About the only positive thing I have to say about the paddles on our long-term 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander is that they kind of look like Batman's ears (spiky movie Batman rather than TV). That's it. I'm not really much of a fan of paddles on automatics in general, but they just seem like a marketing trick in this application. They're great for coaxing all the juice from an engine that's a bit sluggish at the low end, but I don't find that the case with the Mitsu...
For example: I tried 'em out yesterday during a long left-hand turn. But since they don't move with the wheel, by the time the wheel was straight enough to shift up to 2nd, the revs were so high it felt as if the engine was going to explode. The floor-mounted D+/- would have been more than adequate for this situation.
Other editors speak highly of the usefulness of manual-shift mode for engine braking, which I can't really speak to. I guess I feel that if you really want to do all these things, just get a manual and downshift. On those rare occasions when you need some extra passing power, the floor-mounted shifter is ample.
Doug Lloyd, Senior Copy Editor, @ 20,671 miles
carguy622 says:
02:05 PM, 02/ 5/08
My two experiences with a manual shifting automatic were a 2006 Hyundai Sonata V6 and Acura TSX. I found the ability to downshift for some additional engine braking nice. However, I also found that the transmissions in these two cars did not let the car "take off" as it is coasting down a hill like some older automatics did. Overall, I found that just leaving it in drive 99% of the time was the best thing to do.
I love driving a manual transmission. My personal car is a 6-speed TSX. However, they can be hard to find on the car you want. Not having to commute to work in traffic I enjoy it, but I can also see how painful it would be to drive in a lot of traffic with a manual.
huyracing says:
03:50 PM, 02/ 5/08
the real purpose of having paddle shifters is the ability to downshift and utilize engine braking.
teekay13 says:
05:18 PM, 02/ 5/08
I love stick-shifts, sequential manuals (w/ or w/o paddle shifters), or a good automatic (bimmer's, Benz's), but I hate tiptronics or paddles in autos. I don't see the point.
I have yet to come accross a good tiptronic, with or without paddles. They don't shift as fast as I want. They're just gimmicky. 99% of the time, I just leave them in auto mode.
A sequential manual (single or double clutch) is a different story. The shifts are fast and instanteneous. The gear will hold all the way to the redline and bounce off the rev limiter unless you shift it yourself. And it also rev-match on downshifts.
I also don't understand why people use the engine to brake (other than going down a long downhill.) Brakes are used for that purpose, not the transmission.
orangutan says:
12:45 AM, 02/ 6/08
Engine braking provides an additional degree of flexibility in driving, as well as measure of safety and stability in bad conditions such as snow and ice.
jriz says:
10:15 AM, 02/ 6/08
I'll have to disagree with my esteemed colleague here. I use the Outlander's paddles all the time and I prefer the column-mounted placement.
bennetpullen says:
11:37 AM, 02/ 6/08
Actually, engine breaking can be worse than regular breaks for stability depending on your cars layout. In my M Coupe (RWD, limited slip diff) trying to use engine breaking while in bad conditions such as snow and ice is just like yanking on the handbrake. It's loads of fun but not exactly safe or stable.
Personally I don't see the reason for all of the engine breaking. What's wrong with the breaks? Break pads are cheaper to replace than clutches or other tranny components as well. I’m not saying I put in my clutch while breaking to take the engine out of it, but I don’t see the need to downshift.
misterfusion says:
12:35 PM, 02/ 6/08
I have always used engine braking in all of my automatics. It's definitely useful in hard stops; but I primarily use it when going down hills (I hate that "runaway" feeling), and to maintain spacing in medium traffic. Lighting-up your brakelights just causes more traffic behind you.
dodo2 says:
09:42 AM, 02/ 8/08
I too find the paddles superfluous. The manual shift via the floor console shifter is enough and it is a great feature for the engine braking and occasional fun. I would’ve made the paddles a dealer installed option for those who would want them and I would’ve used the savings toward other essential things.
One notable thing about the manual shift mode in the Outlander, which I think hasn’t been mentioned so far, is that it holds the gear all the way up to the redline. This differentiates the Outlander from other vehicles with manual mode shifts that override the driver's input way below the red line defeating the purpose.
stingray454 says:
01:57 PM, 02/ 8/08
Paddles on a traditional automatic with a torque converter is pure marketing gimmick. And its beginning to get very played out. SUVs should not have paddle shifters. Crossovers should not have paddle shifters. Pretty soon minivans will have paddles so soccer moms can feel "formula 1 inspired". It's really idiotic.
Paddles are OK on a DSG or triptronic though - something that actually shifts fast and when you want it to, with rev matching downshifts.