Automotive Question

[cabinetman]

LOML is on the hunt for a new car. She enjoys driving and likes standard shift. She did have a dual shift car (Infinity G35) that could be driven in just automatic, or shifted manually with the shift lever. She liked that car but missed the shift/clutch thing.

Her present car is an Accord V6 6 speed stick. Of the new vehicles, some come with paddle shift on the steering wheel. She was wondering how that compares with the shift lever. If you have a paddle shift type, how do you like it?
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[dewi1219]

Meh, it's still not the same. I like driving, and I prefer a real manual with a clutch too. There's really no substitute imho.

[jbrain]

I borrowed my friends BMW for a few days that had the paddles. Seemed kind of weird to me with no clutch. I ended up putting it in the "Auto" Mode after playing with the paddles for a while. It wasn't for me. I'll stick with the clutch and standard shifter.

[Uncle Cracker]

Paddles will not give her any gratification... You gotta have a shifter that you can hang from around the turns. Get her an M5, and let the "Thank You"s begin...

Or, if you're really ambitious, just give the guys at Lingenfelter a call...

[cabinetman]

Paddles will not give her any gratification... You gotta have a shifter that you can hang from around the turns. Get her an M5, and let the "Thank You"s begin...

You're not too far off. She has been lookin' at the V8 M3 and the Lexus V8 ISF.
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[crokett]

My rental a few weeks ago had the automatic/clutchless manual on the stick. I left it in automatic. Tried manual but it felt weird without the clutch.

[Tom Slick]

My Dad has a Acura with paddle shifters. His opinion is "what a gimmick, why in the heck does a luxury car need paddle shifters."

[chopnhack]

The m3's are gorgeous...however so many of them end up in the junk yard from crashes. I will speculate on the why's, from the 2 people that I know that have crashed collectively 4 between themselves, you:

1. Drive faster than you think because the car is powerful and smooth
2. The car doesnt handle well in the rain, too light and tends to hydroplane

other than that, I think i would give up my right small body part to own one..... starting at 58k though, I dont think I could ever justify one ;(

I can still drool:


and yes I realize that the coupe is no light weight at 3700 lbs, I am just quoting what has been told to me - I assume they meant too light at speed, with the body lifting?

[gerti]

Ask here to sit in a VW CC before deciding for that BMW... Fantastic car. Though the paddle shifters are boring, I leave it on automatic most of the time. And as opposed to BMWs you don't need a barrel of motor oil in the garage to keep it topped off...

[Bruce Cohen]

You're not too far off. She has been lookin' at the V8 M3 and the Lexus V8 ISF.
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Hey Cab,

Just how much are you getting from Social Security??

Bruce

[Rand]

I don't own one but the volkswagen/audi DSG transmission is really nice. You can run it in manual mode, auto mode and performance.
In manual mode the car stays in the gear you select.
In auto mode it's just like having an automatic.
In performance mode you floor it and it upshifts at the redline automatically.

Best of both worlds in my opinion.