flappy paddles

[JohnG1]

Please - don't turn this into a religious debate like the chaps over on the Porsche board (you'd not believe how much the Porker chaps go on about tiptronics)

So, I have a Vantage V8 hardtop. Now, I'm not a full on petrolhead, I love cars but I'm never on a track and I'm quite happy minding my own business while making reasonable progress.

I took a V8V roadster flappy paddle out for a spin last week and I thought it was great.

My question for the audience is: are there any known defects/flaws/quirks with the V8V flappy paddle box? I know it's a matter of personal preference as to what you like, but I am interested in hearing about experiences of folks who have one, rather than the prejudices of those without.

Many thanks!

[XXXAngelXXX]

umm no....

[whoami]

Depends on whether it's a new one or not. The new software is much improved over the old system.

I still bought a manual when I was buying my 4.7 though!

[s.m.h.]

Got took round the ring by an instructor in a V8 roadster with flappy paddles.
It was quite an eye opener. Bluntly, bloody awful. Smacking you into the seat and not 1 smooth change on the whole circuit.
I then got taken round for 2 laps in a manual, chalk and cheese, stick with a stick!

[Murph7355]

s.m.h. said:

Got took round the ring by an instructor in a V8 roadster with flappy paddles.
It was quite an eye opener. Bluntly, bloody awful. Smacking you into the seat and not 1 smooth change on the whole circuit.
I then got taken round for 2 laps in a manual, chalk and cheese, stick with a stick!

I find this strange as even in a first iteration Sportshift car, having never driven a paddle change car before, within 15mins I was driving it quite smoothly.

It seems to be a car that technique is key, and feathering the throttle seems to be important.

The "auto" mode was horrid, mainly because you couldn't second guess when the change was going to be made and so it ended up really jerky. But other than that, I felt Sportshift was OK.

What I didn't understand is why the software couldn't do the feathering of the throttle for you. It would seem a very simple thing to do, and would be much more efficient being done by the computers allowing you to keep your foot flat on.

Downshifts were very good, with very well timed blips (which again made me think that the upshift throttle control would be easy - it's the same thing in reverse!).

[GPM3D]

Sportshift takes a bit of getting use to, but is minutes rather than hours or days. Sometimes if i'm feeling lazy I'll stick it in drive, and it can hold first a bit too long if you've booted it out of a junction, but once you get used to just lifting the gas ever so slightly on changes, its fine.
It certainley isn't neck snapping jerky - unlike the experience I had with an SMG'd M3!
The clutch will 'auto-adjust' on start - from cold start engine, leave for 10 seconds before engaging drive (or first).
Reversing with lots of lock on (into drive) can induce worring amounts of judder, but this is apparently due to the amount of castor induced causing extra drag etc (this is either dealer bu..hit or fact!!)
No problems with mine - 57 plate - just had its Birthday!
Graham

[steve_amv8]

I have to agree with the comments earlier ... it takes a bit of getting used to and in Auto mode it is tricky to second guess for a smooth change ....

... but once you are used to it you can manage silky smooth changes, whether driving gently or aggressively.

It is so pleasant, I always use it on my N400....