Paddle System Intuitiveness
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Paddle System Intuitiveness
Been a long time vette lover, looking at getting my first one.
I'm an avid believer that an automatic on a sports car, is just a crime. I just test drove a 08' with the new paddle system, and I got to say that I loved it! After a test drive, I was sold that this is the best of all worlds. It was the first time I had driven a paddle system.
I found the ability to up and down shift with a single hand, very nice. But the one thing that hit me was that the paddle system wasn't very intuitive... it seemed completely backwards.
Maybe it's from years of motorcycle riding, but to me upshifting is a lifting or pulling action. Where a downshift is a push or downward action.
I found on my first time test drive that the paddle system felt completely backwards... I kept wanting to naturally downshift, when I wanted to upshift. (pulling the paddle on an accelerate felt natural).
My friends reaction was "You'll get used to it"... but it's all computer controlled right? So I shouldn't have to... so my question: Is it configurable that you can flip the Up/Down shift on the paddle system?
I want pushing with my thumbs to be a down shift, and pulling to be an upshift.
I'm an avid believer that an automatic on a sports car, is just a crime. I just test drove a 08' with the new paddle system, and I got to say that I loved it! After a test drive, I was sold that this is the best of all worlds. It was the first time I had driven a paddle system.
I found the ability to up and down shift with a single hand, very nice. But the one thing that hit me was that the paddle system wasn't very intuitive... it seemed completely backwards.
Maybe it's from years of motorcycle riding, but to me upshifting is a lifting or pulling action. Where a downshift is a push or downward action.
I found on my first time test drive that the paddle system felt completely backwards... I kept wanting to naturally downshift, when I wanted to upshift. (pulling the paddle on an accelerate felt natural).
My friends reaction was "You'll get used to it"... but it's all computer controlled right? So I shouldn't have to... so my question: Is it configurable that you can flip the Up/Down shift on the paddle system?
I want pushing with my thumbs to be a down shift, and pulling to be an upshift.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 488
Likes: 0
From: Fremont,CA
Been a long time vette lover, looking at getting my first one.
I'm an avid believer that an automatic on a sports car, is just a crime. I just test drove a 08' with the new paddle system, and I got to say that I loved it! After a test drive, I was sold that this is the best of all worlds. It was the first time I had driven a paddle system.
I found the ability to up and down shift with a single hand, very nice. But the one thing that hit me was that the paddle system wasn't very intuitive... it seemed completely backwards.
Maybe it's from years of motorcycle riding, but to me upshifting is a lifting or pulling action. Where a downshift is a push or downward action.
I found on my first time test drive that the paddle system felt completely backwards... I kept wanting to naturally downshift, when I wanted to upshift. (pulling the paddle on an accelerate felt natural).
My friends reaction was "You'll get used to it"... but it's all computer controlled right? So I shouldn't have to... so my question: Is it configurable that you can flip the Up/Down shift on the paddle system?
I want pushing with my thumbs to be a down shift, and pulling to be an upshift.
I'm an avid believer that an automatic on a sports car, is just a crime. I just test drove a 08' with the new paddle system, and I got to say that I loved it! After a test drive, I was sold that this is the best of all worlds. It was the first time I had driven a paddle system.
I found the ability to up and down shift with a single hand, very nice. But the one thing that hit me was that the paddle system wasn't very intuitive... it seemed completely backwards.
Maybe it's from years of motorcycle riding, but to me upshifting is a lifting or pulling action. Where a downshift is a push or downward action.
I found on my first time test drive that the paddle system felt completely backwards... I kept wanting to naturally downshift, when I wanted to upshift. (pulling the paddle on an accelerate felt natural).
My friends reaction was "You'll get used to it"... but it's all computer controlled right? So I shouldn't have to... so my question: Is it configurable that you can flip the Up/Down shift on the paddle system?
