Paddle Shifters... Thoughts?

[IanMSpencer]

I think that the paddles work very well in auto mode for doing the override. The long hold on the left paddle works very well for getting the gear that's likely to give you sensible engine braking as well as for overtaking, and of course it is easy to end the override with a long hold too, which with a 7 speed box if you are overriding down to second or third on a steep section, it is quite a lot of button pressing otherwise.

I've had a couple of very short goes at manual in the C220CDi and I found it too much of a nuisance, not having a good sense of what gear I really wanted to be in - the auto without the display doesn't give you much sense of what gear it is using, whereas on the old 5 speed boxes you have a better sense.

So as an easy to use auto override, the flappy paddles do a better job than going for the centre console, but the box isn't interesting enough to use in manual mode.

 

[Rashman]

Yes good old Gweedo, that thread sort of went crazy. I realise now I should have battered him LOL!


Just kidding before the holier than thou brigade turn up

Hahaha

Anyway, let's pipe down about Gweedo.. Our new friend Blondee has a good thread going here

 

[cb1965]

Hahaha

Anyway, let's pipe down about Gweedo.. Our new friend Blondee has a good thread going here

Good idea

 

[Rashman]

I think that the paddles work very well in auto mode for doing the override. The long hold on the left paddle works very well for getting the gear that's likely to give you sensible engine braking as well as for overtaking, and of course it is easy to end the override with a long hold too, which with a 7 speed box if you are overriding down to second or third on a steep section, it is quite a lot of button pressing otherwise.

I've had a couple of very short goes at manual in the C220CDi and I found it too much of a nuisance, not having a good sense of what gear I really wanted to be in - the auto without the display doesn't give you much sense of what gear it is using, whereas on the old 5 speed boxes you have a better sense.

So as an easy to use auto override, the flappy paddles do a better job than going for the centre console, but the box isn't interesting enough to use in manual mode.

Regarding what gear is best to be in at a given moment, I tend to go by the revs and the sound of the engine.
You can feel what gear is best, in addition to referring to the rev counter.
You can feel if the engine is being laboured or being overrun.
I prefer to pick a gear that puts the revs at around 2100rpm when cruising.
But obviously this will vary depending on what engine and gearbox you have.

As for changing gear while in auto mode, the gear selected should be displayed on your screen.

 

[blondee]

Love your work Rashman. Paddles are the future Hey Blondee, when you get round to cleaning your car be sure to run the results past Rashman..... he is the judge of all things clean on this board

I've not cleaned it yet!! I'm scared of letting someone near it so I looked at products Saturday to use on it myself - that is for a whole new thread haha!!

PS Not battering in this thread please!!

 

[Rashman]

.. I'm scared of letting someone near it ..

I'm exactly the same.

There are a lot of people here who can help you with advice about cleaning/ detailing if you need it.

 

[cb1965]

I've not cleaned it yet!! I'm scared of letting someone near it so I looked at products Saturday to use on it myself - that is for a whole new thread haha!!

Yes indeed.... get in the detailing section and start a new thread... we love detailing threads on here

PS Not battering in this thread please!!

LOL, no I didn't batter anyone... not my style and anyway I'd lose LOL! The thread is here if you want a laugh:

Cyclist touching my car

How an innocuous little thread can go mad

 

[blondee]

Yes indeed.... get in the detailing section and start a new thread... we love detailing threads on here LOL, no I didn't batter anyone... not my style and anyway I'd lose LOL! The thread is here if you want a laugh: Cyclist touching my car How an innocuous little thread can go mad

Hahaha oh god this is my day finished... I'll be reading this all afternoon, it's hilarious!! Jeremy Clarkson would have a FIT!!! )) Similarly I was chatting to a neighbour last week (Pre CLC thank god) and he too leaned on my car & sat against it... I was like WTF!! People who don't appreciate cars - any make, model, year, condition - just don't get it!! LOL!!

 

[cb1965]

Hahaha oh god this is my day finished... I'll be reading this all afternoon, it's hilarious!! Jeremy Clarkson would have a FIT!!! )) Similarly I was chatting to a neighbour last week (Pre CLC thank god) and he too leaned on my car & sat against it... I was like WTF!! People who don't appreciate cars - any make, model, year, condition - just don't get it!! LOL!!

Arghhhh!!!!! Nooooooo!!!!! I HATE it when people do that.... I have to politely ask them to 'get off my car' ... I can't not say something LOL!

 

[Rashman]

Hahaha oh god this is my day finished... I'll be reading this all afternoon, it's hilarious!! Jeremy Clarkson would have a FIT!!! )) Similarly I was chatting to a neighbour last week (Pre CLC thank god) and he too leaned on my car & sat against it... I was like WTF!! People who don't appreciate cars - any make, model, year, condition - just don't get it!! LOL!!

