Manual paddle shifters .

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jigalow

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who ever uses these paddle shifters located on the steering wheel, i for one will never use them in my 2024 forester and i never once used in my 2017 ford escape se that i traded in for my 24 forester, as far as I'm concerned there a useless feature for the normal deriver as 80 % of my driving is in the city just wondering what everyone else thinks of the paddle shifters .
 
I find that I use the manual paddle shifters on long decents in the mountain areas so that I minimize the use of my brakes. I also use them on really twisty roads in the mountains when I am also facing climbs and decents. Aside from helping ease the stress on the brakes, it keeps the transmission from shifting in and out of gears quite so much. As to city driving, I don't recall ever using it in the cities. So, in answer to your question, it depends on the terrain and type of driving.
 
I see it as a gimmick mostly. It's there for sales and marketing purposes. I'd much rater see them put the money to better use say add a memory stick option to use the existing cameras as dash cams.
 
bmart said:
Brakes are cheap. Transmissions are not. Just something to ponder.
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I don't disagree with you in a general sense. However, I do a lot of mountain driving and have found that driving mountain roads that twist and turn AND involve either going up a steep climb or decending a steep slope, if I don't use the manual option, the transmission is continually shifting gears and I'm using my brakes a lot. In this kind of a stituation, I find the manual beneficial. That said, it's use is short in duration i.e. for that portion of the road that demands it. It's also beneficial, I find, to use compression on a long, steep decent when riding the brakes becomes a concern. Bottom line, while I don't disagree with your concern in a general sense, I am glad that I have the manual when I need it. I just pick and choose when it's really needed.
 
We're definitely not disagreeing. :) One wants the vehicle to be in the "proper" gear for the situation. Automatics have a terrible time with that, in general.

I think that we have no lingering concerns. LOL

Carry on!
 
There is no purpose to a paddle shifters in normal driving, especially in flat, empty Texas. If there is legitimate purpose for them during bad weather or off-roading use, then why not leave them off vehicles except as part of the wilderness package? I don’t want to deal with the added complexity of something I will never use.
That stupid electric parking brake is another head-scratcher, too. Pray my battery never goes out at a bad time.
 
jigalow said:
who ever uses these paddle shifters located on the steering wheel, i for one will never use them in my 2024 forester and i never once used in my 2017 ford escape se that i traded in for my 24 forester, as far as I'm concerned there a useless feature for the normal deriver as 80 % of my driving is in the city just wondering what everyone else thinks of the paddle shifters .
Click to expand...
Good for YOU !
Those who need them .... USE Them !
 
I live on a mountain top and find the paddle shifters very useful when descending - my brakes wouldn't last long without downshifting. As to transmission wear, I don't think the CVT cares where the "belt" rides on the variable pulleys.
 
When my MPG's went down the Toilet , I tried every Driving-Technique known to BOTH Man , ... and GOD !
After several years, I (mysteriously !!!) started playing with the Paddle-Shifters, and SUDDENLY my HB25i went from its 25-26-MPG problem , to 30-31-MPG on the Open Road .... ! Not sure exactly why , but after that the "D" Mode also was delivering 30-MPG in the Upper Gears, so I suspect the TCC-Solenoid had been stuck for quite a while ... !!!! ; and somehow the Paddle_Shifters, combined with "M" Mode had apparently done a KITA ... !
Just recounting an actual event, obviously involving the "M"-Mode Paddle-Shifters .... !
I am back to using the "D"-Mode, but if I ever again suspect Poor-MPG's ... my first move will be .... Drive In Manual Mode for a short time ..... !!!
 
Here in Montana, I used them a lot when we had our Crosstrek (my elderly mom and dad bought it from us as they needed a good reliable vehicle for getting around in in-climate weather). Handy when descending down a long pass or crawling down a mountain trail. I really liked the feature. My '24 Forester does not have them, and I miss them.
 
They are great for descent control, particularly in the snow and off highway. I use them a fair amount along with sport# mode.
 
On long drives I move my hands to different positions on the wheel and found the paddles to be in the way at times. So... I removed them from my 2022 Legacy.
 
Ok , "Fingers" , maybe just taking a Pair Of Aviation-Snips to those "large" sails might have allowed you to keep a small lever available , .... just in case you ever needed them .... !!
 

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