I've driven a number of cars w/ paddle shifters, but I never understood their practical function. Yesterday, I tried to slow car as I was getting to a red light, and I used left side paddle and the slowing down was not practical at all, I had to step on brakes to slow down before getting to the red light. Is it just a a novel thing with no sensible need? I'd like to hear other opinions.

 

It depends on the car and your background. In normal, non-performance cars it's mostly a gimmick. The torque converter automatics typically make for a terrible manual mode. Shifts are slow and delayed. But this changes in performance cars with dual clutch transmissions, or the AMGs with mufti-clutch transmissions. Those have computer controlled clutches instead of a torque converter, and give you much of the sensation of a manual transmission. Shifting with the paddles in those cars is satisfying, sharp and quick. I drive my AMG mostly in manual mode as I've driven manual transmissions for over 20 years, but whenever I drive a normal car with an automatic transmission, I don't bother with the paddles. They are frankly terrible in those cars.

As an example, here's me driving the AMG GT Black Series and shifting manually with the paddles. The purpose is that you get to control the gears. Stay in the gear as long as you want and downshift in anticipation of the next corner. AMGs also have what's known as a true manual mode. They never automatically upshift in manual mode, instead like a car with a manual transmission, you bounce of the rev limiter if you miss a shift.

 

Very helpful explanation indeed! So, for non-AMGs, it's a useless add on. When I go up in the Bay Area, we'll have to go for a spin with you to test the power

 

paddles help you control trany gear selections according to your purpose.

Uphill sometimes call for downshift to increase response.

Downhill sometimes call for upshift to decrease Revs.

If tranny is consistently always in the wrong high gear its a poor selection caused by engine throttle issue.

 

I use the paddle shifters, but as others stated they aren’t (and can’t be) very responsive.

Here’s what I’ve found … As we know, the “adaptive shifting” can cause the tranny to be very sluggish when left in full automatic. I used to reset the tranny every few months. Now, I use the paddle shifters on my drive into work. I’ll rev each gear to about 3K RPM and then shift. This seems to get the tranny “crisper” when I leave it in full auto (no paddle shifting).
(Of course, it could just be my imagination, but the tranny seems to shift better.)

 

I use them in the E and AMG for passing Never thought to engine brake (break).

 

To add to the above, there are various scenarios where the paddle shifters can be useful, provided they are responsive as I said. In cars like AMGs, they have also a few tricks up their sleeves. For example you can double-click the downshift paddle to drop two gears at ones. Can also triple-click, but it starts to get awkward beyond a two gear downshift. I use this frequently for passing. I'll be cruising along in 9th gear, and then quickly drop straight to 7th and overtake. Another trick is if you need maximum acceleration, you can press and hold the downshift paddle, and then it drops to the lowest possible gear for maximum acceleration at the current rpm. This is similar to a kickdown, but proactive instead of reactive. You can drop the gears before stomping on the throttle, instead of stomping on the throttle and then have the transmission first needing to scramble to drop a few cogs.

A comment I once read is that the paddles can be a way to override bad transmission programming. Like if you find the transmission is often in the wrong gear, the paddles allow you to override that. Generally the MCT in my AMG does an excellent job of being in the right gear, but it can't read my mind and can only react to my throttle and brake inputs. I personally disklike when the transmission gets reactive as described above. I step on the throttle and then it first has to downshift, so I use the paddles to proactively downshift into the right gear, before I get on the throttle. Often automatic transmissions also overshoot the target. If you wanna pass somebody and step on the throttle, it may drop way too many gears for what is really needed, so that's where my example from above comes in. It's often plenty for me to drop just 2 gears in order to pass a slower car. I don't need kickdown to drop 5 gears and the engine howling just to accelerate 10-20 mph and pass a car on the highway.

 

Oh......My.......God.........I cant wait.....sh it. How did I not know this? Freaking wow. Cant wait....

 

I use the paddle shifters in my daily driving , it does help reduce the braking pad usage but using it too aggressively could cause other problems in long run as well. I first leave my foot off the gas pedal to let the car coast a bit then use the " -" pedal to shift down . It's not like you come close to the red lights and then use it , if you do it , you will have to use your brakes anyway . However , nothing can replace the brakes even engine braking to me . Please don't take any risks always use the brakes to stop the car

 

I always heard that Chicks dig guys with paddle shifters....

 

For me, I like to use the paddle shifters because I find it more enjoyable and I can let the engine rev higher to hear the engine sound. This is in my CLE 53 AMG - 323 miles.

 

That really is the only good with these paddle shifters. It really helps on a 2-lane road to make a quick pass.

But be careful as when you stomp on it the red line comes quick. I have an E550 and I very seldom use the shifters as I cannot hear the engine. I don’t want to overrev the engine with them.

Then the other thing is they really are not a manual mode. It just sets the highest gear the tranny will go to but it works just like the automatic when it is below that gear you set.

This is the same way in both my E550 and S550, but I do like the feature of getting on the proper gear for passing before stepping on the gas. I just immediately change back to auto mode after car takes off so I don’t overrev the engine.

 

Paddle shifters are very useful driving curvy mountain roads. You can keep both hands on the steering wheel while controlling your speed with downshifting. I use them frequently.