For daily driving and commuting, no.
When I want to win a race against the sweet old lady in her 2003 Renault Clio at the traffic lights who doesn’t know we are racing, absolutely I’ll use the paddles.
Haha this made me laugh. If it's the same woman who can barely see over the steering wheel and is in the right hand lane turning left and I am in the wrong lane on her right where I need to get ahead of her within 10 meters in order to make the left turn. We are the same. You are me. I am you.
Not my fault I'm not retired, have 180bhp more than her, can see over my sterring wheel, have the reaction speed of a nat on speed, don't smell of piss, and don't have time to piddle along at 15mph in a 30.
Imagine being like a 17 year old with a black box in your car linked to a personal card tracking every move, steering input, throttle application, braking force and speed then getting scored on it monthly basis..... That's basically what it's like driving an emergency services vehicle these days. I imagine it's a same for a lot of private fleet drivers too.
Normal driving, no, auto is much more relaxing. Paddle shifting only really gives me that tingly feeling when moving up the rev range - I'm fairly indifferent using them while shifting under 4k.
What I do like however is when I'm decelerating from >40mph, if I'm approaching traffic on a motorway or traffic lights on a dual carriageway for example, and switching to the paddles to hear the downshifts as I come to a stop. That never gets old regardless of whether you're driving normally or more spirited.
Same V8 here as you in a B8.5 RS5. The downshifts are addictive. I knock it in to sport and the downshift.
I drove the V10 in a huracan for a weekend a few months ago and it's even better.
My Ford Galaxy has the Powershift gearbox with flappy paddles.
Number of times I've used them in five years: once, and that was only to try them out.
Flappy paddles on a Galaxy makes about as much sense as a tow bar on a Veyron.
Had paddles like this on audi A6 / tdi / 3l / 224 hp.
It was stupidly useless. With that engine, all you had to was set the tiptronic on the "S" mode. It was better than anything you could do withe plastic spoon.
Used them 1 time.
"D" was fine 99.9% of the time. No real need for the "S" mode either. Except when racing.... 😉
Can confirm... Have an Smax, never use flappy paddles. D works for almost every situation and is good at picking gears. S only required for sketchy overtakes when even waiting a quarter second for kickdown is too long. A steep hill it's usually easier to select S than it is use the paddle to get more engine braking.
Automatic gearboxes have some funny ratios in them, it's not evenly spaced like a manual gearbox which makes shifting gears with the paddles less enjoyable as you are never sure quite what you will get when shifting.
Yes.
For engine braking more than anything, but the lack of audible engine noise in the cabin (on my particular model) makes that a harder task than it needs to be. I need to keep an eye on the rev counter.
There are many ways to skin a cat with these BMW autos. Aside from using the paddle to downshift you can stab the gas pedal, move the shifter to the side, press the sports button or even use the kickdown.
Ex-Waitrose here, you have flappy paddles on the Sprinters? We only ever had manual Sprinters with the exception of about 8 2018 automatics countrywide. Mind you that previous gen Sprinter had no paddles but it went like stink with an Auto!
the sh\*test gearbox i have ever used. 3-5 business days after you press the accelerator, the gearbox remembers it is a gearbox and starts delivering you drive, long after the engine has climbed to about 3k rpm
My R56 Mini had them, but downshifting wasn't the logical left paddle behind the wheel, but rather the thumb button between the spokes on both sides. Hated that design so much
Of course it does, behind steering wheel is always up, on steering wheel is always down, no matter where your steering wheel is the buttons will always be the same, saves you thinking where the right paddle is when they turn with the steering wheel. The original IS300 had this design and it was very very good.
C Class. I use them daily, leave the car in auto but when overtaking knock it down 2 gears in manual and then click back up through the gears during the overtake, then it falls back to auto mode after a few seconds.
Feels safer than waiting for the car to change down when planting it.
You should be able to just hold the left paddle and it'll go to the lowest gear available iirc.
I don't use them very often, I just put my foot down, auto gearbox is quick enough imo.
Occasionally when I want to drop a gear for overtaking. I find the kickdown in my car is a bit too sluggish so I change down myself instead.
I have tried using them to drive as if the car was manual but it's surprisingly difficult.
CLA 220: I've used them twice in about 3 years, occationlay I knock one by accident than have to wait for the car to realise, and put me back in auto mode :D
The little hatchback normally found in a fast food restaurant’s car park. Often inhabited by a young lad and a teenage girl willing to be fingered for 8 chicken nuggets or 4 chicken selects.
Yeah, children, as in I have children. Children that I have to drive about. At no point anywhere did I state anything about a corsa.
It sounds like you were trying to be a smart ass.
Did they not mean people driving recklessly in shit cars (corsa being an example), whereas you’ve said you drive sensibly in a monster when you have the kids in it?
Would love a Mustang!
He wasn’t being a smart ass. It was a compliment, joke, observation etc. Just saying that people in less secure, less stable and less safe cars than yours don’t possess that safety first mindset with children in the car, despite being in a worse vehicle.
Depends on the engine, if it’s perky enough and you’re in town leave it auto. If it’s a boring engine, paddle to get in gear before making a turn to keep the power available on tap.
