You forget another practical use for the 'free' hand... Mammary support!

*ahem* so yeah, I have been thinking about the paddles for a long time too. I noticed that I have abandoned the use of the buttons, preferring to use the shifter. (I wish they made the up-shifting pull-back instead of push-forward). Even after 6 months it still doesn't feel 'natural' to me. I have owned paddle shifter cars before and loved it.

I agree with people who say that you shouldn't be shifting mid-corner. I have never found myself wanting to down shift during a corner unless I had forgotten to do so beforehand.

I liked the feel of the shifter paddles on the C63 AMG. Nice chunky aluminium alloy... Now if only I can find a way to hide the purchase from the missus... (I've been bad with the cheque account lately so I've been put on notice)

 

Pull down to turn the wheel...NEVER push up to turn the wheel.

 

Thats is weird, at racing school with single seaters they thaught us to always push a steering wheel, never pull!

 

Interesting (and opinionated) thread. I've driven both, and I chose to buy my 997 with paddles. For me they simply work better.

I wonder how many of you lads with buttons have actually driven a paddles car ...

 

+3 I like the stock shift. Lotta times I shift with the stick cause it remindes me of using a clutch. Then when I'm two handing it I seem to like the way Porsche had it.

 

Amusing read. I have driven paddles (non Porsche) and buttons (Porsche) and much prefer the buttons. I have never mistakenly shifted the buttons on my 09C4S. Like others I like the redundancy and not having to know where my wheel is. To each their own I guess.

 

I don't have buttons or paddles as I drive a 6-speed, but to an observer these comments read more like a disagreement over steering technique. From the shape of the steering wheel, I imagine Porsche expects us to keep a fixed grip at 9-3, use the thumb rests on the face of the wheel, and to steer one handed past 135 degrees or so. They must also have decided that down shifts are more time critical than up shifts, because they put that control under your index fingers.

Personally, I'd like column mounted paddles in my next car.

 

Hallo

Is it only Plug-and play?
No modifications at all and it does not requires dealer activation after the installation?

BR

//Joacim

 

this goes against everything I have learned at PSDS, bertil roos and about 15 PCA and PDA DE's....

 

That was in the pre-PDK age... besides track driving and twisty mountain driving are different.

My mountain driving yesterday reconfirmed (as if I needed that - NOT) that the std redundant buttons are essential for tight cornering. The paddles are not as flexible.

 

Are you saying with the PDK you won't unsettle the car by shifting at the apex?

 

Precisely. Don't you guys know that?

 

I didn't..i have never driven a PDK on the track; but even if I had I don't think I would do it.

So the dual trans lets you pick up bad speed driving habits...great way to increase driving skills.

 

on the steering column? On my lambo they are fixed. No matter where the wheels is up is always on the right, down is on the left so there is no issue. I have not driven the paddles yet but I did have upshifting problems at an autox and if I was to get seriously into it I would change for sure. I wish Porsche would give people with the 09 car a break if they wanted to change to the paddles, because if it were cheaper i would do change very quickly

 

I did not say track. On the track you break hard for corners and shift as you break. On public roads, with varying traffic, is a different question and the need to downshift at the apex is a practical reality which is perfectly fulfilled by PDK.