Paddle shifters

[1cobra]

works good.

Hi,
Paddle shifters are for road racing, holding a gear around a corner or engine braking slowing down or going down a hill, they are not for drag racing, the trans shifts better by itself for that.
Perry.

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[Pablo GT350]

Isnt Ford by not offering the performance pack with the automatic telling us how "sporty" these paddles are?

 

[J.Darcy]

Just so you guys know, they aren't actually paddle shifters. They are buttons on the back of the steering wheel.

Also the last point on the poll is a little odd; 'true DCT'? Paddle shifters were originally connected to sequential transmissions. Just a nitpick, feel free to ignore.

I've driven some awesome Mercedes AMG with their Speedshift automatic transmissions and they can be pretty quick at WOT but still suffer from about a half-second lag from when you hit the button to the actual shift. When you get close to redline you have to time the shift otherwise risk hitting the limiter. If you were actually racing you'd be better off leaving it in auto.

Yea nitpicky but I see your point. I can't change the poll now but I'm sure people understand what I mean.

To your point that they are just buttons, how does this differ than actual paddles? are you talking about actual mechanical differences or just the type of physical lever on the back of the steering wheel.

I can understand that an auto trans may shift better on its own for pure speed but I'm more curious if the shifting is smooth or jerky and without too much lag or other issues that would take away from the "more engaging" aspect that some of us considering autos might want to use it for.

Also don't want to turn this into another debate about whether auto or manual is better...

 

[J.Darcy]

I have select a shift on my Focus and it's fun to play around with although it's much faster in full auto mode.
So yes, I'll probably play around with it for fun, but I do hope it's more responsive than the Focus.

By "more responsive" do you mean there's too much lag or the shifting is not smooth?

 

[rkan]

Just so you guys know, they aren't actually paddle shifters. They are buttons on the back of the steering wheel.

Also the last point on the poll is a little odd; 'true DCT'? Paddle shifters were originally connected to sequential transmissions. Just a nitpick, feel free to ignore.

I've driven some awesome Mercedes AMG with their Speedshift automatic transmissions and they can be pretty quick at WOT but still suffer from about a half-second lag from when you hit the button to the actual shift. When you get close to redline you have to time the shift otherwise risk hitting the limiter. If you were actually racing you'd be better off leaving it in auto.

Buttons! ? You sure about that? That's odd that they would buck current convention with flappy paddles in the market right now. Buttons sound harder to use. My fusion has "normal" paddles behind the wheel. Not much use in this car though. I only really use the left one (while in normal D position) to downshift at a sharp corner so the trans doesnt have to "think" for a second when I want to apply power out of the corner with some torque of a lower gear.

 

[IGJoe2192]

I am still trying to decide. I really love having a manual transmission and my current car as an auto just kills me. The paddle shifters are something I will have to try out n see if it is as engaging.

 

[J.Darcy]

Buttons! ? You sure about that? That's odd that they would buck current convention with flappy paddles in the market right now. Buttons sound harder to use. My fusion has "normal" paddles behind the wheel. Not much use in this car though. I only really use the left one (while in normal D position) to downshift at a sharp corner so the trans doesnt have to "think" for a second when I want to apply power out of the corner with some torque of a lower gear.

They look like paddles to me, albeit small ones.

 

[rkan]

They look like paddles to me, albeit small ones.

Good.


The position of the small paddles in the Fusion works fine.

 

[kd4gij]

I just don't think paddles would work well in my manuel.:ford:

 

[spectremotorsports]

I'm definitely gonna have to wait and see how responsive the shift times are, if it's anything like the paddle shift auto in the jag F-type I may consider an automatic.


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[OppoLock]

They look like those imitation paddle buttons, judging by those photos. Note how they connect at two points on the spokes. They're essentially large buttons with a paddle-shaped attachment.

Which is perfectly fine, seeing as the only real difference would be the tactile sensation; they won't feel like a typical floating paddle when you pull them. Kind of like the paddles you'd find in a late Kia, VW, or Mercedes product, and unlike the types used by Porsche, BMW, and Infiniti.

 

[OppoLock]

I'm definitely gonna have to wait and see how responsive the shift times are, if it's anything like the paddle shift auto in the jag F-type I may consider an automatic.


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That's big for me as well. If it's anything like ZF's 8HP — used in that F-Type you mentioned, as well as many of the German offerings — then it should be pretty amazing. Shift input response standards have jumped leaps and bounds in the past few years. Your conventional torque converter transmission isn't a slouch, even compared to your garden variety DCTs. Transmission behavior can also come down to the OEM software tuning, seeing as said ZF box has varying results in the different models that use it.

 

[spectremotorsports]

That's big for me as well. If it's anything like ZF's 8HP — used in that F-Type you mentioned, as well as many of the German offerings — then it should be pretty amazing. Shift input response standards have jumped leaps and bounds in the past few years. Your conventional torque converter transmission isn't a slouch, even compared to your garden variety DCTs. Transmission behavior can down to the OEM software tuning too, seeing that said ZF box has varying results in the different models that use it.

Agreed, the zf auto boxes have some lighting fast shift times, and avoid all of the jerky jerk low speed antics of automated manuals. Fingers crossed that they can pull something like that off with this tranny. The ford auto is modeled off of a zf box isn't it?


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[OppoLock]

Agreed, the zf auto boxes have some lighting fast shift times, and avoid all of the jerky jerk low speed antics of automated manuals. Fingers crossed that they can pull something like that off with this tranny. The ford auto is modeled off of a zf box isn't it?


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Your guess is as good as mine. I've been doing my best to re-up on Mustang news, but I'm under the assumption that the transmission offerings are carryover for the time being. Isn't there a 10-speed under development? My mind is blown just thinking about that. I could also be completely wrong and could be pulling this out of my ass lol.

 

[genericuser1]

Another vote for the ZF 8 speed, excellent transmission.

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