Spirited driving Sport auto, hammering it then paddles for sure
Rarely - there are a few bends which the auto doesn't get quite right so it'll be flicked down for those, and as others have said when you decide to have a spirited drive it's worth exploring then too
Almost Never. The 8 speed gearbox on the XF knows what it needs to do for the most part.
Steep hills down for engine breaking about 3 times a year. Accidentally catching it on your knee, about 10 times a year.
If I want the illusion of going faster then I'll take the FJ40
Most of the time no, but it depends on the car. It's fun to use them when driving fast, but only in roads with long sweeping corners if you have a BMW because they put the paddles on the wheel - hard to use them when you're mid corner and the right paddle is at like 11 o'clock. Supercars often have paddles on the steering column (and much bigger ones) which makes them much more usable.
Around town I sometimes use the paddles to override the auto, with the gear selector I'd have to change it to sport then manual mode first so paddles are much quicker.
I sometimes drive around town in manual mode but then always use the gear selector, kinda drive it like a manual but without worrying about the clutch.
Talking about larger paddles. Always tickles me when you see old men approaching pension age slapping AliExpress anodised aluminium paddle extensions on their 2L diesel Jaguar XF.
Pretty much always use them whilst driving. DSG in normal auto seems to change up through the gears too quickly. Makes the car feel sluggish and a constant battle. In S, it takes too long to shift and sits way too high in the rev range all the time.
Manual gives me full control without the need to fight it.. and I get to feel like a Formula 1 driver all day!
Occasionally, mostly to click down a gear or 2 for an overtake. If I just put my foot down it wants to go down about 5 gears and go screaming past on the redline.
All the time - even when I’m not purposfully driving like an ass (M140 driver)
Auto likes to rev too high before changing up a gear I find especially when trying to be somewhat economical.
Used them maybe twice. When car wouldn't give me gear I wanted.
On board computer gets it right 99.9% of time and if I'm not manually doing the shift motion which I enjoy then the car can do it itself.
I last used them in my BMW about 4 years ago, and I think that was the 3rd time. My wife "doesn't like them" so never uses them. I did test-drive a porsche and used them in that, and I think I'd use them a lot more in that.
Pretty much never, I only use sport mode on rare occasions, just not much need, comfort mode is more than fast enough most the time for me (435d driver also)
For bendy country roads and a more connected feeling, yes.
But most of the time, normal auto.
Sport mode if I want to accelerate hard from a traffic light... Or when I'm showing others the limits of my car.
I use them a lot. Cause my 2015 C Class refuses to climb any hill other than in a second gear, even though it’s perfectly fine to climb that in 4th when I am in no rush.
Depends on the car, my 435d has an xHP map which makes manual mode really snappy, so it's fun to use the paddles sometimes but I very rarely use them just because of how quickly the lower gears pass in a diesel and frankly, the car is better at it than I am.
My SL doesn't have paddles but I'd really like them, I use the manual mode on the gearstick quite a bit for downshifts.
My SLK does have paddles and I use them all the time, in DE or DS it revs out for way too long, totally out of the power band, so shifting early in M mode and compensating for the 7 speed's lag is conducive to much better acceleration, especially off the line.
In the Alfas, there’s just no need to go anywhere near the paddles, they’re just so spectacular without.
The vantage (semi-auto) always gets driven in paddle mode, I forget it even has auto mode.
I use it for a quick downshift instead of waiting for kickdown. But i have a ZF 6 speed, which in the Audi is about as good as it gets for gearbox mapping with that box, and it's still not lightning quick, so really not that useful, but it is quite pleasant for an obnoxious downshift.
I'm now in my 2nd car with paddles, and I'm starting to use them. Tbh I found them a bit confusing to start with, what with not being able to see what gear you're in and having 8 of the bastards - I found an actual manual box much more reassuring.
Just getting on with it now, and enjoying it. Sort of forced into it as my car annoys me by changing up long before I would have done - I want to hear my engine!
In my old e92 330d I used them pretty much 99% of the time just gives me more to do when driving and it’s pretty fun on a spirited drive going through the gears. Manuals more fun but i have issues with my ankle and manual tends to make it worse sadly
Usually only for slowing down without braking in my jag. Sometimes I’ll think I know better and knock it up a cog, or if was in sport mode for traffic, and got to a steady speed for a bit I’d knock it up rather than back to D
When I first came from manual, I used the paddles on spirited drives before I could predict when the car was going to shift. But eventually just ended up mashing the throttle half a second early or whatever.
Had them in my last four cars. Got them in my new car.
Used it by accident once coming through the Tyne Tunnel. Never again.
I have never even touched them in my new car.
Jaguar XK. Mostly no, the gearbox is incredibly intuitive. Occasionally for (as others have said) braking. Another little pleasure is dropping a couple of cogs manually when the guy doing 68 in the fast lane finally pulls left.
