I use the paddle shifters almost exclusively on my TL-S. (Yeah yeah, I should have looked for a 6MT, but my wife needs to be able to drive this car.)

Coming from a long-time MT driver, I have to say, the paddle shifters work very well. The shift response is better than most manumatics I've driven, they hold the gears well, and the downshift rev-matching is quite nice.

 

I have yet to try the SS. I'm gonna try it today. LOL

 

No joke haha.

Just got the car a month ago, also.

 

yall dont thin using the ss will end up messing up the transmisson in the long run? thats the only reason i barely ever use it

 

It won't mess it up, afterall, the only thing that's changing is that you're telling it when to shift instead of the computer. The only thing to keep in mind is harsh downshifts (going from 5th to 2nd at 6,500rpm) put a little more wear on the clutches and you only get a certain number of shifts until it's worn out. If you're shifting it more times in a day than the computer normally does it will wear quicker. If you shift it less, it will wear out slower.

 

if it wears out how much would you estimate the repairs to be around? what would most likely end up needing to be replaced?

 

Most of the time I'm in D. I will use sport shift when I need to lower my speed quickly. When I get an urge to shift my own gears, I drive my '03 Civic.

 

Some jerk off in an E550 was zipping around traffic while I was in the middle lane. Well as he was flying up traffic was slowing down especially on the right lanes and he was passing on the right.

I moved over one lane to the left and proceeded to pass he swerved to avoid the cars stopping on the right and then cut right in front of me. A carpool lane was opening up on the far left and LoL I actually thought of this thread and threw it in SS mode.

Put the car in third got a jump on him and passed him up. He was behind me the whole time, but I moved over because while I may drive above the speed limit I try my hardest not to be reckless.

It was fun and all, but I realize why I leave it in D. Controlling the shifts is cool, it just will never replace the feeling of a clutch and choosing your gears.

 

I drive my Miata when I want a manual tranny. The TL's 5AT is nicely executed. Admittedly there are days when I wish I had the 6MT, but as others have stated, I'd prefer to see that in a coupe. Likely my next car will be a G37 Coupe with a manual tranny.

 

This is a standard transmission rebuild. Worn clutch packs are the number one reason for getting a trans rebuild. This is what's doing the slipping in it's final days. Like all machinery, they have a set life. The TL has a finite number of shifts in it and after that it's time for a rebuild. My main point earlier was you're probably not going to shorten the life of the trans shifting manually as long as you're smart about it.

Everytime you take off from a light, get up to 55mph, and stop for the next one, that's 8 shifts. Just don't go up, down, up, down over and over. You will prematurely burn it up. Each shift produces heat. A couple times in a row is fine but it needs time for the fluid to dissipate the heat out of the clutch packs.

 

not to sound stupid but how do you use that thing?

 

+1

I switch over and downshift if I need to pass someone right quick.
To me,
it's a luxury sedan, so it should be auto.