When to use Flappy Paddle Gearbox

[billywoblyneck]

Hi , when are you supposed to use them flappy paddles ? - I just drive mine in Auto most of the time. Just wondering whats the official idea behind having both options ?

 

[SmartAmg]

As you, I drive in auto most of the time, but if i feel like a bit of a play I put it in sport mode and use the paddles, love em, when I'm in the mood!

 

[ToeKnee]

I rarely use them to be honest except holding the left one down when I want some explosive acceleration whilst overtaking

 

[Larkone]

There are no rules about how and when you can use them - live a little

 

[Tonygw]

Great for overtaking or having fun ;-)

Or sensible mode, they can be used for engine braking on downhill descent as the auto gives very little or no engine braking.

 

[Deleted member 126251]

Whenever you feel you need to be in a different gear to what the auto has selected.

I have the 9g in my current drive and it is a huge improvement on the 7g in my previous ride (SLK350 (R172)) and I find I tend to manually change gear less often for normal driving.

 

[Petrol Pete]

I use mine from time to time, usually before a 'mild' overtake just to drop to 4th as kickdown can be a bit too brutal and unnecessary some times.

 

[400ixl]

I use them all the time. If pottering about I use them to upshift earlier than than the auto would which gives better economy and reduces emissions. Great for dropping down a gear as well when you need to.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Very very rare that I use them. If I do it tends to be when I’m making progress on winding roads which I know very well, and I want to have tighter control of the gears, for example holding a gear (rather than upshift) into a fast bend, or downshifting to use engine braking into a slow-in fast-out bend.

The official idea is that some people like them and most people like that there car has then even if they don’t use them, because it’s associated with sporting prowess, and of course made popular by Clarkson (as evidenced by your use of the word “flappy”)

 

[Trickythemerc]

I will use mine to knock it up a cog when the box doesn't roll out into 5th at lower speeds. Odd times I will have a play on the twisty bits to keep things a bit more under my control. Most times I leave it in sports mode and let it do what it does best.

 

[Londonscottish]

I use them occasionally if I want have a bit of fun/play tunes/hear and feel the V8 let rip.

If I just drive normally round town I barely get past 1,500 rpm and even on the open road it will usually change up in the low 2,000's.

The other time I use them is when I want to canon past something when there's not much time - having it sitting in gear at 3,500-4,000 means instance full acceleration on tap.

 

[Athey]

I hate the fact that I can’t flip from 5th to 3rd, etc while braking. But is fun downshifting in town. Turns heads fast enough to snap necks from time to time.

 

[whitenemesis]

I hate the fact that I can’t flip from 5th to 3rd, etc while braking. But is fun downshifting in town. Turns heads fast enough to snap necks from time to time.

What happens if you hold the paddle for a few seconds?

 

[Athey]

Dunno, never tried it.

 

[whitenemesis]

On my CLS55 it would drop the gears to the lowest to give max power, be that 1,2 or 3 gears in one hit.

 

[Deleted member 126251]

What happens if you hold the paddle for a few seconds?

On mine L will go down to the lowest gear without overrevving and R will put it back in auto.

 

[ToeKnee]

On mine L will go down to the lowest gear without overrevving and R will put it back in auto.

What Rory said!

 

[Teego]

I hate the fact that I can’t flip from 5th to 3rd, etc while braking. But is fun downshifting in town. Turns heads fast enough to snap necks from time to time.

Why can't you do that? I can go all the way down the box when braking. Essential on fast downhill twisties. Pleasureable on fast uphill twisties. And if the wheel is in an awkward position for the flappy (buttons on my CLS) just knock the gearstick with your forearm.

 

[Athey]

Simply because of the delay.

 

[Petrol Pete]

The AMG version of the old 722.6 five speed gearbox is called 'speedshift' it has a different configuration to non AMG cars fitted with the same gearbox whether they have paddles of not.

From 2001/2 it has a mechanical lock up of the torque converter available to select and 'active' downshift. So technically speaking by selecting 'M' the gearbox becomes a 'true' manual (even if it is a bit slow and dim witted) and it's possible to hold the selected gear in a corner and - if you want to- rev the nuts off the car both up and down the gears...with the potential to cause damage I guess.

I played with mine in this manner but chickened out when revving too much, not wanting to blow my ancient 100K mile (now 150K) engine up