Good Choice on GM's Part!!

[Chogan2200]

Originally Posted by pinkcamaro10

Okay, let's say that you've never driven a manual before, and you've never driven anything with paddle shifters, can you screw up your car if you don't know what your doing, or will it override it if your not doing it right?

I'm not sure about ALL Brands and Models with this technology but the Mazda 6 I test drove with it installed had a limit or something that would kick in if your revs were slightly too high or too low. If your in gear too high, I'm pretty sure it will kick over, I know it SHOULD do it for down shifting! Like if you are coming to a stop sign and you were in 2nd gear, if you come to a complete stop it automatically puts you in 1st gear.

[ChrisB]

Originally Posted by Chogan2200

I'll explain the technology to you a little

An Automatic Transmission with "this" technology (also called "Shift Tronic", "Paddle Shifters", "Smart Shift", etc) essentially the default mode is Auto. You drive the car just like any other automatic powered car, just start it, put it in Drive and go! But if you want, you can put it into "M", which stands for "Manual Mode". You can easily take it out but shifting it back into "D". But with Manual Mode, you can control the gear shifts by tapping the shift knob forward to "up" a gear, and tapping it back to go "down" a gear. So it's really a very free reign technology. If you don't like the feeling of having more control over your car and playing with it you can just simply switch it back into "D" and not worry about a thing! Very user friendly technology!

Great explanation thanks, sound way too complicated for me so i ill keep it on D and just drive

[Chogan2200]

Originally Posted by ChrisB

Great explanation thanks, sound way too complicated for me so i ill keep it on D and just drive

alright, fair enough

[pinkcamaro10]

Originally Posted by Chogan2200

I'm not sure about ALL Brands and Models with this technology but the Mazda 6 I test drove with it installed had a limit or something that would kick in if your revs were slightly too high or too low. If your in gear too high, I'm pretty sure it will kick over, I know it SHOULD do it for down shifting! Like if you are coming to a stop sign and you were in 2nd gear, if you come to a complete stop it automatically puts you in 1st gear.

well i really want to learn to use my paddles. but im a little scared to screw something up. someone needs to post a how to video on here for me

[Hylton]

Originally Posted by ChrisB

Great explanation thanks, sound way too complicated for me so i ill keep it on D and just drive

Only problem is that if you see how much fun a buddy will have using it, you'll learn it pretty quickly. Auto-X anyone?

[boxmonkeyracing]

Originally Posted by Skyman 08

Son, Some people can drive a stick but prefer the automatic......

well old age sets in or people get lazy. . .whatever the reason they don't drive an manual because it's not fun for them anymore.

[Angrybird 12]

Originally Posted by boxmonkeyracing

well old age sets in or people get lazy. . .whatever the reason they don't drive an auto because it's not fun for them anymore.

I think you meant the reason they don't drive a MANUAL because it's not fun for them any more.
Some guys think driving a manual makes them MACHO.... anyone that thinks that is fooling themselves...
You can have just as much fun in an Automatic.. If you really know how to drive

[boxmonkeyracing]

Originally Posted by Skyman 08

I think you meant the reason they don't drive a MANUAL because it's not fun for them any more.
Some guys think driving a manual makes them MACHO.... anyone that thinks that is fooling themselves...
You can have just as much fun in an Automatic.. If you really know how to drive

well I drive a manual because it's fun and if you know how to drive you know what gear the car needs to be in. The car will tell. . .you just got to listen to her. now with an auto it's no fun left foot gets bored and feel disconnected from the car.

[theholycow]

Originally Posted by pinkcamaro10

well i really want to learn to use my paddles. but im a little scared to screw something up. someone needs to post a how to video on here for me

It's pretty unlikely that they'll allow you to do anything immediately destructive. It will certainly allow you to drive along at near-redline all you want, which if you just cruise along like that will probably beat the hell out of your engine quickly.

What are you afraid of? As long as you're vaguely aware of how fast the engine is spinning, you aren't going to hit redline before you hit the shifter unless you are really trying to. Just practice at lower RPMs in normal daily driving first.

Anyway you shouldn't try to out-think the computer for fastest acceleration; you can't choose better shift points than a modern computer. For that, just put it in D (or 'S' if there's a "Sport" mode) and shove the pedal into the floor. The purpose of paddle shifters is when you think ahead and want it in a different gear BEFORE you need it. It won't allow you to downshift into a gear that will blow the engine.

[Chogan2200]

Originally Posted by theholycow

It's pretty unlikely that they'll allow you to do anything immediately destructive. It will certainly allow you to drive along at near-redline all you want, which if you just cruise along like that will probably beat the hell out of your engine quickly.

What are you afraid of? As long as you're vaguely aware of how fast the engine is spinning, you aren't going to hit redline before you hit the shifter unless you are really trying to. Just practice at lower RPMs in normal daily driving first.

Anyway you shouldn't try to out-think the computer for fastest acceleration; you can't choose better shift points than a modern computer. For that, just put it in D (or 'S' if there's a "Sport" mode) and shove the pedal into the floor. The purpose of paddle shifters is when you think ahead and want it in a different gear BEFORE you need it. It won't allow you to downshift into a gear that will blow the engine.

yep....^^^ to prove that point when I was test driving the Mazda 6, I was on the interstate going about 70mph and I went to downshift into 4...it wouldn't let me down shift until my foot was on the brake!

[Emher]

I think it's great that paddles are an option for those who want them. Me I've mastered the manual gearbox finally and get bored when I get in auto. Nothing like slamming in those gears. Just my opinion.

[Hylton]

Originally Posted by boxmonkeyracing

.... now with an auto it's no fun left foot gets bored and feel disconnected from the car.

That's just because you are not going fast enough.....

[The_Beast_]

I hope I had a slide shift too. not only the paddle because as fun as paddles are atleast the slide shifter w/the + - feels a little more like stick. As much as I want stick Im stuck with auto, welll atleast its an awesome auto!