Paddle heaven

smy0003 · Postby **smy0003** » Tue Aug 12, 2014 6:05 pm

Has anyone asked for pictures?
I would like some pictures.
Of the pair of them, please

speed · Postby **speed** » Tue Aug 12, 2014 7:11 pm

Wow! I wish I had a ute or 4wd from time to time. So handy!
Can't say I've ever dríven a mgb, yet am familiar with British cars due to participating in vintage sports car club of Australia events. Closest thing I've dríven would be a tr4a and they are very different cars but still frustratingly British built. Glad you love your replacement with paddles

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Fluges · Postby **Fluges** » Tue Aug 12, 2014 9:21 pm

I'm doing this on an Android phone, posting photos is way beyond my capabilities right now. Leave it with me...

smy0003 · Postby **smy0003** » Tue Aug 12, 2014 10:27 pm

Are you using tapatalk?
Very easy to do pictures through tapatalk.

Fluges · Postby **Fluges** » Tue Aug 12, 2014 11:35 pm

Never heard of it. I'll look into it when I've got time, thanks.

speed · Postby **speed** » Wed Aug 13, 2014 9:33 am

Tapatalk is an app you get on your phone. It makes using the forum easier on the phone including browsing and uploading pics

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MattR · Postby **MattR** » Wed Aug 13, 2014 1:23 pm

Whilst I drive an auto daily, the XR6 ute, and the 6 speed ZF box is awesome in the twisties, I just leave it in performance mode and don't bother with the shifting, I do prefer the manual shift in the NA for when I want to "drive" a car.

In terms of changing gears, it is a skill that takes practice and is very rewarding when you get it right. There are also other advantages as well, such as downchanges, I can go from 5th to 2nd in one change with a good blip of the throttle as I double shuffle down the box.

In terms of better performance for driving on the track, in my opinion, a manual will be better until you get to very highend cars that have auto or semi manual or DSG type boxes designed to replace a traditional manual gearbox. As electronics get better the gap is getting smaller between manual and auto for performance, but a proper manual if dríven well will always be better than a standard type auto as fitted to the 5's.

With the new car, I was considering a sequential shift conversion on the gearbox, but I feel that there are still some advantages the traditional H pattern has over sequential, especially for the difference in dollars. The main one being I can skip gears if necessaryand another is simplicity for repairs and or maintenance.

speed · Postby **speed** » Wed Aug 13, 2014 4:31 pm

Just wanted to point out that autos being quicker than manuals is not a new thing.

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Fluges · Postby **Fluges** » Wed Aug 13, 2014 8:53 pm

Yeah, my diesel Territory has the ZF 6 speed box and I only use manual when descending a steep hill such as Clyde mountain. Right now, I have a manual NA and an auto NC. Changing gears in the NA doesn't require much skill, not like it's a crash box where you have to double-declutch on every change, up or down. I've been alternating the cars and the auto is winning at the moment.

Fluges · Postby **Fluges** » Wed Aug 13, 2014 8:58 pm

I'm ambivalent on this - the auto is still a novelty, the manual I've had for 24 years.

Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Thu Aug 14, 2014 8:49 pm

The manual has built up a reputation as the only thing to have in a sports car. However there are many who complain about poor changes and slow synchros for units often thrashed by unfeeling drivers. Early MX5s were not very appealing with auto. Manuals in bigger cars has been in vogue for decades - Australia loves autos. My bet is that with 86s and new mx5s the auto will make more inroads esp for women drivers not so focused on the macho gear change thing.

I get where fluges is coming from and it would be interesting to get more feedback from him after living with it for a while. For driving in commuter traffic the auto will be great but that's only part of the experience.

Nevyn72 · Postby **Nevyn72** » Fri Aug 15, 2014 9:50 am

The paddle shift on the latest generation autos (not CVT, *shudders*) are getting so good they begin to rival manuals for speed of gear change.
Is it any wonder they're getting more popular, especially as you get the added bonus of a slush box for traffic......

Odd · Postby **Odd** » Fri Aug 15, 2014 10:03 am

With the Mazda auto you have 3 options

.Fully auto
.Use gearstick as sequential gearbox
.Use paddles on steering wheel

Whilst set and forget is an option
You can drive the car with both hands on steering wheel....but change gears manually with paddles
like formula one cars

I must say I've only tried it a couple of times on the 6
but I don't drive it hard....

Different story with my MX5

My NA8 is manual....never thought about an auto, as I assume they are old style autos
In an NC or ND (similar to Mazda6) it would be a consideration

greenMachine · Postby **greenMachine** » Fri Aug 15, 2014 10:10 am

I have never owned an autobox until I bought a ute with one recently.

Always having lived outside the big cities, it has never had that much attraction for me.

Now, as an old fart, I would look at one for a replacement for my Liberty. But for an MX? I would need convincing, but maybe a test drive would do it ...*

:mrgreen:

* No Dave, that is not a hint :lol:

Charlie Brown · Postby **Charlie Brown** » Fri Aug 15, 2014 11:27 am

One thing to note about the NC auto is that it doesn’t have a LSD. Spinning of the inside rear wheels is electronically controlled by the application of the brake to that wheel.

A few years ago one of our NSW members found this out the hard way after we went to Phillip Island for a track day. He wore the rear pads out!!!

I’m with greenMachine, we’re both old farts who have been on the track for years and the thought of driving an auto on the track doesn’t sit well. If you have an NC, EcuTeK tuning has a flat foot change upgrade with RaceROM that would make changes up through the gears as quick as an auto.