Paddle shifts on Indian cars - will it work?

sbasak · 25th November 2005, 14:30

The automotive industry is gradually going to a saturation level

So, companies are trying to device newer concepts to push up their sales.

Paddle shift is really for Formula 1 cars as there are not enough space for placing normal gearbox and drivers must hold steering properly always (any slight deviation at high speed will hit the barrier).

In paddle shift (when placed in steering wheel), there is no mechanical link between the selector and actual gearbox. The signal is sent electronically to a motor near gearbox which actually shifts the gear to proper level. So, if that sensor fails, you're car is stuck stand still. It's really to see in India's predominant polluted environment how those sensors will perform

There is another concept called semi automatic, gear shift looks like

(-)
|
A -- D -- N
| |
(+) R

This is similar to paddle shift, but mounted on conventional stick. It also allows to put the car in fully automatic mode. Many cars in Europe now introced it - but people said that in Citroen cars, it performed very badly as on-board computer often gets confused exactly when to change gears in Automatic mode.

I believe that "enjoying the freedom of manual gearchange while still doing automatic" is basically a marketing hype. If somebody really wants to feel thrill of driving should drive a manual car instead.

And most importantly, all these novelties will push up the car price further. Our European/American brothers can afford those toys but majority of Indians still can't (unfortunately)

In India, man is more adjustable than machines

PS: The diagram looks a bit awkward. It was looking fine when I typed. Basically the + & - should be just below & above of D.

Deeps · 25th November 2005, 15:03

No, the paddle-shift will not work in India. Simply 'cos the manufacturers wont find it worth their while to introduce such high-tech gizmos only to find a handful of takers for them becuase of the high premium.

As for the bumper to bumper traffic, what Sbasak has mentioned with the sem-auto is the ideal solution for most people. I drove a diesel fiesta with one of those and worked fine as an auto and also did shift up and down at my own will in the semi-auto mode unlike what Amit is complaining abt with the Passat. But if i had to choose, i would take the paddle-shift. Like, Shan, i too could live with that.

sridhar24 · 25th November 2005, 16:02

I prefer the manual stick shift for every day use and especially for the Indian traffic conditions. I do like the paddle shift but its not practical here.

F50 · 25th November 2005, 16:33

Quote:

Paddle shifts were primarily invented for high performance cars

In India there are very few 'performance cars'
It makes no sense of having paddle shifts puny 150 bhp car (RS) or any other car .... I cant imagine a Santro having paddle shifts ... haha what does that car have.... a PS for 63 bhp car.

I stick to manual.

abhibh · 25th November 2005, 17:38

In my opinion Automatic shifts should be for Women, Senior citizens etc.
Stick shift for those who love to drive but carefully like our dads uncles etc...
Where as Paddle Shift should be for all guys at Team-BHP.. Specially for Drifter and Lambhorghini.

lol

Hows this!!!!

F50 · 25th November 2005, 19:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by abhibh

Lambhorghini.

lol

Lambo drives??? I thought he is underage.

racing4cure · 25th November 2005, 20:02

guys trust me its really awkward sittin so crouched up to u r steering wheel and shifting using a paddle....and that too in traffic it can get a lot tougher....i would a say a tiptronic would be ideally suited in that condition...morever paddle shifts really come to their use in sports mode driving scenarios...else its a hassle......cheers...!

amit · 25th November 2005, 22:18

The only inconviniance with paddle shifts is when you are turning or on a curve and have to change gears. Mind you, it's just a inconviance because with time you will get used to doing it but it still is weird to tap on that paddle when your steering is not in the straight ahead position.

Deeps · 25th November 2005, 22:38

In most of the newer cars with the paddle-shift dont the pedals turn with the steering wheel itself?

amit · 25th November 2005, 22:41

Quote:

dont the pedals turn with the steering wheel itself?

Yes Deeps, the Paddles turn with the Steering and it does get inconviniant to shift when your steering is turned and your paddles are somewhere down below.

