After a weekend of driving miscellaneous vehicles, I've decided I hate paddles almost as much as a full auto trans.
Having spent the better part of the day driving around in a 2007 Acura RDX, I can say it would be a load more fun with a stick. Highway driving was ok, and joining traffic from an on-ramp was fun, but within stop-and-go traffic, in big city streets it was a pain. Good thing for the full auto option.... Finding the shit paddle, the wiper control or the signal light switch at the same time, near impossible while negotiating turns and stop lights.....
I'm sure the "Tiptronic" style shifters would be even worse, had there not been a full auto mode. Great for the race track, but most likely seldom used on the cars it comes equipped on. All the concentration, control, fun of slamming the clutch down, picking the next gear, rev-matching, all gone.. Though some of my issues have been addressed by the engineers over at Nissan with the introduction of the new GT-R, which will rev match, though it does it for you. Where's the fun in that??
Worst example from the weekend, the new 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan. Not only is the shifter in the most unusual spot (though similar to a column mount, but it slides up and down on the dash), but I felt that I was reaching around the steering in order to select the lower gears. It was also a little too conservative with the rev limits it allowed for down shifting, reducing the usefulness of engine braking.
Give me that third pedal and a H pattern box. It'll keep me feeling involved in the drive. Full auto's make me drowsy....
