Stix vs Paddles......

That was absolutely a selling point in my purchase of an F1 car - it was much easier convincing the wife with her knowing that she could drive it without having to worry about a clutch pedal. But still that was a secondary consideration - primary was that I wanted the experience closer to a Grand Prix car.

 

Why are you assuming that individuals with XX chromosomes are unable to use a clutch?

 

I think I understand your question. Unless someone had experience driving an exotic with a full manual gearbox, I would be reluctant to let him/her practice on my car. (The original owner apparently did, because the first clutch was replaced at 13K miles.)

The F1 systems are nice because they left someone get acclimated to the car (most people have never driven a Ferrari) without the added mental effort of changing gears. After the initial period, they can then learn to really drive it.

But the manual gearbox in my 328 is one of my favorite aspects of the car. The real fun would be in helping someone else learn how to enjoy it as much as I do. And yes, having that someone learn the basics of a clutch on a Honda would be preferable to learning in a Ferrari.

 

I will agree with Bullfighter and say that the stick shift is the part of the car that engages you the most. What's funny to me, however, is that my girlfriend doesn't have a stick right now nor does she really care to learn, but if I ever bought a Ferrari, she has told me that it would have to be a stick. There are cars that she would "learn to drive a stick for." It's quite attractive, really.

All that said, I would let mine drive the stick. I think anyone who drives a Ferrari deserves to get the full experience, even if they aren't the best at it. Then again I've never had to replace a clutch a 13K, either.

 

If she can already drive a stick, then she should easily be able to shift a modern Ferrari stick. She might even shift better than you.

 

Stick!! No matter what! I like it when a girl says "I can drive a stick" (with so much confidence).

 

A sports car isn't a sports car with a semi-automatic trans!

 

My wife drives my Ferraris from late 50s models to present, all with a manual gearbox, just fine; and she seems to enjoy it.

Steve

 

Last time I was told that, she stalled it off the line. Eww Boy....





Regards

 

What's wrong with this quote?

 

really?

 

V12 in front and 6 on the floor: the only way to go!!
A.

 

For a good comparison between Paddle and stick
watch this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAVT5fwPPqY
the amount of time gained when comparing comperable cars on the track, (stickVpaddle) virtually none...the paddle only gives you gains on long straights or on races that take LONG amounts of time. there are too many things that can gain or loose time on a track, that are the fault of the driver for the stickVPaddle to make a real difference. The only real good argument for the paddle is the 2 hands on the steeringwheel POV...
the arguement against that is, 2 hands only matter on BIG tracks. If you dont have the car running smooth into the corner, 2 hands arnt going to save you, you are going to spin.

 

Now why would I want to go and do that.....she can drive it, I'm just not taking any chances

 

Which is all fine and dandy until you ride with her and find out the confidence is misplaced, but then again that happens with guys I know that think they can drive stick lol.

 

On the topic of stix vs paddles...I found this post from a year ago in the 355 forum:

Having owned a 99 F1, I can tell you it was very reliable for me and enjoyable.

With a six speed, you have more control launching the car. But once you get moving, there is nothing better (performance wise) than the F1. I would not hesitate to drive a F1 in traffic either. Once you learn how to engage the clutch quickly without revving the engine much, you will like it in traffic situations better.

The benefit is you can keep your hands on the steering wheel at all times and you can shift full throttle, without letting up on the gas, in a fraction of a second.

If you want to experience everything the car has to offer, go with the F1. The 355 is a performer when revving the engine high.

With the F1, I will not hesitate to drop it into 1st @ 7000-7500 rpm full throttle, redline, with neck breaking shift into 2nd full throttle. Executing this entire process is less than one second. With a 6 speed, I just am not comfortable dropping it into 1st and risking overreving the engine. I also couldnt possibly execute this entire process in a split second like you can with the F1.

Imagine you are in 2nd, full throttle, accelerating quickly and you need to decide "do i drop it into 1st? will i overrev? yes or no?". With the F1, just request the downshift. If it would overrev, it wont do it.

I just do not drive the car as "hard" with a 6 speed. With the F1, who cares, downshift full throttle (never letting up on the gas during the shift) all day long. You can't damage it. The car loves it. And so will you and your passenger.

When on the freeway, slam the car into 2nd or 3rd gear and feel the power output at high rpms. It is error proof and the tranny is bullet proof. With a 6 speed, i find i have to think too much "ok, i am going 50mph full throttle, can i put it into 2nd without over revving? oh shoot, i am going 55 now, i guess i'll just throw it into 3rd" And if I drop it into 3rd, see that i am only at 55-6000 rpms, i usually wont bother going into 2nd. With the F1, heck yeah, drop that tranny into 2nd. I want to hear the exhaust scream and I want to execute a perfect hard shift into 3rd near redline.

If you like to drive you car HARD, you will love the F1. Now that I have experienced the F1 for many years, I am getting drawn back to the 6 speed. But if you havent experienced the F1 and you want to take the car to its limits, I say you must try it.