Vish_Janu · 26th November 2005, 03:44

as pointed out before , i think manual works best in the indian conditions.
lets get practical guys

Aditya · 26th November 2005, 04:58

GTO rightly this pointed out. With a paddleshift gearbox both your hands will be holding the steering wheel. That's alright while racing. In the course of regular driving, it'll be nothing but tiring and inconvenient. Regular automatic transmission cars of today are no real slouches either. The more I think of it, the more I seem to prefer a regular manual or a regular automatic.

Guess? · 20th August 2006, 15:53

I know this is an old thread but just wanted to correct a few points.

Firstly, nowadays all paddle-shifts (including the ones in Ferrari and Lamborghini) are capable of autoshifting- i.e. acting as a regular Automatic transmission without any feedback required from the driver.

As to paddle shift in parking positions etc. the ones currently all have been programmed to work perfectly in such situations. Also, regarding getting the feel of a true manual, whilst that may never occur but they are a lot of fun when learnt to use correctly. The transmission DOESN'T upshift automatically in most recent cars and it allows you to downshift on your own but it also downshifts automatically if you don't do so since the computer would be best able to judge that.

IMHO, the Honda Civic has a very crappy version of paddle shift but hey, atleast they are starting getting new changes in.

agspins · 20th August 2006, 16:19

stick shift is the best... why waste pleasure of driving by using something like paddle shift....
the joy of driving lies in manual boxes n sticks why go in foe auto boxes

tadukuttan · 21st August 2006, 08:22

From a long time I was considering getting an auto (now paddle shift) as a SECOND car for city use. Driving inside Bangalore city is a serious pain with all the traffic bottled up, and if I don't have to constantly shift gears, that would be great.

But, when I am out of town, on an open road (not neccessarily straight), an auto box would kill the joy of the whole thing, right?

View Poll Results: Which transmission would you like?
Paddle Shift	69	44.23%
Stick Shift	56	35.90%
Automatic Shift	31	19.87%
Voters: 156. You may not vote on this poll

25th November 2005, 14:30	#16
sbasak BHPian Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: CCU-LTN Posts: 608 Thanked: 14 Times	The automotive industry is gradually going to a saturation level So, companies are trying to device newer concepts to push up their sales. Paddle shift is really for Formula 1 cars as there are not enough space for placing normal gearbox and drivers must hold steering properly always (any slight deviation at high speed will hit the barrier). In paddle shift (when placed in steering wheel), there is no mechanical link between the selector and actual gearbox. The signal is sent electronically to a motor near gearbox which actually shifts the gear to proper level. So, if that sensor fails, you're car is stuck stand still. It's really to see in India's predominant polluted environment how those sensors will perform There is another concept called semi automatic, gear shift looks like (-) \| A -- D -- N \| \| (+) R This is similar to paddle shift, but mounted on conventional stick. It also allows to put the car in fully automatic mode. Many cars in Europe now introced it - but people said that in Citroen cars, it performed very badly as on-board computer often gets confused exactly when to change gears in Automatic mode. I believe that "enjoying the freedom of manual gearchange while still doing automatic" is basically a marketing hype. If somebody really wants to feel thrill of driving should drive a manual car instead. And most importantly, all these novelties will push up the car price further. Our European/American brothers can afford those toys but majority of Indians still can't (unfortunately) In India, man is more adjustable than machines PS: The diagram looks a bit awkward. It was looking fine when I typed. Basically the + & - should be just below & above of D. Last edited by Shan2nu : 25th November 2005 at 16:47.
	() Thanks

25th November 2005, 15:03	#17
Deeps Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: Delhi/Noida Posts: 1,116 Thanked: 170 Times	No, the paddle-shift will not work in India. Simply 'cos the manufacturers wont find it worth their while to introduce such high-tech gizmos only to find a handful of takers for them becuase of the high premium. As for the bumper to bumper traffic, what Sbasak has mentioned with the sem-auto is the ideal solution for most people. I drove a diesel fiesta with one of those and worked fine as an auto and also did shift up and down at my own will in the semi-auto mode unlike what Amit is complaining abt with the Passat. But if i had to choose, i would take the paddle-shift. Like, Shan, i too could live with that.
	() Thanks

