Paddle Shifter

Have you ever wondered how many folks use the paddle shifters in their vehicles?

Some perspective...

Back in the day you were relegated to a manual transmission with a clutch pedal, hopefully it was a 4 speed or even better a 5 speed, or a 3 speed automatic with an hydraulic valve body. 

The good ole manual transmission with a clutch pedal remains a constant, and there is a timeless endearing aspect to a push rod V8, coupled to a manual with a mechanical clutch pedal.

Automatics have progressed from a 3 to a 4 speed to lock up torque converters, to electronic controls, and dramatically improved shift capabilities. 

Lets fast forward...

We are up to 7 speed manual transmissions with either a clutch pedal or a dual clutch set up and paddle shifts.

We are up to 8 speed automatic transmissions.

Needless to mention that technology is an intrinsic part of making these multispeed transmissions work in any street vehicle. Think about this, without technology these 7-8 speed transmissions would be totally unwieldy. Most folks have little desire to correctly shift gears in a vehicle.

We all know that multi speed transmissions, do wonders for acceleration.

Getting to paddle shifters...

In a race application running flat out, paddle shifters are a neccessity, and the faster the shift delay the better, since a fraction of a second here, one ther, after several laps it all ads up. As you know, in a race application transmissions undergo an appreciable wear and tear cycle. 

In a street application after a few moments of having fun with the paddles, rev matching the engine, the novelty quickly wears off since we are not running flat out on the street. In most instances an automatic transmissions does a better job than the driver to shift gears. 

Its the "I have a double clutch transmission that shifts gears in 0.005683 of a second as I'm approaching the apex of turning a street corner while navigating urban congestion".

What do you think...leave a comment.

Manual Transmissions

We all know that every automotive pundit prefers a manual transmission for the presumed control that it affords, and we constantly hear the lament of this model or that combination is not available with a manual. 

At the same time automatic transmissions have more gears than manuals. 

By now you know that we are not fans of manual transmissions unless its in very specific applications which always involve a clutch pedal, and at least a V8 and appreciable horsepower. 

We have been involved with cars for enough years to remember the early days of automatic transmissions, the cars with a 3 speed column shift manual transmission, Hurst floor shifts, 4 speed transmissions with a low gear to get a diminutive 4 cylinder to generate some torque to the rear.

Obvious enjoying a V8 with appreciable power, coupled to at leats a 4 speed manual with a stout shifter, and slamming gears every now and then. There is genuine joy and satisfaction shifting gears, hearing the synchronizers in the transmission, feeling the mechanical connections on every shift.

Because we go back a few years, not only do you shift gears, we have our own expectations of how a clutch should operate and feel. When clutches had mechanical linkages and were relatively easy to adjust, to quickly put power to the ground, the clutch was adjusted in a fashion that it would engage close to the floor (in principle the top part of the clutch pedal was free play). 

There are 2 advantages, once the clutch engages close to the floor it engages quicker, puts power to the ground (rear wheels) quicker. The other advantage there is little slippage of the clutch.

Obvious that a V8 with reasonable power is helpful with such a clutch adjustment.

Obvious too that its much easier to stall the engine. 

A few months ago, after always entertaining the "benefit of the doubt" that perhaps we were wrong, we had the epiphnay that many folks that prefer the "control" of a manual transmission, also prefer to use the clutch as a "torque converter". Perhaps its only us...that prefer clutches that engage immediately.

A few days ago we heard of abused/roasted clutches on cars with V8's and again thought of the "torque converter".

Our benefit of the doubt is hanging by a thread at this point.