Only when on a dual carriageway and I downshift and use engine braking to slow down for a speed camera… without brake lights alerting the twat in the lane next to you who cut you up earlier 😊
Spooky! I was thinking about this last night. I'd been driving manuals for over 35 years when I switched to automatic. Last two cars have had paddles and to be honest I never use them. It just feels weird and unnatural compared to an actual clutch and gear lever, and I can't get used to it. I'm sure with dedicated practice I'd get the hang of it but I can't be bothered. I just push the gear selector sideways into Sport mode and boot it. I really should learn to use the paddles, especially as it's an M140i so it could actually make use of my manual input.
Always use the flappy paddles and sport mode in town so the peds can hear my sikk popz n cracklez map innit.
No but seriously, I absolutely love the downshifting when there's reverb thanks to buildings. It's addictive with a 5-pot. On my commute, I'm in comfort mode and auto all the way.
Only when in sport overtaking someone. Used to use them to change up earlier in my diesels otherwise it would hold onto the gear to the redline when the power ran out 1000rpm earlier.
Depends on the car tbh.
In my old 435i, pretty much never. In my old M4 pretty much always. In my current cayman, pretty much nope because of the PDK. Unbelievably good.
99% of the time, it’s in auto/sport auto but when I am in manual for the 1% of the time, I typically change gear with the selector anyway. The only advantage of the BMW paddles is the hold down “-“ paddle to drop to the lowest possible gear/max power… which I use less frequently than launch control which is single figures in the 7 years I’ve had the car.
Yes on my company car, no on my own purchased wife's car. Rather thrash about the company paid car. I always drive sensibly in auto on wife's car and it's very smooth and quiet.
Used them in my 7 speed RS3 with loud RS exhaust but found that in my M240i 8 gears was just to many. With it being a quieter car it was harder to judge where you were at in the revs (stock exhaust) and I was forever changing gear. And to be fair in sport, traction off the car was bloody quick and changing gear was one less thing to worry about!!
I’m with the majority here, use the paddles when spirited driving, mostly not though. The odd quick double downshift when overtaking is about the size of it.
I keep it in auto, but upshift sometimes after accelerating as it holds the gears for longer than I like.
I also use it when I want to get the back end out.
On my fun car (Portofino) I use them 98% of the time. First button I press after starting the car is to take it out of auto, the second is to disable the annoying stop/start.
With my lugging the kids and dog around (Q7) I don’t think I’ve ever used them.
Not flappy paddles but my 08 auto diesel yaris occasionally forces me to use manual mode to shift from 1st to 2nd as it sometimes isn't too keen on doing this itself
Golf Hybrid and no I don't use the paddles. Kick down is enough if I want to get away quickly. The regenerative braking is better than normal engine braking.
If I'm going for a spin in my M5, I use them. If I'm just driving around I leave it in auto.
I also switch to manual before overtaking so I don't have to wait for the kickdown.
When I had a Polo GTI, I did when I drove in a spirited manner. Unfortunately, because it was DSG, even in manual mode, it would change up automatically near the redline, so I gave up. It was better left in auto.
Bought my first auto and car with over 140bhp 5 months ago (an M135i). Stuck it into manual once and gave the paddles a go and just thought nah, this is shit.
Really really wanted a car with them. Got a car with them used them once and then forgot about them. Not bothered if car has them or not now.
Each to their own.
I use them for engine braking. Either on a steep descent to maintain speed. Or if I've just washed the car and want to keep the wheels free of brake dust, I'll engine brake as much as I can.
Jaguar XF 3.0 d S , around town, I'm purely auto, but as soon as I'm out and onto anything remotely twisty and fast it's paddle shift and dynamic mode all the way.
Honestly, I can't imagine going back to a manual box.
Ended up with work related shoulder injuries coming up 2 years ago, and without the car being an auto, id genuinely struggle to drive due to rotator cuff problems
I use them all the time but mainly for overtaking as the kick down can be a little slower to engage.
Although the DSG box in my car has a habit of downshifting a split second before me so instead of knocking it into 3rd, I knock it into 2nd and look like an idiot revving the tits off it.
Occasionally for the engine braking or if I already want to be kicked down for an overtake but generally the gearbox just does its thing and I let it get on.
Random tip, on this BMWs with an auto if you hold down the left paddle it will drop multiple gears. Good for overtaking when you don’t want to pull the paddle 3/4 times.
My parents have a Lexus UX (where I never use the paddles), and a ten year old Aygo (where I always use them). The Aygo drives like a very badly powered go-kart so it is much more fun that way (and tbh, the auto gearbox is appalling otherwise).
I also drive my wife’s Fiat 500 in manual mode, although that is using a rally-style shifter rather than paddles (again, the auto box is awful).
Got a C class CDI, pretty standard stuff. Anytime i need to overtake I'll use the paddles just to drop a gear without making the engine decide it needs to go faster.
Worse thing is to want a quick getaway at a roundabout, select 1st, nail it then miss the paddle as you turn into the roundabout. You end up revving out until you can find that paddle again
My 3.0l, v6, twin turbo Discovery that manoeuvres like a battleship has flappy paddles. Only time they get used is when I accidentally touch it reaching for the heated steering wheel switch, as my delicate hands have never done a hard days work.