My kind of girl

 

[IanMSpencer]

As for changing gear while in auto mode, the gear selected should be displayed on your screen.

I think the whole driving experience on a diesel is different to a petrol - I'm not a long time driver of diesels and working the torque rather than the revs - it's not like the old V6 5 speed where the differences were obvious. The C220CDi likes to sit around 1500-1700. In chugging along mode, the difference between the high gears is a few hundred revs.

In auto mode it does not have a current gear display, in manual or override it then displays the gear, and once on the move the engine is pretty quiet, so it is harder to learn what the auto thinks is a good way to use the engine.

I can contrast that with my old Ford Explorer 4.0 which essentially was 3000 revs good for acceleration with a big sloppy old fashioned auto with overdrive.

 

[blondee]

Arghhhh!!!!! Nooooooo!!!!! I HATE it when people do that.... I have to politely ask them to 'get off my car' ... I can't not say something LOL!

It's frustrating isn't it!! Not only do they get their grubby mitts over it and leave marks (To which my sleeve just won't remove!) but it's just rude!! Who does that? I distract them and try to walk off so they follow!! Haha!!

My kind of girl

Definitely not your average haha!! Drag racers daughter so can't be helped!!

 

[Rashman]

It's frustrating isn't it!! Not only do they get their grubby mitts over it and leave marks (To which my sleeve just won't remove!) but it's just rude!! Who does that? I distract them and try to walk off so they follow!! Haha!!



Definitely not your average haha!! Drag racers daughter so can't be helped!!

Sleeve?!
Microfibre, girl, microfibre!!

I can also relate to "coaxing" a conversation away from the car too.
The worst is when you're chatting to someone who has their back to your car... you can see them gently kicking their heels back as they talk .. getting ever closer to your car.
Like you, I try to subtly coax the conversation away from the car.
If that's doesn't do the trick... I just tell them to get the hell back!


Drag racer's daughter?
Interesting.
Certainly not your average, it would seem..

 

[donshl]

I hardly ever use my paddles as I am too lazy and let the SpeedShift do the work for me I mostly drive in London which is full of traffic, so don't really get to use the paddles to their full potential.

Tried to use them on a few occasions and scared myself :0 ....

Having said that, I would like to learn how to use them properly

 

[Rashman]

I hardly ever use my paddles as I am too lazy and let the SpeedShift do the work for me I mostly drive in London which is full of traffic, so don't really get to use the paddles to their full potential.

Tried to use them on a few occasions and scared myself :0 ....

Having said that, I would like to learn how to use them properly

Paddles is the way forward.
I'll get an evening class together for you lot.

 

[donshl]

Paddles is the way forward.
I'll get an evening class together for you lot.

That would be awesome!! :bannana:

 

[John]

In mine (E55K), you get buttons rather than paddles.

Personally, I can't get on with them.

I've never driven a car with flaps (apart from a 1.4 Jazz CVT auto - I think they were taking the!)

I prefer to do proper fast driving in a manual but as I don't drive like I used to, a lot of the time I am happy with an auto but for those times when legs need to be stretched, I find manual mode using the gear lever (left / right) works well.

The gear change is quite fast actually doing it this way - I found with the buttons I had to think ahead and change gear so that it changed when I would have changed in a manual.

However, most of the time I can get away with keeping it in S because it is so fast that most stuff can't keep up anyway and you can concentrate on car positioning, minimising weight transfer and taking the straight corner etc.

 

[Rashman]

In mine (E55K), you get buttons rather than paddles.

Personally, I can't get on with them.

I've never driven a car with flaps (apart from a 1.4 Jazz CVT auto - I think they were taking the!)

I prefer to do proper fast driving in a manual but as I don't drive like I used to, a lot of the time I am happy with an auto but for those times when legs need to be stretched, I find manual mode using the gear lever (left / right) works well.

The gear change is quite fast actually doing it this way - I found with the buttons I had to think ahead and change gear so that it changed when I would have changed in a manual.

However, most of the time I can get away with keeping it in S because it is so fast that most stuff can't keep up anyway and you can concentrate on car positioning, minimising weight transfer and taking the straight corner etc.

I hear you.
You're not the first to dislike the button as I have heard quite a few people saying that they are not ideal.
One of the gripes with the buttons is because they are just that - buttons and not paddles.
Can't say I'd be keen fumbling around for buttons either.
However, a lot of people have also retrofitted paddles to replace the buttons, or swapped out the steering wheel for one with paddles.

 

[ChrisA]

However, a lot of people have also retrofitted paddles to replace the buttons, or swapped out the steering wheel for one with paddles.

I changed steering wheels so now have decent paddles, the buttons were really bad imho

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

I'm not into manual mode either. I find that the car sharpens it's senses when I'm pushing on, and the gearbox tends to do the right thing most of the time, until my driving relaxes.