25th November 2005, 16:02	#18
sridhar24 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 1,046 Thanked: 88 Times	I prefer the manual stick shift for every day use and especially for the Indian traffic conditions. I do like the paddle shift but its not practical here.
	() Thanks

25th November 2005, 17:38	#20
abhibh Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Back in the HOOD near you! Posts: 2,768 Thanked: 39 Times	In my opinion Automatic shifts should be for Women, Senior citizens etc. Stick shift for those who love to drive but carefully like our dads uncles etc... Where as Paddle Shift should be for all guys at Team-BHP.. Specially for Drifter and Lambhorghini. lol Hows this!!!!
	() Thanks

25th November 2005, 20:02	#22
racing4cure BHPian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: DXB-COK-Manipal Posts: 186 Thanked: 9 Times	guys trust me its really awkward sittin so crouched up to u r steering wheel and shifting using a paddle....and that too in traffic it can get a lot tougher....i would a say a tiptronic would be ideally suited in that condition...morever paddle shifts really come to their use in sports mode driving scenarios...else its a hassle......cheers...!
	() Thanks

25th November 2005, 22:18	#23
amit Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 3,717 Thanked: 449 Times	The only inconviniance with paddle shifts is when you are turning or on a curve and have to change gears. Mind you, it's just a inconviance because with time you will get used to doing it but it still is weird to tap on that paddle when your steering is not in the straight ahead position.
	() Thanks

25th November 2005, 22:38	#24
Deeps Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: Delhi/Noida Posts: 1,116 Thanked: 170 Times	In most of the newer cars with the paddle-shift dont the pedals turn with the steering wheel itself?
	() Thanks

26th November 2005, 03:44	#26
Vish_Janu BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: New Delhi Posts: 250 Thanked: 376 Times	as pointed out before , i think manual works best in the indian conditions. lets get practical guys
	() Thanks

26th November 2005, 04:58	#27
Aditya Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 17,845 Thanked: 77,082 Times View My Garage	GTO rightly this pointed out. With a paddleshift gearbox both your hands will be holding the steering wheel. That's alright while racing. In the course of regular driving, it'll be nothing but tiring and inconvenient. Regular automatic transmission cars of today are no real slouches either. The more I think of it, the more I seem to prefer a regular manual or a regular automatic.
	() Thanks

20th August 2006, 15:53	#28
Guess? BHPian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Mumbai Posts: 146 Thanked: 2 Times	I know this is an old thread but just wanted to correct a few points. Firstly, nowadays all paddle-shifts (including the ones in Ferrari and Lamborghini) are capable of autoshifting- i.e. acting as a regular Automatic transmission without any feedback required from the driver. As to paddle shift in parking positions etc. the ones currently all have been programmed to work perfectly in such situations. Also, regarding getting the feel of a true manual, whilst that may never occur but they are a lot of fun when learnt to use correctly. The transmission DOESN'T upshift automatically in most recent cars and it allows you to downshift on your own but it also downshifts automatically if you don't do so since the computer would be best able to judge that. IMHO, the Honda Civic has a very crappy version of paddle shift but hey, atleast they are starting getting new changes in.
	() Thanks

20th August 2006, 16:19	#29
agspins Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: MH-31 Posts: 1,653 Thanked: 508 Times View My Garage	stick shift is the best... why waste pleasure of driving by using something like paddle shift.... the joy of driving lies in manual boxes n sticks why go in foe auto boxes
	() Thanks

21st August 2006, 08:22	#30
tadukuttan BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 241 Thanked: 24 Times	From a long time I was considering getting an auto (now paddle shift) as a SECOND car for city use. Driving inside Bangalore city is a serious pain with all the traffic bottled up, and if I don't have to constantly shift gears, that would be great. But, when I am out of town, on an open road (not neccessarily straight), an auto box would kill the joy of the whole thing, right?
	() Thanks