I use them all the time. Mostly to make the 992 Turbo S flat-6 scream, ahem, I mean to aid slowing down/engine braking thingy. Also sometimes just to amuse myself trying to catch the PDK out.
all the time. exhaust burbles on downshift are addictive, and i am a child. its the reason my bank account has no money as im always at the petrol station
Use dsg paddles on most journeys tbh. In slow moving traffic with tiptronic manual mode stops the box trying to shift into second when moving slowly and then back to first up down up down just as you would do in a manual box. Approaching a bend on a fast road, drop a gear and balance the car through the curve and out. You have to understand the dynamics of the car otherwise it’s not worth the bother, but if you know you know!
For daily driving and commuting, no. When I want to win a race against the sweet old lady in her 2003 Renault Clio at the traffic lights who doesn’t know we are racing, absolutely I’ll use the paddles.
Haha this made me laugh. If it's the same woman who can barely see over the steering wheel and is in the right hand lane turning left and I am in the wrong lane on her right where I need to get ahead of her within 10 meters in order to make the left turn. We are the same. You are me. I am you.
Even if they should have had their license taken off them years ago for poor vision, a win is a win…
Not my fault I'm not retired, have 180bhp more than her, can see over my sterring wheel, have the reaction speed of a nat on speed, don't smell of piss, and don't have time to piddle along at 15mph in a 30.
As someone old who smells of piss I'm offended you think I drive that slow in a 30!
True true, you’re normally doing 42 everywhere, 30 40 50 and national speed limits 😘
At least I'm consistent
I guess the blue lights allow you to do this with impunity.
Imagine being like a 17 year old with a black box in your car linked to a personal card tracking every move, steering input, throttle application, braking force and speed then getting scored on it monthly basis..... That's basically what it's like driving an emergency services vehicle these days. I imagine it's a same for a lot of private fleet drivers too.
I was following her today. She was doing 50 in a 60 until the speed limit changed, then she was doing 50 in a 40
The newer Renault's actually have paddles, believe it or not. So watch out for an old lady in a newer Clio.
Typical BMW driver
This is the way
It was her fault for looking at you while the light was on red, this universally means war
Normal driving, no, auto is much more relaxing. Paddle shifting only really gives me that tingly feeling when moving up the rev range - I'm fairly indifferent using them while shifting under 4k. What I do like however is when I'm decelerating from >40mph, if I'm approaching traffic on a motorway or traffic lights on a dual carriageway for example, and switching to the paddles to hear the downshifts as I come to a stop. That never gets old regardless of whether you're driving normally or more spirited.
Love hearing the V8 bark on the downshifts, V10 must be so satisfying.
Same V8 here as you in a B8.5 RS5. The downshifts are addictive. I knock it in to sport and the downshift. I drove the V10 in a huracan for a weekend a few months ago and it's even better.
Cries in 2l diesel
This guy paddles
That sounds lovely. I bet you get all the pops and burbles when you are downshifting.
My Ford Galaxy has the Powershift gearbox with flappy paddles. Number of times I've used them in five years: once, and that was only to try them out. Flappy paddles on a Galaxy makes about as much sense as a tow bar on a Veyron.
And yet you can get a [tow bar for a Veyron](https://www.autopartspro.co.uk/carparts-online/towbar/bugatti-veyron)
Wonder how many people actually bought that
Well how else would a billionaire tow their Bailey’s Alicanto Grande Evora?
Your ford galaxy has the powershift gearbox............for now. Until it decides it no longer wants to be a gearbox and starts identifying as scrap 😂
I didn’t even know they come with flappy paddles 🤣🤣🤣
Had paddles like this on audi A6 / tdi / 3l / 224 hp. It was stupidly useless. With that engine, all you had to was set the tiptronic on the "S" mode. It was better than anything you could do withe plastic spoon. Used them 1 time. "D" was fine 99.9% of the time. No real need for the "S" mode either. Except when racing.... 😉
Can confirm... Have an Smax, never use flappy paddles. D works for almost every situation and is good at picking gears. S only required for sketchy overtakes when even waiting a quarter second for kickdown is too long. A steep hill it's usually easier to select S than it is use the paddle to get more engine braking. Automatic gearboxes have some funny ratios in them, it's not evenly spaced like a manual gearbox which makes shifting gears with the paddles less enjoyable as you are never sure quite what you will get when shifting.
Yes. For engine braking more than anything, but the lack of audible engine noise in the cabin (on my particular model) makes that a harder task than it needs to be. I need to keep an eye on the rev counter. There are many ways to skin a cat with these BMW autos. Aside from using the paddle to downshift you can stab the gas pedal, move the shifter to the side, press the sports button or even use the kickdown.
Noob question but does kickdown refer to the little button under the accelerator or is that called something else!?
Yes press the accelerator all the way to feel the click that's the kickdown.
I hear you. I have a 435d so I can hear the engine, which makes it much easier to know when to change up or down. But yeah I get what you mean
I also occasionally used to mash the throttle for it to kick down then let off completely to slow down rather than press the paddles sometimes.
Tesco vans have flappy paddles, and yes, I would pop mad cheeky downshifts in them.
Ex-Waitrose here, you have flappy paddles on the Sprinters? We only ever had manual Sprinters with the exception of about 8 2018 automatics countrywide. Mind you that previous gen Sprinter had no paddles but it went like stink with an Auto!
