Automatic with paddle shift - Comfort/sport/manual

Automatic with paddle shift - Comfort/sport/manual

Author
Discussion

SimonSh

Original Poster:

86 posts

222 months

Sunday 27th April 2014
quotequote all
In advanced driving terms is there a set advice for what modes to use when driving a car with flappy paddles??

On a daily basis I switch between modes depending on the situation:-

Comfort - When car is cold or in heavy traffic and don't use paddles
Sport - Once car is warm and no traffic wider or sweeping roads and don't use paddles
Manual - Once car is warm and on twisties or when looking to overtake and using paddles only for all up changes and most down changes

Is this all acceptable or would there be a preferred use of an auto box for advanced driving in a performance car?

SK425

1,034 posts

155 months

Sunday 27th April 2014
quotequote all
SimonSh said:
In advanced driving terms is there a set advice for what modes to use when driving a car with flappy paddles??
Yes. Understand what the gearbox will and won't do without you overriding it. Understand what it will and won't do when you do override it. Understand what about that changes between the different modes available. Then do what works for you.

Sounds like you're probably already there...


SimonSh

Original Poster:

86 posts

222 months

Sunday 27th April 2014
quotequote all
Cheers!!! That was simple smile

waremark

3,250 posts

219 months

Sunday 27th April 2014
quotequote all
I like the answer already given. What works well varies significantly between cars. What car do you drive?

SimonSh

Original Poster:

86 posts

222 months

Sunday 27th April 2014
quotequote all
Mercedes C63 AMG Estate

Jon1967x

7,436 posts

130 months

Sunday 27th April 2014
quotequote all
There's nothing stopping you using manual all the time.

We've 3 cars that have this and that's how I drive 1 of them (single clutch automated manual)

In the others, one I use basic auto and just use the paddles temporarily for an overtake.(torque converter with big torquey diesel) and the other I drive much more like you suggest (twin clutch automated manual).

It's whatever suits your driving style/mood and the car.

waremark

3,250 posts

219 months

Monday 28th April 2014
quotequote all
SimonSh said:
Mercedes C63 AMG Estate
Lovely car. I personally would not use sport - if interested in driving progressively I would either be in manual or in a lower gear hold position (use of paddles without changing to manual). I dislike an automatic box changing down as I accelerate away from a bend. I therefore want to have the appropriate gear for acceleration selected before I enter the bend. In the C63 I would change down under braking and would enjoy the sound of the auto blip.

If following at the speed of traffic I would go back to comfort auto and waft along enjoying the massive torque.

Just some thoughts to consider.

Does yours have the button or switch (facelift models) to change gearbox mode? The switch is much easier.

Jon1967x

7,436 posts

130 months

Monday 28th April 2014
quotequote all
waremark said:
Lovely car. I personally would not use sport - if interested in driving progressively I would either be in manual or in a lower gear hold position (use of paddles without changing to manual). I dislike an automatic box changing down as I accelerate away from a bend. I therefore want to have the appropriate gear for acceleration selected before I enter the bend. In the C63 I would change down under braking and would enjoy the sound of the auto blip.

If following at the speed of traffic I would go back to comfort auto and waft along enjoying the massive torque.

Just some thoughts to consider.

Does yours have the button or switch (facelift models) to change gearbox mode? The switch is much easier.
I think sport button must do slightly different things in different cars. In our BMWs the sport button tends to just move the change points up the rev range quite a lot so you rarely need to kick or change down a gear as it's already in a sweet spot. The downside is once on a straight and cruising it feels like it's in the wrong gear