Paddle Shifters...Useful or Gimmick?

[TCroly]

I would like to hear from CRZ CVT owners about their use of the paddle shifter.

Do you use is regularly?

Do you find it useful in daily driving or only in performance/sports oriented driving?

Does it do what you want it to do?

What paddles??? I just leave it in drive.

I am a stick shift guy 100%, but I have driven many different automatic transmissions with manual controls. In general, I have never found thses attempts to create a manual out of an automatic to be any kind of a substitute for a real manual transmission, but I would love to hear other perspectives on this specific to the paddle shifters included in the CVT CRZ.

In my short test drive of a CVT CRZ I honestly got no satisfaction from the paddle shifters and found them somewhat confusing, but just how people adjust to them after a month or more of experience, might be different.

[mocmylov]

Going up a steep mountain I find myself putting it in sport and using the paddles because it feels disconcerting having the tach at 5500 for 1 mile with going up

[JnC]

I found the paddles to be somewhat of a gimmick, meaning that I doubt I would use them that frequently when I drive. And the novelty would likely wear off quickly. I find them difficult to use if I have to change gears in any situation that I need to steer. Granted it's bad form to shift in a corner, but there are times where you may find yourself in too tall of a gear.

That said, I thought they were quite fun to fire off 3-4 rapid downshifts while scrubbing speed to prepare for a corner in an F1 kind of way. Although, it's a pity we still have the KERS system.

If I saw more traffic jams in my commute, I definitely would have considered a CVT for the auto mode.

Some tests in Japan seemed to imply that the CVT was a little lower on the power curve. On the upside, from reported usage here, they seem to provide higher mpgs than the manual for non-hypermilers.

[moline]

i just came from a porsche '02 911 targa (996) with tip. fun car. (before that had a tuned '07 saturn sky redline. didn't have paddles.)

with the tiptronic, was like a toy.
the tip is a mercedes tranny. felted like it had a zillion ratios.
used it when i wanted to have some fun on the curves. but sharp turning was a problem since the tip paddles were on the steering wheel and were '+' or '-'
for each side.

i like the CRZ's paddles: makes sense. i've used them acouple of times.
in sport mode: it gives you 7 gearing settings. this allows you to stay in gear longer
for higher RPMs. haven't used them that much - but want to. (i've actually like to use the '-' to decelerate - like braking!!)

BTW, the roar of the engine at > 5k RPM sounds like we're pushing it? but rpm limited at 8200rpm?? god knows how that must sound!!

of course you don't have the 320hp of the porsche, but the handling is there. and in sport mode - pretty zippy!!!

later
dan

p.s. used to be a manual tran guys, but getting old and traffic in LA is soo bad!!!

[RiseAgainst197]

Aside from 10 years ago in a Celica, this is the only automatic I have owned. I am traditionally a manual guy because no matter what vehicle I own it has to be entertaining to drive. The Mrs. tho would not drive my old manual cars and we planned on buying an automatic this time so we could both enjoy the vehicle(drive anyway). I drove some full autos and came to the conclusion that I just could not do it and was boring. I was first looking at sport shift vehicles with the autostick + and - on the center console but then tried the paddle shift option and was hooked. Although the CVT transmission doesnt shift and/or vary rpm's much(could be because there are 7 ratios) like a traditional tranny the fake GEAR ratio's are still very fun.

Are the paddles a gimmick.... No they still shift your rpm's low or high for what you need and very enjoyable. I spend most of my time in sport using the paddles when not cruising freeway when Im in econ mode anyway. (The Mrs enjoys being able to shift the car too) I do as well like the F1 like deacceleration-like engine braking while downshifting up to a turn.

Only way to know what you like tho is to drive both back to back driving the same route.

[hoisumguo]

Not sure if it's because I'm in normal and econ mode most of the time, but I've noticed that paddles have a bit of a 'screw u' attitude and within about three seconds either shift to whatever it thinks it should be at or refuses paddle input (ie. no I don't like your selection so I do not acknowledge your request). Does it only get full function in sport mode or did I forget to twiddle some control setting?

[LeeMoon]

Originally Posted by hoisumguo

Not sure if it's because I'm in normal and econ mode most of the time, but I've noticed that paddles have a bit of a 'screw u' attitude and within about three seconds either shift to whatever it thinks it should be at or refuses paddle input (ie. no I don't like your selection so I do not acknowledge your request). Does it only get full function in sport mode or did I forget to twiddle some control setting?

I believe in Normal and Econ modes the paddle shifters will revert back to full auto after a period of time.

Here's the section of the owner's manual dealing with the paddle shifters...

Use the paddle shifters to change between first and seventh speeds without removing your hands from the steering wheel. The transmission switches to the 7-speed manual shift mode when you pull a paddle shifter while driving. This mode is useful when engine braking is needed.

You can cancel this mode by pressing any of the three driving mode buttons, or pulling the paddle shifter for a few seconds.

■ When the Driving Mode is in ECON or NORMAL
The shift mode goes into the 7-speed manual shift mode temporarily, and the number is displayed in the shift indicator. The 7-speed manual shift mode is canceled automatically if you drive at constant speed or accelerate, and the number in the shift indicator goes off. The 7-speed manual shift mode is especially useful when reducing the vehicle speed temporarily before making a turn.

■ When the Driving Mode is in SPORT
The shift mode goes into the 7-speed manual shift mode. The [M] indicator and the speed number are displayed in the shift indicator. As the vehicle speed slows down, the transmission automatically shifts down accordingly. When the vehicle comes to a stop, it automatically shifts down into first.

If the vehicle speed increases and the engine speed reaches near the tachometer’s red zone, the transmission automatically shifts up.

You also have a low gear mode and here's the owner's manual info on that...

Use this mode to get more power when climbing hills. To switch to the L mode, pull and hold both paddle shifters (- and +) at the same time with the shift lever in D.
To cancel this mode, pull and hold both paddle shifters again, or press any of the three driving mode buttons. The [L] indicator goes off.

I hope this is helpful!
Lee

[hoisumguo]

How dare you trick me in to reading the manual as an answer to my question. Now I have to tear up my "I don't RTFM" membership! JK, thanx for the info, I knew it was something like that.

-Hoi

[LeeMoon]

Glad it helped!

[White CR-Z]

I test drove the CR-Z with A/T and used the shift paddles and IMO I didn't like the feeling of "fake gears". I will definitely go for the 6sp M/T. Honda's A/T's are great because my wife has a fit w paddle shifters and I love it. I'm just not a fan of CVTs