I want pushing with my thumbs to be a down shift, and pulling to be an upshift.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 788
Likes: 36
From: Charlotte NC
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,823
Likes: 383
From: Bandon, OR
From a previous post by East Coast Supercharging (A forum vendor):
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The first A6 I drove I was really dissappointed in the way the paddle was set up. If anything the car should upshift when you pull back, not push foward. We have taken a stock GM shifter module and modified the inside so the right side of the wheel upshifts and the left side of the wheel downshifts. This is how a real paddle shift car should work, just like the F1 cars. I was just driving one that we did here in house and its actually a lot more fun to drive. We seperated the upshift and downshift functions to either side. The right side will upshift whether you pull OR push the paddle and the left will downshift the car. I am in the middle of writing instructions for the install and these should start shipping next week. The install takes less then 15 minutes.
Cost will be $199 shipped to the continental US..
any questions, feel free to call us.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The first A6 I drove I was really dissappointed in the way the paddle was set up. If anything the car should upshift when you pull back, not push foward. We have taken a stock GM shifter module and modified the inside so the right side of the wheel upshifts and the left side of the wheel downshifts. This is how a real paddle shift car should work, just like the F1 cars. I was just driving one that we did here in house and its actually a lot more fun to drive. We seperated the upshift and downshift functions to either side. The right side will upshift whether you pull OR push the paddle and the left will downshift the car. I am in the middle of writing instructions for the install and these should start shipping next week. The install takes less then 15 minutes.
Cost will be $199 shipped to the continental US..
any questions, feel free to call us.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 6,666
Likes: 14
From: Mission Viejo CA
Rich
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1752736
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,835
Likes: 6
I've always believed that most of the people who buy auto Corvettes are not performance minded at all. I've got a neighbor who drives an auto C5. It's a grocery getter and all around status ride for her. Manual trans? No reason for her.
I find that the 6 speed is as pleasantly intuitive as I could want.
Last edited by OregonC6; Aug 28, 2007 at 01:50 AM. Reason: type
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Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 16,052
Likes: 253
progress
the paddle shift system IS the future....some folks still adamant about the the old stick clutch system,which is fine,but really this is the system to have, and i suspect a version will be adapted to future
super vettes. my odd thing is using my left thumb/paddle shifter,can't adapt to doing that...
....just a great feature WHEN you want to use it
super vettes. my odd thing is using my left thumb/paddle shifter,can't adapt to doing that...
....just a great feature WHEN you want to use it
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 238
Likes: 0
From: Portland Oregon
You want to go faster forward? Push forward. My years with a motorcycle did not transfer at all to driving a car. For instance, I don't lean into curves
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,236
Likes: 0
I love the paddle shifter. My main use of it is to acclerate to just a bit below redline in first gear when leaving a traffic light. Its the one way to somewhat utilize the power of the vette in daily driving without breaking the traffic law 
Pro
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 648
Likes: 0
From: Fountain Inn SC
I am always amused at people who gauge their manhood or performance ability with their ability to drive a manual. This is something any 14 year old can learn to do in a short period of time with no problems at all. 
Pro
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 504
Likes: 1
From: Los Angeles CA
the paddle shift system IS the future....some folks still adamant about the the old stick clutch system,which is fine,but really this is the system to have, and i suspect a version will be adapted to future
super vettes. my odd thing is using my left thumb/paddle shifter,can't adapt to doing that...
....just a great feature WHEN you want to use it
super vettes. my odd thing is using my left thumb/paddle shifter,can't adapt to doing that...
....just a great feature WHEN you want to use it
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Hmmm... I think I like this config even better. Just swap the right side to give me the intuitive action I want with 1 hand. And have an F1 setup so that I can up / downshift with just pull actions with both hands.
And yes, I do agree... this is the future
Thanks!!
And yes, I do agree... this is the future
Thanks!!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 980
Likes: 1
From: Des Moines Iowa
I have the A6 and Manual sport mode is the only way I drive it 
I find it to be just fine on the track or on the road
The only draw back to the A6 is that it eat's up around 10-15 RWHP The A6 is not just for old farts.........
I find it to be just fine on the track or on the road The only draw back to the A6 is that it eat's up around 10-15 RWHP The A6 is not just for old farts.........
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 11,907
Likes: 1
From: Between a rock and a hard place, S.E. PA