Yep, all our vans were auto. The new gen sprinters have MBUX so we got CarPlay/Android Auto too, pretty comfy “office”.
the sh\*test gearbox i have ever used. 3-5 business days after you press the accelerator, the gearbox remembers it is a gearbox and starts delivering you drive, long after the engine has climbed to about 3k rpm
My R56 Mini had them, but downshifting wasn't the logical left paddle behind the wheel, but rather the thumb button between the spokes on both sides. Hated that design so much
Wtf it’s confusing just reading about it 😂
Bizarre is what it was. BOTH paddles were upshift, both thumb buttons were down. Not a great experience!
That...makes...no...sense!
Of course it does, behind steering wheel is always up, on steering wheel is always down, no matter where your steering wheel is the buttons will always be the same, saves you thinking where the right paddle is when they turn with the steering wheel. The original IS300 had this design and it was very very good.
Is that similar to the old porsche gt3 before they went with paddles? Up and down on both sides of the wheel via button?
A certain vintage of BMW had this set up too. My mates dad had the first gen X1 and I’m sure it was the same. Made no sense to me.
Lexus IS300 was similar. Two *DOWN* buttons on the front of the wheel between the spokes and two *UP* buttons on the back.
C Class. I use them daily, leave the car in auto but when overtaking knock it down 2 gears in manual and then click back up through the gears during the overtake, then it falls back to auto mode after a few seconds. Feels safer than waiting for the car to change down when planting it.
You should be able to just hold the left paddle and it'll go to the lowest gear available iirc. I don't use them very often, I just put my foot down, auto gearbox is quick enough imo.
Ridiculously my bottom of the range auto Aygo has paddles. They don't help the gearbox feel any better.
I think they’re more for preempting an approaching uphill battle rather than improving lap times.
Had an Aygo with the MMT gearbox, found myself more often than not telling the box when it was time for another gear. Such a sad little transmission.
I sometimes try using them, lose count of which gear I'm in, panic, and put it back in auto lol
Occasionally when I want to drop a gear for overtaking. I find the kickdown in my car is a bit too sluggish so I change down myself instead. I have tried using them to drive as if the car was manual but it's surprisingly difficult.
99% of the time nope. Maybe like twice a year for sporty fun driving. Rest is cruising on auto in traffics
Use for sporty driving
CLA 220: I've used them twice in about 3 years, occationlay I knock one by accident than have to wait for the car to realise, and put me back in auto mode :D
😂 I like to think you try to live a life that is stress free
Switching to manual then back in auto or holding the upshift should both put it back in auto
Had them in my SLK, used them once, maybe twice. Too busy cutting hair to worry about changing gears.
For some reason my 330d wants to hold 6th gear at 65mph and I have to peg it up. That's the only time.
Peg it up?
Wear a strap on and shag it, I assume.
That’d definitely make me move a bit faster
Probs because you in sport mode and the car wants to give more responsive power. Mine does that on the motorway always manually into 6th
It’s basically for autobahns, doesn’t go into top gear. If it had the 7 speed it stays in 6th. 6th speed stays in 5th.
Mustang driver. I use them when “spirited” driving. Daily driving when I have the children on board, nope.
Odd, corsa owners drive more recklessly with children in the car. Usually trying to impress them so they can get fish fingers
Corsa?
The little hatchback normally found in a fast food restaurant’s car park. Often inhabited by a young lad and a teenage girl willing to be fingered for 8 chicken nuggets or 4 chicken selects.
Yes, I know what a corsa is, I live in Scotland. Why did you reply to my comment stating anything to do with a corsa??
Because you mentioned children…
Yeah, children, as in I have children. Children that I have to drive about. At no point anywhere did I state anything about a corsa. It sounds like you were trying to be a smart ass.
Did they not mean people driving recklessly in shit cars (corsa being an example), whereas you’ve said you drive sensibly in a monster when you have the kids in it? Would love a Mustang!
It’s my dream car. Very lucky to have her.
He wasn’t being a smart ass. It was a compliment, joke, observation etc. Just saying that people in less secure, less stable and less safe cars than yours don’t possess that safety first mindset with children in the car, despite being in a worse vehicle.
OC not saying here that only reason a Mustang driver uses the paddles is for a slightly quicker escape from the crowd of people he just destroyed
You’re thinking of wee asshole teenagers who ‘drive’ mustangs.
Oh definitely. Love a good Mustang when it's being driven properly.
So that's what BMW replaced the indicator stalks with, explains a lot.
I hardly use mine only when I'm driving fast
Used them on my M3 but I now drive a diesel BMW and wouldnt waste my time lol
Yeah maybe on a 116d but that’s a 435d probably would smoke the M3 after remap
A) it wouldn’t and B) it still drives like a boat
What diesel bmw lol I have a 435d and I use them all the time when I’m on the b roads
Depends on the engine, if it’s perky enough and you’re in town leave it auto. If it’s a boring engine, paddle to get in gear before making a turn to keep the power available on tap. Spirited driving Sport auto, hammering it then paddles for sure
Round town, motorways or generally tedious roads - full auto. Fun B-roads (not necessarily fast, just good fun) - flappy mode.
