come out and admit you hate paddle shifters, whomever you are stand and be heard

I've never driven and F1, but honestly have no desire to drive one, as I'm sure I will still prefer a clutch and stick. Since I'm not a professional race driver, I don't care if an F1 is a bit faster on the track. I'd prefer the manual for more direct control on the street, I'm sure. I'm also not technically familiar with the F1 boxes, but from an efficiency (mpg) standpoint, I'm sure F1-type boxes will allow less driver control and more computer control to help improve mpg. As more contemporary Ferrari and other exotics depreciate closer to my budget, I won't say I'll never own a car with an F1 box. But my preference is and always will be a Manual.

 

Well I agree, but I don't think we can blame/credit the F1 paddle shift systems on Congress or NHTSA. I think you're way overstating your position here.

Ferrari didn't come up with its F1 gearbox just to sell cars to Schumacher.

F^ck haters, all of them!!

I'd say the six speed should do very well on the resale market, being rare.

If you plan to keep it long term, technology ages very poorly. Look at the digital dash in a 1980s Audi, Corvette or Subaru -- they're now a joke. How about the self-leveling suspension in a Ferrari 400i? Trash. Even the F1 system in the 355 has now been outclassed by Ferrari's new version, and the Audi DSG concept. 10 years from now, these early F1 cars are going be as sought after as the 456GTA -- yestertech that is expensive to keep running.

I was chatting with a 575M owner here in San Diego, who has a stick in his car -- in fact I didn't know it was a 575M till I looked at the tail of the car. Ultimately, the 575M paddle shift system will be obsolete, and the manual-equipped cars will be sought after out of nostalgia and practicality.

 

Bring back the hand crank starter!

 

F1 599 onwards is simply fantastic. Superfast 2 on 430 Scuderia will leave you speechless. That being said the cars that I keep for a long time are all stick

 

I seriously doubt that they will do away with manuals all together...there will always be a demand for them, especially in ferraris.

 

Yeah, then why the warning sticker?

There's a cool factor in cars that have steering wheel shift controls wired to the usual old clunky automatic with torque converter. With the DSG/F1 systems, there is legitimate technological change in the drivetrain itself. I wouldn't call it a gimmick, per se.
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this is exactly right! it is a lost art that is lost on the video game youth! too bad actually.

when you are working wheel, pedals and stick it is akin to conducting an orchestra. what is better than that...

...very little!

 

How much would that take away from track lap times, or enhance the driving experience?

 

Somewhat right (about aging tech in general) but I don't completely agree. I happen to love th F1 in my 355, and it's "primative" nature is one reason. I have none of that traction contol or stability crap. When it shifts 1-2 or 2-3 at full throttle, the rear tires break loose, every time. I never drove my 6-speed 355 like this. I still have to heel-toe, and if I miss the rev match, I know (but it is easier). It was the first production car to use the F1-style system, and it is a great one at that. Those who say it is jerky or clunky either have never driven one, or don't know how. That's right: you must know how to use it, you cannot just get in and drive it like an auto box, because it is not.

I also have several other stick shift cars, so in some ways the F1 makes a drive in the Ferrari that much more special.

As for the more modern cars - despite generally preferring a true manual - I have driven the 360 manual and the F1, and I thought the manual was horrid. The 355 is great as a stick, but the 360 was obviously designed around the F1 gearbox. The car simply works better with it. The driving dynamics of the CS and Scud are not dimished because of the F1 box, just the opposite - it is part of their soul.

 

I still prefer a stick, personally, for a number of reasons. (I agree with the posters that say this is just something Ferraris "should" have. )

I like the driving experience better with the stick, even though I'm not a racedriver.

I just hope that Ferrari will continue to offer a choice to its consumer car buyers.

Now, electric windows, that's something else altogether. Electric windows eventually bind, the switches wear out, the motors give out while the car is still very new, and are troublesome to work on and replace - all unnecessarily. I have never heard of hand-crank windows "going out," or malfunctioning in any way.

I say, keep the paddle shift and the 4-5-or 6-speed stick shift (I'll take the shift) and do away with the power windows! I can run my own d@mn windows up and down just fine w/o assistance, thank you, and anyone who can't has no business behind the wheel of a Ferrari!

 

Soon most modern cars will be either automatic or automatic with paddles (and I don't care if the car still has a clutch, some automatics use clutches too ... and when you move the paddle the CAR changes the gear automatically for you ... so they are a form of an automatic) and thus Ferraris with paddles will be not so interesting.

Thus Ferraris with a gear lever (please stick shifts are for muscle cars ...) will become more interesting to 'old' car nutters.
Pete

 

Paddle shifters are for sissies!

 

stick shift = guitar
paddle shift = guitar hero

 

I haven't driven either, but I just tend to prefer manual because I think part of the fun of driving a car is shifting.

 

Ahh yes, the Smart car paddle shifters...

I own an '06 model (part of the first generation which only made it to Canada). At first, I was impressed with the fact that such a system was available on such an inexpensive car. I suppose you get what you pay for, because after two years of ownership, I'm still not 100% used to it. I haven't driven the new, '08 models, so I can't say personally how much of an improvement it is over mine - and it is supposed to be quicker, as many people - including myself - have complained about the long time it takes to make a shift. I would have prefered it if they offered the car with a proper manual transmission. The slow shift times coupled with turbo lag and I find in alot of situations the car just does nothing and then finally gets it's act together and scoots along... Quite frustrating. I do prepare myself and plan ahead; I look way down the lane, watch the speeds of cars ahead of me, leave a bigger gap, up/downshift at the right moment, close up the gap, etc... It works, but not every situation is like that, so sometimes that rhythm gets messed up by some bonehead's move, which messes up my momentum...

Don't get me wrong, this is my only gripe with the car (albeit, a major one). I love it's small size and the best feature is the fuel economy... I have a very, very short commute to work every day and I was able to stretch out 20L (that's roughly 5 gallons ) of diesel over four weeks (or about 400km of driving) this past July

 

OK, you got me. I've tried, and tried to love paddle shifters. But I just don't.

 

+1 That's what my wife say's.