How do I use paddle shifters in an auto properly?
Posted by Peepeezar@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 19 comments
Hey all, before I get into this I just want you all to excuse me if I make a few mistakes as I’m still quite new to cars and getting to know my way around them.
I have a (very slow but fun) 4-cylinder auto car. It also has paddle shifters which I’ve been playing around with recently. I generally get the gist of shifting by watching the RPMs when my car is in auto and trying to replicate that when I use the shifters (although my car upshifts quite early so I try push it a bit more with my shifters). I just had a few questions in relation to this:
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I understand that because it’s an auto, if I shift when I shouldn’t, the system will override me so I don’t damage the transmission. I just wanted to know how much that holds true. I was playing around with it the other day and I think I downshifted too early. The car let me do it but I heard insane whining for a second when I did. Surely if I shift incorrectly every single time, it will implicate badly on my transmission, right?
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On that note, when am I meant to downshift? Not sure if this question really belongs here but I’m struggling to wrap my head around it. Is it just when the RPMs drop? Upshifting is pretty intuitive, but I don’t particularly get downshifting.
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Does it matter what mode my car is in? I don’t have a manual mode, just a drive and sports mode. I have just been shifting when in drive and I can see on my dash display the gear number (eg D1, D2, etc) instead of ‘D’. If i stop using the shifters for a small period of time, it automatically goes back to auto.
TIA for answering, and any other tips or tricks that are useful to know are welcome. If it helps to know, the car is a Honda Jazz
your__-mom@reddit
I found that using paddle shifters in Sport mode is way more satisfying than in regular Drive. In Drive, the car is always trying to save fuel, so it takes back control way too fast. In Sport mode, it actually lets you play around with the engine's range, which makes even a 4-cylinder Honda feel a bit more like a sports car.
Peepeezar@reddit (OP)
In the 150 days since i made the OG post, I’ve been getting the hang of using my shifters and I’ve found this too! When I want more control I use sport as it allows me to actually take it to the higher RPMs unlike drive
One-Concept4465@reddit
Downshifting is definitely the trickiest part to learn. Think of it this way: use your paddle shifters to drop a gear when you see a hill coming or need to pass a truck. You don't always have to wait for the RPMs to drop; sometimes you shift down specifically to make the RPMs go up so you have more pulling power.
tomatoboy19@reddit
That insane whining you heard was likely just rev-matching. When you use paddle shifters to drop a gear while going fast, the engine has to spin much faster to keep up with the wheels. It sounds scary at first, but it’s actually a standard part of how performance driving works. Just try to be a bit smoother with the timing!
EngineeringTotal945@reddit
If you want to master the timing, watch your tachometer (the RPM gauge). When paddle shifters are involved, you generally want to upshift around 3,000 RPM for smooth driving, or higher if you're merging onto a highway. For downshifting, try doing it when you're braking for a turn, it helps the car feel more planted and ready to accelerate out.
Mcworl@reddit
The Jazz is a surprisingly fun car to manual shift because it's so light. Even though it's an auto, those paddle shifters give you a sense of control that makes commuting less boring. Just remember that the car will always downshift for you if you come to a complete stop, so you don't need to worry about stalling!
havnar-@reddit
It really depends on the gearbox and car to be honest. I never toch it in my 5series because it doesn’t need it. While it really brings my F-type to life.
The gist of it is to do exactly what you would do in a manual. Pick the gear you need at the time. Do you want to speed up? Shift into a lower gear to the beginning of the powerband and accelerate.
Do you want to coast about, pick a high gear but don’t lug the engine.
Peepeezar@reddit (OP)
Never driven a manual before and have no one to teach me so excuse the questions but - i always thought if I’m accelerating i should upshift, and downshift when i want to slow down?
What you’re saying makes sense in the context of when I first hit the accelerator; it would be easier to accelerate in the beginning at a low gear and then slowly increase it.
For a cruise though, why should i be in a high gear?
havnar-@reddit
Lower RPM is less fuel consumption, noise, vibrations. Just a nicer ride.
What car are we talking about here btw.
