Paddle Shifters: Best rpm to shift at?
06-26-2011, 10:03 PM
#1
Goodbye.
Thread Starter
Paddle Shifters: Best rpm to shift at?
So I am loving the paddle shifters on my new car and just wondering if anyone knows the optimum rpm to shift at?
Dealer told me 4000 rpm.
Thanks
Dealer told me 4000 rpm.
Thanks
06-26-2011, 10:52 PM
#2
i would suggest leaving the VSA on unless you are a trained professional and have experience handling FWD vehicles past the limits of adhesion
as for using the paddle shifters, heres the best advice i can give, shift up when you are close to redline, shift down whenever you feel like it.
Thats all there is too it.
Because of the electronic nannies on the car, you cant shift down if you arent in the right range anyways, so just downshift to your hearts content.
Interestingly enough, the nannies do let you hit fuel cutoff on acceleration, which is interesting because some cars with tiptronic systems dont let you even get that far. Truthfully the best way to do upshifts IMO is to leave the car in neutral-S mode, which is S w/o paddle shifters. The car holds the gears pretty much till redline and then takes care of the rest. It can get annoying though to have it hold you at a constant 4K RPM at 75mph in 4th gear, so thats when youd wanna shift up to 5th for some silence if you are no longer overtaking.
Paddle shifts i think are most useful in regular D mode when you feel a spontaneous overtake coming on below 80 mph. Above that, nothing in this car is spontaneous
!
as for using the paddle shifters, heres the best advice i can give, shift up when you are close to redline, shift down whenever you feel like it.
Thats all there is too it.
Because of the electronic nannies on the car, you cant shift down if you arent in the right range anyways, so just downshift to your hearts content.
Interestingly enough, the nannies do let you hit fuel cutoff on acceleration, which is interesting because some cars with tiptronic systems dont let you even get that far. Truthfully the best way to do upshifts IMO is to leave the car in neutral-S mode, which is S w/o paddle shifters. The car holds the gears pretty much till redline and then takes care of the rest. It can get annoying though to have it hold you at a constant 4K RPM at 75mph in 4th gear, so thats when youd wanna shift up to 5th for some silence if you are no longer overtaking.
Paddle shifts i think are most useful in regular D mode when you feel a spontaneous overtake coming on below 80 mph. Above that, nothing in this car is spontaneous
!
06-26-2011, 11:31 PM
#3
Goodbye.
Thread Starter
the Paddle Shifters don't work properly in D mode though. It goes back to 'auto' mode almost immediately after you shift.
I also found out that the car tends to downshift you automatically if you are slowing down to a certain speed.
I also found out that the car tends to downshift you automatically if you are slowing down to a certain speed.
06-26-2011, 11:38 PM
#4
Thats the point though, D and S are seperate modes because S gives you more leeway, the quick tap is only for sudden bursts of acceleration, and yeah downshifting will happen if you are slowing down in case you ever want to accelerate again!
06-27-2011, 12:04 AM
#5
Shift when the turbo is on full boost and 7k rpm are on point never fails..lol
06-27-2011, 06:39 AM
#6
shift after you spend 5 minutes in vtak
jk.
when do you shift? whenever you want to. the computer will prevent you from shifting up if the engine and vehicle speed isn't high enough, and it should also prevent you from overreving if you downshift too fast. here's the idea, shift early if you want to conserve fuel, shift late if you need power. if your desire to conserve fuel outweighs your desire for power, then shift up. if you want more power and don't care about gas mileage, downshift and go.
rocket science this is not.
jk.
when do you shift? whenever you want to. the computer will prevent you from shifting up if the engine and vehicle speed isn't high enough, and it should also prevent you from overreving if you downshift too fast. here's the idea, shift early if you want to conserve fuel, shift late if you need power. if your desire to conserve fuel outweighs your desire for power, then shift up. if you want more power and don't care about gas mileage, downshift and go.
rocket science this is not.
Last edited by its rayden; 06-27-2011 at 06:43 AM.
06-27-2011, 07:26 AM
#7
Racer
From the manual...because I'm a dork and have it in PDF.
Using the Paddle Shifters in D
position (D-Paddle Shift Mode)Using the Paddle Shifters in D
When you are driving in D position,
you can shift the transmission up or
down manually with the paddle
shifters.
