Paddle Shifters vs Shift Lever
 

Hey guys, for those that own the automatic do you guys mainly use the paddle shifters or the shift lever, or half and half, or just leave it in auto/drive?

I tend to use the paddle shifters more than the shift lever. The paddle shifters have a nice solid feel and click when you shift with them.

The lever just doesn't feel right...it looks exactly like a real automatic shift lever..probably that is why people did the shift boot mode for it. What I mean is on the FR-S it had a shift boot and the knob looked exactly like the manual so I used that to mainly shift in manual mode. The paddle shifters were tiny on the FR-S though so I bought it paddle shifter extensions.

The paddle shifters just feel uncomfortable to me, so I always use the stick lever. I shortened the shaft by about 3/4" and have a GTR shift knob. Looks and feels better than the stock auto knob.

Paddles if im spirited driving, Knob if im daily driving

I drove a friend's AT Z on track at the Nissan Performance Academy a number of years back. Having never used them at speed before, the paddle shifters had me all befuddled, plus I found it odd that they don't turn with the steering wheel. I accidentally hit the wiper stalk once during a shift and the wiper blade bent up against the GoPro mounted suction cupped to the windshield :ugh:

After that experience, I just stick to manual transmissions (pun intended ;)) :driving:

Daily drive = shifter on the dragon or canyon = paddles

Daily drive = auto mode or paddles
Real driving = paddles only

Nothing better than both hands on the wheel, when slamming the brakes and requiring 2nd gear for the next hairpin. IMHO that's the main advantage of paddles compared to any manual.

I actually almost forgot, that you can also use the lever to shift.
For my brain and logic, the up/down should be inverted though anyway. (Like any real sequential gear box...)

Paddles for me. I don't use the lever. I use manual mode most of the time. I can't stand Nissan's opinion on when to shift and the cars lust for getting to 7th gear ASAP. I mean, really, do I need to be in 7th gear by the time I'm doing 40mph? My main problem with the automatic is the auto mode is terrible.

For anyone that uses the lever for shifting. This looks like a pretty simple mod that makes sense. When I have used the level, it always seemed backwards to me. Reverse Lever Mod.

Same. I never had paddles before so was reluctant to use them. The lever was completely counter-intuitive.

I have since used the paddles and much prefer them. But I do leave it in auto mode the vast majority of the time.

I just shift with my short throw dipstick. Taffyapples...

Auto mode while in Florida... Paddles in NC mountains.

Both?

Leave it in auto mode and downshift with the paddle shifter.

Love the sound of the FI exhaust downshifting lol

I feel more natural using the shift levels. I probably use stick 75% of the time.

I even did the wiring mod so it shifts like BMW. Feels much more intuitive.

Extended paddles here, downshift always with paddle, upshift with paddle only when both hands are on the wheel; otherwise my right hand falls on the G37 sport shift lever (which feels much like an OE shift ball) and upshift with that.

I also like downshifting with the paddle in auto mode and letting the ECu take back over when not particularly driving "sporty."

Auto mode as my daily routine around town. Paddles when I hit the twistys

paddles when I'm setting up a series of corners I like having both hands on the wheel in the event I need to counter-steer unexpectedly, plus, this car tramlines on certain types of pavement especially under heavy braking.