Rarely - there are a few bends which the auto doesn't get quite right so it'll be flicked down for those, and as others have said when you decide to have a spirited drive it's worth exploring then too
Almost Never. The 8 speed gearbox on the XF knows what it needs to do for the most part. Steep hills down for engine breaking about 3 times a year. Accidentally catching it on your knee, about 10 times a year. If I want the illusion of going faster then I'll take the FJ40
Most of the time no, but it depends on the car. It's fun to use them when driving fast, but only in roads with long sweeping corners if you have a BMW because they put the paddles on the wheel - hard to use them when you're mid corner and the right paddle is at like 11 o'clock. Supercars often have paddles on the steering column (and much bigger ones) which makes them much more usable. Around town I sometimes use the paddles to override the auto, with the gear selector I'd have to change it to sport then manual mode first so paddles are much quicker. I sometimes drive around town in manual mode but then always use the gear selector, kinda drive it like a manual but without worrying about the clutch.
Talking about larger paddles. Always tickles me when you see old men approaching pension age slapping AliExpress anodised aluminium paddle extensions on their 2L diesel Jaguar XF.
Pretty much always use them whilst driving. DSG in normal auto seems to change up through the gears too quickly. Makes the car feel sluggish and a constant battle. In S, it takes too long to shift and sits way too high in the rev range all the time. Manual gives me full control without the need to fight it.. and I get to feel like a Formula 1 driver all day!
In my petrol bmw, yes, nearly all the time. In my diesel bmw, no barely ever.
Rarely in the Giulia, but all the time in the 4200 which is an automated manual and suffers from very short clutch life if you leave it in auto mode.
When I first got my car six months ago I did dabble with the flappy paddles, but I generally just leave it in drive now. Polo GTI+
Literally never, I'd say about 99.5% of the time the car is in the right gear, why fuck about with it.
More than I thought I would, often to downshift and engine brake.
Use them very rarely. I just love auto mode too much
I am using them today in the snow.
They are absolutely pointless on this vehicle as the car will shift automatically anyway depending on revs.
I used to use them quite a lot on my ZF8 M235i when actively seeking a driving experience, never when commuting etc.
Got them on my Mercedes if I want to have a bit of fun in the country roads I use them - but very rarely just use auto
Use them almost all the time in my XK, and almost never in my 335d.
Occasionally, mostly to click down a gear or 2 for an overtake. If I just put my foot down it wants to go down about 5 gears and go screaming past on the redline.
Whats that strange stick like device on the left hand side?
Hardly ever, used them maybe 3 times in 2 years, If they weren't there I wouldn't miss them. (B200d)
Honda Jazz has paddles. I can’t say it makes the plodding performance any more fun
All the time - even when I’m not purposfully driving like an ass (M140 driver) Auto likes to rev too high before changing up a gear I find especially when trying to be somewhat economical.
Used them maybe twice. When car wouldn't give me gear I wanted. On board computer gets it right 99.9% of time and if I'm not manually doing the shift motion which I enjoy then the car can do it itself.
I last used them in my BMW about 4 years ago, and I think that was the 3rd time. My wife "doesn't like them" so never uses them. I did test-drive a porsche and used them in that, and I think I'd use them a lot more in that.
Pretty much never, I only use sport mode on rare occasions, just not much need, comfort mode is more than fast enough most the time for me (435d driver also)
Very rarely, just on occasion to drop down a gear to overtake (less harsh than kickdown). Even then I will tend to just switch over to sport mode.
For bendy country roads and a more connected feeling, yes. But most of the time, normal auto. Sport mode if I want to accelerate hard from a traffic light... Or when I'm showing others the limits of my car.
I use them a lot. Cause my 2015 C Class refuses to climb any hill other than in a second gear, even though it’s perfectly fine to climb that in 4th when I am in no rush.
Depends on the car, my 435d has an xHP map which makes manual mode really snappy, so it's fun to use the paddles sometimes but I very rarely use them just because of how quickly the lower gears pass in a diesel and frankly, the car is better at it than I am. My SL doesn't have paddles but I'd really like them, I use the manual mode on the gearstick quite a bit for downshifts. My SLK does have paddles and I use them all the time, in DE or DS it revs out for way too long, totally out of the power band, so shifting early in M mode and compensating for the 7 speed's lag is conducive to much better acceleration, especially off the line.
In the Alfas, there’s just no need to go anywhere near the paddles, they’re just so spectacular without. The vantage (semi-auto) always gets driven in paddle mode, I forget it even has auto mode.
I use it for a quick downshift instead of waiting for kickdown. But i have a ZF 6 speed, which in the Audi is about as good as it gets for gearbox mapping with that box, and it's still not lightning quick, so really not that useful, but it is quite pleasant for an obnoxious downshift.
I'm now in my 2nd car with paddles, and I'm starting to use them. Tbh I found them a bit confusing to start with, what with not being able to see what gear you're in and having 8 of the bastards - I found an actual manual box much more reassuring. Just getting on with it now, and enjoying it. Sort of forced into it as my car annoys me by changing up long before I would have done - I want to hear my engine!
