel natural or fun. My friends BMW 530 has the sport mode and you just tap the gear shifter and it gives the old time stick feel. For 07 I would rather have radio controls on the wheel and tap the shifter to change gears.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 6,262
Likes: 2
From: 39.0N 105.1W
Originally Posted by Gearhead Jim
Proper high performance driving technique calls for downshifting while going straight, in the braking zone. Trying to shift (up or down) when you have the steering wheel turned enough that the paddles are hard to use, is normally poor technique.
VETERAN
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 512
Likes: 114
From: Owings Maryland
I have spent some time racing cars on the side. From my little experience on the road course, You will drive much faster with an Auto Trans. This has been proven for years. Just turn on your TV on Sundays and watch Formula 1 racing. My preference for any sports car is to row my own gears. However if you are forced to compromise due to traffic, wife, etc. then the A6 is awesome. I have driven it 3 times now and was very impressed with how smooth and quick you could shift with the paddles. However, on a race track, everyone will be faster just selecting S. In bumper-to-bumper traffic, the A6 will be good because there is times when you become so tired and sleepy that just pressing that paddle button will be nice rather than having to wear your clutch out to shift 200 times to get home.
Get a manual MN 6 unless you have to let your wife/Girl Friends drive the vette, then compromise and get the A6. GM got this Tranny right. It is every bit as good as the SMG by BMW or the Speedshift by MB.
Get a manual MN 6 unless you have to let your wife/Girl Friends drive the vette, then compromise and get the A6. GM got this Tranny right. It is every bit as good as the SMG by BMW or the Speedshift by MB.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 866
Likes: 0
From: Palm Beach Gardens Fl
Originally Posted by CSICKS
I think that the a6 is bad ***. I have an mn6 and on a road course an a6 could be much faster if driven properly.
It appears that all of the criticism of the A6 comes from people who don't have one, or simply "test drove" one for a few minutes. But, people who have it, and use it daily - like me - really like it.
Big Jimm
So. Fla.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 3,583
Likes: 0
From: Leesburg Va
Originally Posted by GordyRay
I have spent some time racing cars on the side. From my little experience on the road course, You will drive much faster with an Auto Trans. This has been proven for years. Just turn on your TV on Sundays and watch Formula 1 racing. My preference for any sports car is to row my own gears. However if you are forced to compromise due to traffic, wife, etc. then the A6 is awesome. I have driven it 3 times now and was very impressed with how smooth and quick you could shift with the paddles. However, on a race track, everyone will be faster just selecting S. In bumper-to-bumper traffic, the A6 will be good because there is times when you become so tired and sleepy that just pressing that paddle button will be nice rather than having to wear your clutch out to shift 200 times to get home.
Get a manual MN 6 unless you have to let your wife/Girl Friends drive the vette, then compromise and get the A6. GM got this Tranny right. It is every bit as good as the SMG by BMW or the Speedshift by MB.
Get a manual MN 6 unless you have to let your wife/Girl Friends drive the vette, then compromise and get the A6. GM got this Tranny right. It is every bit as good as the SMG by BMW or the Speedshift by MB.
Huh.... how can you compare the A6 to an F1 tranny or the SMG.. they are totally different transmissions... the A6 is an A4 with two extra gears.... it is a plain old automatic. The paddles are gimmicks,,, there is not an electro/mechanical clutch or anything else.. It has a torque converter and works just like the Powerglide, TH350, TH400 and all the other automatics that GM ever produced....
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,064
Likes: 6
From: Pinellas Park Florida
Originally Posted by dmeyers
I drove the 06 with paddle shifters and I think GM missed the boat. The natural sport position is to have your left hand on the wheel and your right hand on the stick. I was taking turns hard on a great road in back country San Diego and it did not feel natural or fun. My friends BMW 530 has the sport mode and you just tap the gear shifter and it gives the old time stick feel. For 07 I would rather have radio controls on the wheel and tap the shifter to change gears.
Wumbaaa!That aside, it's still an automatic, it will always be an automatic, and an automatic and sporting in the same sentence...well.....each to their own I guess
So how was the downshift and upshift? Was it on demand or did have to "think" about shifting before it shifts?
Pro
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 600
Likes: 0
From: TX
Originally Posted by RBYCC
Right on that !!!!If you think about it a "hand over hand" turn is usually not encountered at any speed
...............more a low speed "parking" manuever ? Even more to the point, you should NEVER use "hand over hand" when driving.
Now a CTS-V Owner
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,675
Likes: 1
From: Central Ohio
CI 5-6-7 & 9 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08
Originally Posted by black783
Thanks for the report!!
To me though...just having the right hand in action isn't enough...that left foot needs to moving also.
To me though...just having the right hand in action isn't enough...that left foot needs to moving also.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,749
Likes: 0
From: Northeast Ohio
Originally Posted by Gearhead Jim
The paddle shifters are not perfect, but some of the criticisms are slightly off base:
Proper high performance driving technique calls for downshifting while going stright, in the braking zone. Trying to shift (up or down) when you have the steering wheel turned enough that the paddles are hard to use, is normally poor technique.
Proper technique also calls for keeping both hands on the wheel until the shift is needed, then returning the right hand to the wheel immediately.
If you take the class at Spring Mountain or a similar place, they will rag you without mercy until you break the bad habits.
Proper high performance driving technique calls for downshifting while going stright, in the braking zone. Trying to shift (up or down) when you have the steering wheel turned enough that the paddles are hard to use, is normally poor technique.
Proper technique also calls for keeping both hands on the wheel until the shift is needed, then returning the right hand to the wheel immediately.
If you take the class at Spring Mountain or a similar place, they will rag you without mercy until you break the bad habits.