Each time you pull the (right)
paddle, the transmission shifts to a
higher gear. Pull the (left) paddle
to downshift. You will see the
selected gear number on the
instrument panel.
When you pull either paddle shifter,
the gear position indicator shows you
the selected gear number.
To shift up or down, use the
(right) or (left) paddle shifter on
each side of the steering wheel.
Downshifting with the paddle shifter
allows you to increase the engine
braking when going down steep or
long hills, and provides more power
when climbing uphills. You can
upshift the transmission manually to
reduce the rpm. Driving in the
higher gear helps fuel economy.you can shift the transmission up or
down manually with the paddle
shifters.
Each time you pull the (right)
paddle, the transmission shifts to a
higher gear. Pull the (left) paddle
to downshift. You will see the
selected gear number on the
instrument panel.
When you pull either paddle shifter,
the gear position indicator shows you
the selected gear number.
To shift up or down, use the
(right) or (left) paddle shifter on
each side of the steering wheel.
Downshifting with the paddle shifter
allows you to increase the engine
braking when going down steep or
long hills, and provides more power
when climbing uphills. You can
upshift the transmission manually to
reduce the rpm. Driving in the
The transmission control system
monitors the accelerator pedal use
and your driving conditions. When
you press the accelerator pedal as in
normal driving, the system judges
that you are driving at a constant
cruising speed without using the
paddle shifters. Under these
conditions, D-paddle shift mode is
canceled, and the transmission
automatically returns to drive mode
(D).
The transmission remains in the
selected gear if you do not accelerate.
When the transmission returns to
drive mode (D), the displayed gear
number goes out.
Each time you pull either paddle
shifter, the transmission shifts one
gear up or down. If you want to shift
up or down more than two gears, pull
the paddle shifter twice, pause, and
then pull it again.
The automatic transmission will not
allow you to shift up or down if:
You downshift before the engine
speed falls below the upper limit of
the lower gear.
If you try to do this, the gear
position indicator will flash the
number of the lower gear several
times, then return to a higher gear.
You upshift before the engine
speed rises above the lower limit
of the higher gear.
You press both paddle shifters at
the same time.
The transmission downshifts to first
gear and returns to drive mode (D)
when the vehicle comes to a
complete stop or the vehicle speed is
about 6 mph (10 km/h).
If there is a problem in the
transmission while you are driving
with the paddle shifters, the D
indicator flashes, the D-paddle shift
mode is canceled, and the
transmission returns to drive mode
(D).monitors the accelerator pedal use
and your driving conditions. When
you press the accelerator pedal as in
normal driving, the system judges
that you are driving at a constant
cruising speed without using the
paddle shifters. Under these
conditions, D-paddle shift mode is
canceled, and the transmission
automatically returns to drive mode
(D).
The transmission remains in the
selected gear if you do not accelerate.
When the transmission returns to
drive mode (D), the displayed gear
number goes out.
Each time you pull either paddle
shifter, the transmission shifts one
gear up or down. If you want to shift
up or down more than two gears, pull
the paddle shifter twice, pause, and
then pull it again.
The automatic transmission will not
allow you to shift up or down if:
You downshift before the engine
speed falls below the upper limit of
the lower gear.
If you try to do this, the gear
position indicator will flash the
number of the lower gear several
times, then return to a higher gear.
You upshift before the engine
speed rises above the lower limit
of the higher gear.
You press both paddle shifters at
the same time.
The transmission downshifts to first
gear and returns to drive mode (D)
when the vehicle comes to a
complete stop or the vehicle speed is
about 6 mph (10 km/h).
If there is a problem in the
transmission while you are driving
with the paddle shifters, the D
indicator flashes, the D-paddle shift
mode is canceled, and the
transmission returns to drive mode
Using the Paddle Shifters in S
position (Sequential Shift Mode)With the shift lever in S position, you
can manually shift up or down with
the paddle shifters. The
transmission goes into the sequential
shift mode and holds the selected
gear.
To enter the sequential shift mode,
press the release button on the front
of the shift lever, move the lever to
the S position, then pull either paddle
shifter. To return to drive mode (D),
move the shift lever to the D position.