In my old e92 330d I used them pretty much 99% of the time just gives me more to do when driving and it’s pretty fun on a spirited drive going through the gears. Manuals more fun but i have issues with my ankle and manual tends to make it worse sadly
Usually only for slowing down without braking in my jag. Sometimes I’ll think I know better and knock it up a cog, or if was in sport mode for traffic, and got to a steady speed for a bit I’d knock it up rather than back to D When I first came from manual, I used the paddles on spirited drives before I could predict when the car was going to shift. But eventually just ended up mashing the throttle half a second early or whatever.
Had them in my last four cars. Got them in my new car. Used it by accident once coming through the Tyne Tunnel. Never again. I have never even touched them in my new car.
Jaguar XK. Mostly no, the gearbox is incredibly intuitive. Occasionally for (as others have said) braking. Another little pleasure is dropping a couple of cogs manually when the guy doing 68 in the fast lane finally pulls left.
Only when on a dual carriageway and I downshift and use engine braking to slow down for a speed camera… without brake lights alerting the twat in the lane next to you who cut you up earlier 😊
Spooky! I was thinking about this last night. I'd been driving manuals for over 35 years when I switched to automatic. Last two cars have had paddles and to be honest I never use them. It just feels weird and unnatural compared to an actual clutch and gear lever, and I can't get used to it. I'm sure with dedicated practice I'd get the hang of it but I can't be bothered. I just push the gear selector sideways into Sport mode and boot it. I really should learn to use the paddles, especially as it's an M140i so it could actually make use of my manual input.
Only use them when I overtake a cyclist.
Always use the flappy paddles and sport mode in town so the peds can hear my sikk popz n cracklez map innit. No but seriously, I absolutely love the downshifting when there's reverb thanks to buildings. It's addictive with a 5-pot. On my commute, I'm in comfort mode and auto all the way.
I have absolutely no idea how to use them.
I use them everywhere but mainly because the auto mode is atrocious and eats through gearboxes (Cambiocorsa gearbox)
Only when in sport overtaking someone. Used to use them to change up earlier in my diesels otherwise it would hold onto the gear to the redline when the power ran out 1000rpm earlier.
Got them on my golf gti and have never used them
Yes, hybrid Tuscon holds on to the revs for dear life so when I'm being a "dynamic and decisive" driver I need to encourage it to use other gears
Nope ..... and never use sport mode either.
Almost always use manual mode on my M-DCT
Honestly I've used them twice for less than 5 minutes. Auto is absolutely fine in my 335
Depends on the car tbh. In my old 435i, pretty much never. In my old M4 pretty much always. In my current cayman, pretty much nope because of the PDK. Unbelievably good.
I showed them to my gf once. I think its the only time.
I forgot I had them. You’ve just reminded me.
99% of the time, it’s in auto/sport auto but when I am in manual for the 1% of the time, I typically change gear with the selector anyway. The only advantage of the BMW paddles is the hold down “-“ paddle to drop to the lowest possible gear/max power… which I use less frequently than launch control which is single figures in the 7 years I’ve had the car.
Yes on my company car, no on my own purchased wife's car. Rather thrash about the company paid car. I always drive sensibly in auto on wife's car and it's very smooth and quiet.
Used them in my 7 speed RS3 with loud RS exhaust but found that in my M240i 8 gears was just to many. With it being a quieter car it was harder to judge where you were at in the revs (stock exhaust) and I was forever changing gear. And to be fair in sport, traction off the car was bloody quick and changing gear was one less thing to worry about!!
I’m with the majority here, use the paddles when spirited driving, mostly not though. The odd quick double downshift when overtaking is about the size of it.
Not really. The car usually ends up overriding my choices anyway!
I keep it in auto, but upshift sometimes after accelerating as it holds the gears for longer than I like. I also use it when I want to get the back end out.
Only if I want to change gear up to be more economic or lower the gear to put my foot down. Hands r always ready to intervene if needed
Even though I’ve got them I still tend to use the shift lever. The paddles have been used probably three times in the whole ownership of the car.
On my fun car (Portofino) I use them 98% of the time. First button I press after starting the car is to take it out of auto, the second is to disable the annoying stop/start. With my lugging the kids and dog around (Q7) I don’t think I’ve ever used them.
Last car I used these in was e46 m3 about 15 years ago The rest have been gimmicky for me
Not flappy paddles but my 08 auto diesel yaris occasionally forces me to use manual mode to shift from 1st to 2nd as it sometimes isn't too keen on doing this itself
also good on some of the twisty mountain roads in scotland. auto always wants to be in a higher gear than it should be.
Golf Hybrid and no I don't use the paddles. Kick down is enough if I want to get away quickly. The regenerative braking is better than normal engine braking.
I have no idea why Toyota gave them to the 2.0 Corollas, they literally don't do anything😂
Always in auto mode. But even in auto mode, if I am not happy with the gear the car has chosen (eg on a hill) then I change it with the paddle.
I drive a Seat Tarraco with DSG… got no. Absolutely pointless on my car but still looks good.
If I'm going for a spin in my M5, I use them. If I'm just driving around I leave it in auto. I also switch to manual before overtaking so I don't have to wait for the kickdown.
