Hello everyone, I've been lurking on this forum for at least a year, but this is my first post because A) I don't own a Ferrari and B) I've never had anything useful to add to the discussion. But after seeing the new Lexus IS250 today, I was reminded of when I drove an acquaintance's 360CS last year on a canyon road. Needless to say, the car was amazing, but the only thing I didn't like was the fact that the F1 paddles were column-mounted as opposed to wheel-mounted. It seemed to me that this negated the advantage of a paddle shift as I still had to reposition my hand to reach either paddle when the steering wheel was turned, which made it essentially the same as removing a hand from the wheel to use a conventional gearshift. Does anyone know the official explanation for Ferrari's decision to mount the paddles on the steering column? The aforementioned Lexus, BMW's SMG sytem, and even Ferrari's own Formula 1 team (which inevented the original concept in 1989) all use wheel-mounted paddles.
I understand it is so you always know where the paddles are. If they rotate with the wheel you could inadvertently select the wrong paddle. Further, the 355-360 F1 system is a real manual transmission and the other manufacturers cars are automatics, I believe.
In terms of driving, you should never be shifting in the middle of a turn for any reason. For this reason it really does not matter if the paddles are on the wheel or on the column. Allow me to qualify the statment by saying that on occasion one shifts say exiting a turn but that is with very litte steering input where the paddles are fully within reach.
That's my understanding as well-- also, when turning the wheel, you're hands shouldn't leave the 9 and 3 (or 10 and 2, however you hold it) position, just rotate the wheel by shuffling it between hands..
The Admiral is right. The BMW's SMG system has a clutch similarly to the Ferrari's F1 system. You're probably getting it mistaken for Audi, BMW, and Mercedes steptronic, tiptronic, autotronic, etc systems- which are automatics that allow you to choose your gear (to an extent). No clutch on the those.
You guys are too funny. Not everyone drives like a race car driver. If your just driving normally your not going to lose the rear. BTW - I thought the SMG was different, just not familiar with it...... That's why I said, "I believe"....
Hi. I've driven the M3 SMG and I actually find wheel mounted paddle shift to be a bit unnatural. I always want to position myself for an upshift when I am about to go out from a turn, however, wheel mounted makes it more difficult. For me, evrey time going in a turn I will always have my left hand on 9 and makes it more difficult to prepare for the next shift with wheel mounted. J
