Paddle Shifters Question - Page 2

merc1234 · 2011-12-06 20:24:54

I'll also add that in my 63 just a slight adjustment of gas foot will drop it into 5th gear, sometimes 4th by itself.......so (in my mind) the added 'burden' of the paddles isn't really needed....and yeah, I do mean while on the highway.....it's one of the best things about it IMO....thing is fast! I hear you but on my 63, I want to be in control. I tell the car what to do! The tranny will tell me down one gear with the gas pedal when i want to go two!! :naughty:

12-07-2011, 05:44 PM

#28

K-A

Out Of Control!!

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Porsche Macan S SportDesign / Ex M-B's: 11 & 10 & 06 E350's, 02 S500

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenzE350

I always thought the paddle shifters were a bit "boy-racer" on the E350, and much more of a novelty than a useful feature. However, I leaned one driving situation where they are helpful when you "only" have a 268HP V6.

I sometimes find myself on a 2-lane rural road (think Vermont or Maine) where the car in front of me is going much too slow and I want to pass. Unfortunately with oncoming traffic and blind curves, the passing opportunities are limited. In this situation I hold the left paddle shifter until it drops the transmission into the optimum gear and the sweet spot in the powerband. As soon as the situation allows for safe passing, I can overtake the slow-poke ahead of me.

If you don't downshift with the paddles (and simply stomp on the accelerator) it takes additional time to downshift and get into the proper gear for passing.

Hope this helps.

Also, ironically, as boy-racer-y paddle shifters can appear in a Luxury Car at first thought, the placement of paddles in the E-Class makes more sense than most every other non-performance car out there today.... due to the fact that the E's stalk shifter is right up there at the wheel as well. In fact, pretty much everything you need is right up there at the wheel area, allowing your hands to not have to leave said area between shifting into gear and hitting the paddles.

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