[AlexY]

Hey anyone out there have any videos of them driving with the paddle shift? I'd love to see them in action!artyon:

 

[Polykarb]

Hey anyone out there have any videos of them driving with the paddle shift? I'd love to see them in action!artyon:

They work just like any auto gear box with a manual mode. Instead of pressing the(a) shift lever up or down, you press the paddles in and out.

 

[Dan85Vette]

Would make for a killer camera shot to see the driver paddle-shifting w/tach in view and then another shot of the scenery head on.

:thumbsup:

 

[WISKY (LS7)]

paddles

I know what they are but how well do they work?

compared to a ferrari or lambo how do they compare?

Does someone have personal experience with them, are they slow unresponsive etc?

I'm actually thinking about getting them for my next vette if they work wellartyon:

 

[RoyDavenport]

I don't have any vids to share wish I did, but do have one experience I will share. When WIT911 and I went up to watch Patrick run the leg of Cannonball One Lap of America at Joliet Autobahn Country Club of Joliet, we had a opportunity to run on their North Course prior to Patrick and the other entries arriving. WIT had his 2003 Anniversary Yellow car and I had my 2007 Machine Silver A6 machine.

There was a passenger in WIT's car and none in mine so he was at a slight disadvantage over me (I do weigh about 250 so it wasn't that far apart), besides the difference in HP. The paddle shifter worked like a charm..... at one point I was running 98 MPH heading into turn one and coming up on WIT quickly and saw on the HUD that I was about to hit 100 and wanted to get there before the yellow car in front tapped his brakes (turn 1 was about a 45 then very shortly thereafter turn 2 was about 30 MPH) so one had to drop from 3rd down to 2 on the paddles in order to nail it into turns 3&4.

There was absolutely no hesitation with the tranny, especially when running about 3-4,500 RMP. I could only glance at the Tac a couple times as I was downshifting and the tires were squeeling as we did the course..... it was a rush with the paddles, I have experience with a 6 sp manual and could not have shifter near as fast using a clutch as hitting the paddles.

artyon:

 

[ingram4868]

Roy, that information is very helpful. When using the paddles if you forget and have the selector in 3rd, will the car attempt to launch in 3rd from a stop or will it downshift for you?

 

[nd4spd2]

Roy, that information is very helpful. When using the paddles if you forget and have the selector in 3rd, will the car attempt to launch in 3rd from a stop or will it downshift for you?

It will shift itself down to second gear so you can still take off ok without frying the tranny clutches. :thumbsup:

 

[RoyDavenport]

One additional comment I would like to add in response to some feedback about the paddles.... Some people question the Vette paddles both being a "push" vs one for up and the other for downshifts. Once you take the car out on the twists and turns and start taking right hand 90 degree turns at 40-50 MPH, you have the steering wheel upside down, with the Vette paddles there is no question what to do to drop down to 2nd gear in a .6G turn, just pull it in and eliminate any thought process. I have done this numerous times as I live out in the country and love playing with the paddles on the country roads.

The only issue I have noticed with the HUD screen, paddles and running on the road couse is with polarized glasses. Before I started the above run I switched to Rayban unpolarized glasses as we were driving into the sun at times.

:thumbsup:

 

[Evilways]

Here's an "external" vid of my run in paddle mode vs a SC'd 03 Z...Paddle mode really smokes the tires in 1-2,2-3....if I had better tires, he'd have been behind me...lol.

 

[Wolverine]

I know what they are but how well do they work?

compared to a ferrari or lambo how do they compare?

Does someone have personal experience with them, are they slow unresponsive etc?

I'm actually thinking about getting them for my next vette if they work wellartyon:

the 2008 paddles are 30% faster on up shifts and 50-70% faster on down shifts than the 2007's.

 

[nd4spd2]

the 2008 paddles are 30% faster on up shifts and 50-70% faster on down shifts than the 2007's.

When I drove the 08 at the Bash, I could definitely see the speed increase on the downshifts but to be honest, you hardly notice the 30% increase on the upshift. :surprised

 

[biturbo]

I know what they are but how well do they work?

compared to a ferrari or lambo how do they compare?

Does someone have personal experience with them, are they slow unresponsive etc?

I'm actually thinking about getting them for my next vette if they work wellartyon:

Sorry, there is no comparison...

Ferrari and Lamborghini have a dry clutch, like a manual transmission that is controlled via the computer with the paddles. Ultra fast shifts: 100 ms as per http://www.599gtbfiorano.com/fwe/events/F599/index.jsp

The Corvette A6 takes way longer, 0.5 seconds to sometimes 2 seconds (???) as per this forum member:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=1198735&forum_id=74

There is no power sapping torque converter on those cars, but then the price of their transmission and clutch may be... close enough to an entire C6... :spanked:

I will always get a manual transmission in my Corvette, regardless of how smart the new autos will be.
:cheers:

 

[Stephen P.]

I know what they are but how well do they work?

compared to a ferrari or lambo how do they compare?

I took the opportunity to take a World Class Driving day. This company provides six cars that you drive throughout the day on the street. You and the others that payed-the-man take turns.
Lamborghini Galardo with Paddle Shift. Quick gear changes, automatically adjusts engine speed to the right RPMs for up or down shifting. Most thrilling is the sound of the Formula 1 Engine just behind your seat.
Ferrari F430 with Paddle Shift. Just the same. You get what you pay for. Very nice prompt gear changes, engine RPMs auto adjust to match the up or down shift. Again, the engine sound is just like the Formula One cars you hear while watching a Sunday F-1 Race on television.
Maserati Bi-Turbo with Paddle Shift. A different configuration; shifts quite nicely, smoothly, correcting engine RPM to avoid any surge when shifting. This is a tamer sounding engine, just nice to drive.
Corvette C6 with 6-speed automatic and Paddle Shift. In full auto, it shifts as though it were a Continuously Variable Transmission. Hardly felt, no significant exhaust note other than the great Corvette growl. Selected to Sport mode, it shifts entirely automatically until you make your first manual gear change. Up shifts are then only with a manual selection. When slowing down, it still auto down-shifts. Or, you can down-shift manually by pulling the Paddle forward from behind the wheel. Unfortunately, if you wish to avoid a surge of the engine, you must use your foot on the gas peddle to slightly increase engine RPM to correctly match to the gear change. With practice this works pretty well. Auto/Manual shifting is very effective and usable, once you get coordinated.
I like it, but I like my wife's CTS V 6-Speed Manual more. We both like driving our cars.

 

[WISKY (LS7)]

stephen thanks

Great review man. I'm happy for the vette to have flappy paddles but I wish they would rival the dam ferrari's. Still When I get my next vette it will have paddlesartyon:

 

[Stephen P.]

Roy, that information is very helpful. When using the paddles if you forget and have the selector in 3rd, will the car attempt to launch in 3rd from a stop or will it downshift for you?

When slowing the Vette in the Sport Mode, it automatically downshifts, but only down to 2nd gear. It you want a first gear launch, you must pull the paddle to achieve the lower firt gear. For casual street driving, taking off in second gear is smooth and fast, but not a competition start.