You can look up the powerband of the car if you don’t have the “feel” for it yet.
Peepeezar@reddit (OP)
Ahhh, so high gear because when ur cruising itd sit at a lower rpm?
2015 honda jazz
rocknrollstalin@reddit
I’ve found they don’t do a whole lot for power/efficiency in the smaller 4 cylinder non-turbo cars but they kind of level-out the responsiveness of the accelerator pedal.
I use mine a lot when accelerating through turns to keep even weight distribution and have a better idea of exactly what will happen when I let off the pedal instead of leaving things up to the CVT gods
Peepeezar@reddit (OP)
Yeah I’m honestly not expecting much change in the power, just trying to have a bit of fun and kind of get a feel of what it would be like to drive a manual.
Total-Armadillo-6555@reddit
Sometimes when downshifting you'll want to give it a little bit of gas, just a little blip until the shift happens.
Tony-cums@reddit
How to use them properly, in my head, is to not use them at all. It’s an auto.
LumpyInspection7371@reddit
The shift with paddles should be still be smooth. If things are clunking around and stuttering to find the gear you might be too aggressive and aren’t doing the transmissions wear point any favors.
Nstraclassic@reddit
More rpms = More power and faster acceleration but uses more fuel. Most automatics and conservative drivers will upshift at around 3k rpms. Aggressive drivers will shift anywhere from 4500 to 6k. Downshifting is similar. If youre driving for fun you probably want to keep your rpms higher for more power so youd shift before your rpms drop too low so maybe around 3k. Conservative driving would basically be staying in higher gear as long as possible so like 1500 or 2k rpms. In a manual you have to keep the engine above 1500 rpms to avoid stalling and below the red line so you dont blow it up but your car wont let you overrev or stall the engine if its an auto with paddles so if youre hearing bad noises its probably an existing issue that stressing the engine makes more noticeable.
MichiganRich@reddit
To oversimplify- In general, combustion engines make more power at higher RPMs, but use more fuel to do it. Manufacturers program their automatics to shift at points that blend decent performance and fuel savings. When you’re in the mood for more spirited driving, use the paddle shifters to get the engine up into its higher RPMs for more power. Engines lose steam at the very top of their RPM range, so don’t feel like you need to keep it at the top, just use it in ‘bands’ from the middle to the top, and then shift.
perpetual__ghost@reddit
In general, not a lot of worry about breaking anything — modern cars have protections in place. Driving the car at a “high” rpm is not dangerous for the car under almost any reasonable circumstances. Most auto cars will have shift points with fuel economy in mind, so you have a lot of room to play with if you want to have a little more fun on your drive. You don’t necessarily want to be bouncing off the rev limiter with every shift, but you for sure don’t have to keep the car at 2-3k rpm either. It’s okay to it wake up a little :)
The way you’re doing it now is actually a really great way to practice and get familiar with the process and how your car “works”, so good start. Best way to really experience paddles (or a real manual for that matter) and how manuals work is a quiet road with curves and some hills. When you slow down for a curve, downshift to the point where you’re hanging somewhere around 4,000 rpm, then accelerate out of the turn. The more you practice this, the more comfortable it will become and you’ll get to know your car better in the process.
“Sport” mode can mean different things in different cars. In my car it changes the throttle mapping, adjusts shift points, stiffens chassis, and optionally turns off traction control. Yours probably adjusts throttle mapping and might slightly increase shift points. Try it out and see whether you notice a difference — in some cars it makes a night and day difference and in others it doesn’t.
Garrentheflyingsword@reddit
You shouldn't be trying to replicate what the car is doing in auto mode, you should be trying to use the paddle shifters to get more out of the engine. Using the paddle shifters for regular driving is sort of a waste of time. Find the time to go for a drive on a twisty rode and try to keep the car in the power band while you're doing it (i.e. ~6k). The car should protect you from damaging it, it's okay to get close to the limited especially on a k engine. You downshift going into the corners so that you can power out of the corners. It takes trial and error to get a feel for it. The drive modes just change the throttle mapping, if you're going to be driving more spiritedly best to put it in sport but it doesn't make a big difference.