While you are driving in the
sequential shift mode, the
transmission will not automatically
return to drive mode (D).can manually shift up or down with
the paddle shifters. The
transmission goes into the sequential
shift mode and holds the selected
gear.
To enter the sequential shift mode,
press the release button on the front
of the shift lever, move the lever to
the S position, then pull either paddle
shifter. To return to drive mode (D),
move the shift lever to the D position.
While you are driving in the
sequential shift mode, the
transmission will not automatically
When you move the shift lever from
‘‘D’’ to ‘‘S’’ position and pull either
paddle shifter, the gear position
indicator displays ‘‘M’’ along with the
selected gear number.
To upshift, pull the (right) paddle
shifter. To downshift, pull the
(left) paddle shifter.‘‘D’’ to ‘‘S’’ position and pull either
paddle shifter, the gear position
indicator displays ‘‘M’’ along with the
selected gear number.
To upshift, pull the (right) paddle
shifter. To downshift, pull the
When you accelerate from a stop,
the transmission starts in first gear,
and you must manually upshift
between first and fifth gears. Make
sure you upshift before the engine
speed reaches the tachometer’s red
zone.
The transmission remains in the
selected gear (5, 4, 3, 2, or 1). There
is no automatic downshift when you
push the accelerator pedal to the
floor.
When you are driving in 4th or 5th
gear, the transmission downshifts to
the lower gear under the following
conditions:
The vehicle slows down to a
certain speed.
You press the brake pedal.the transmission starts in first gear,
and you must manually upshift
between first and fifth gears. Make
sure you upshift before the engine
speed reaches the tachometer’s red
zone.
The transmission remains in the
selected gear (5, 4, 3, 2, or 1). There
is no automatic downshift when you
push the accelerator pedal to the
floor.
When you are driving in 4th or 5th
gear, the transmission downshifts to
the lower gear under the following
conditions:
The vehicle slows down to a
certain speed.
Downshifting with the paddle shifter
allows you to increase the engine
braking when going down steep or
long hills, and provides more power
when climbing uphills. You can
upshift the transmission manually to
reduce the rpm. Driving in the
higher gear helps fuel economy.
The transmission also shifts
automatically as the vehicle comes to
a complete stop. It downshifts to first
gear when the vehicle speed reaches
6 mph (10 km/h) or less.allows you to increase the engine
braking when going down steep or
long hills, and provides more power
when climbing uphills. You can
upshift the transmission manually to
reduce the rpm. Driving in the
higher gear helps fuel economy.
The transmission also shifts
automatically as the vehicle comes to
a complete stop. It downshifts to first
gear when the vehicle speed reaches
The automatic transmission will not
allow you to shift up or down if:
You downshift before the engine
speed falls below the upper limit of
the lower gear.
If you try to do this, the gear
position indicator will flash the
number of the lower gear several
times, then return to a higher gear.allow you to shift up or down if:
You downshift before the engine
speed falls below the upper limit of
the lower gear.
If you try to do this, the gear
position indicator will flash the
number of the lower gear several
If the vehicle speed decreases
below the redline of the selected
lower gear while the indicator is
flashing, the transmission
downshifts, and the indicator
displays the selected gear.below the redline of the selected
lower gear while the indicator is
flashing, the transmission
downshifts, and the indicator
You upshift before the engine
speed rises above the lower limit
of the higher gear.
You press both paddle shifters at
the same time.speed rises above the lower limit
of the higher gear.
You press both paddle shifters at
Here are the speed ranges for
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06-27-2011, 02:21 PM
#8
lol perfect answer right there
06-27-2011, 02:32 PM
#9
Racer
06-27-2011, 06:01 PM
#10
or you could just shift like a real man and use a clutch 
The following users liked this post:
MCDavis (06-27-2011)
07-03-2011, 09:41 AM
#11
Goodbye.
Thread Starter
Down shifting using the paddle shifters makes the car feel like a manual whenever you go down the gears, but the car also automatically downshifts in case you forget to do so.
I'm torn between letting the car down shift itself because it is so smooth and you don't feel the 'jerk', but then again, it is fun to 'manually' downshift lol
I'm torn between letting the car down shift itself because it is so smooth and you don't feel the 'jerk', but then again, it is fun to 'manually' downshift lol
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