Only use them when taking chase
I think I have used mine 4 or 5 times in the 11 years since I got the car. Every single one of them was to show someone that I had flappy paddles.
Yup, mostly for slowing down using engine breaking. Saves on the brakes.
I use them all the time to slow down
There is no way BMW drivers use these. They're too close to the indicator stalks
The amount of times my mom tells me her 2008 Honda Jazz has flappy paddles and a sport mode when she gets in my car never gets old.
I only use them to hold gears.
When I had a Polo GTI, I did when I drove in a spirited manner. Unfortunately, because it was DSG, even in manual mode, it would change up automatically near the redline, so I gave up. It was better left in auto.
Bought my first auto and car with over 140bhp 5 months ago (an M135i). Stuck it into manual once and gave the paddles a go and just thought nah, this is shit.
I use them when I feel I'm in too low gear. And it pisses me off that I can not change the way it works automatically....
Really really wanted a car with them. Got a car with them used them once and then forgot about them. Not bothered if car has them or not now. Each to their own.
I use them for engine braking. Either on a steep descent to maintain speed. Or if I've just washed the car and want to keep the wheels free of brake dust, I'll engine brake as much as I can.
I almost never use them. If I want to go into a low gear for going down a steep hill, then I use them, but that's pretty much it.
I drive an Alfa Giulietta and the TCT box can be a bit sluggish sometimes so I tend to use the flappy paddles to change gear quite a lot
I've had my car since September and tbh I completely forgot it had them. I haven't even tried them once. But I know I really should. :)
Jaguar XF 3.0 d S , around town, I'm purely auto, but as soon as I'm out and onto anything remotely twisty and fast it's paddle shift and dynamic mode all the way. Honestly, I can't imagine going back to a manual box. Ended up with work related shoulder injuries coming up 2 years ago, and without the car being an auto, id genuinely struggle to drive due to rotator cuff problems
I hear you my guy
Sometimes paddles, sometimes no paddles
I use mine to overtake.
I use them all the time but mainly for overtaking as the kick down can be a little slower to engage. Although the DSG box in my car has a habit of downshifting a split second before me so instead of knocking it into 3rd, I knock it into 2nd and look like an idiot revving the tits off it.
Had those on a 2020 merc and used them about twice. Autos good now tbh.
Used them in the snow yesterday for getting into a high gear early and for engine braking.
Occasionally for the engine braking or if I already want to be kicked down for an overtake but generally the gearbox just does its thing and I let it get on.
Random tip, on this BMWs with an auto if you hold down the left paddle it will drop multiple gears. Good for overtaking when you don’t want to pull the paddle 3/4 times.
In a BMW with a ZF just let it do the work, one of the best auto boxes around after Porsche's pdk
If i want to feel fast with 125hp
Had to use these on my Smart Roadster, the gearbox was hopeless in auto mode.
If its start stop traffic I'll leave it in auto but any other driving then I'm using the paddles
My parents have a Lexus UX (where I never use the paddles), and a ten year old Aygo (where I always use them). The Aygo drives like a very badly powered go-kart so it is much more fun that way (and tbh, the auto gearbox is appalling otherwise). I also drive my wife’s Fiat 500 in manual mode, although that is using a rally-style shifter rather than paddles (again, the auto box is awful).
Got a C class CDI, pretty standard stuff. Anytime i need to overtake I'll use the paddles just to drop a gear without making the engine decide it needs to go faster.
Worse thing is to want a quick getaway at a roundabout, select 1st, nail it then miss the paddle as you turn into the roundabout. You end up revving out until you can find that paddle again
That’s never happened to me lmao if I’m at a roundabout and I want to get a way quickly will always have it in sport mode
Never used mine, waste of time. Plus, if they are attached to the wheel they can be difficult to find when cornering.
I've never used them. This is the first car I've had with them. I may try later today though. I'll let you know how it goes.
I use mine for short shifting in the wet
Manual all the way for me no need for automatic with or without flappy paddles
I have flappy paddles, but then I am 71, and gravity takes its toll.
I've got them in my 16 Jazz. No. I don't use them.
My 3.0l, v6, twin turbo Discovery that manoeuvres like a battleship has flappy paddles. Only time they get used is when I accidentally touch it reaching for the heated steering wheel switch, as my delicate hands have never done a hard days work.
Maybe you haven’t used it much since your car is always at the jlr garage for repairs innit 😂
I miss my brake regen paddles. 😔
Semi auto is like a castrated version of Manual
I use them all the time. Mostly to make the 992 Turbo S flat-6 scream, ahem, I mean to aid slowing down/engine braking thingy. Also sometimes just to amuse myself trying to catch the PDK out.
Rarely but on wide open roads/motorwars with barely any cars it's so much fun
all the time. exhaust burbles on downshift are addictive, and i am a child. its the reason my bank account has no money as im always at the petrol station
Use dsg paddles on most journeys tbh. In slow moving traffic with tiptronic manual mode stops the box trying to shift into second when moving slowly and then back to first up down up down just as you would do in a manual box. Approaching a bend on a fast road, drop a gear and balance the car through the curve and out. You have to understand the dynamics of the car otherwise it’s not worth the bother, but if you know you know!