Thread: Paddle shifters - when do you use them?

Originally Posted by LandyAndy

Not tried HDC yet,had it in the D2,WAY too fast,I realise these are much better,yet to play with it.Put the handbrake on at 80kmh yet???,no I havent tried that either
Andrew

HDC in the D4 is excellent Andrew. You can adjust the HDC speed using the cruise control buttons.

Cheers,
Chris

Originally Posted by RHS58

...If I do, it's often by accident.

I was doing the same Ron when I first got the vehicle. It was when I turned the steering wheel sharply to park or get out of a park - I had to change my grip on the wheel and re-position my hands so that I didn't accidentally hit the paddles.
Peter

Originally Posted by LRD414

...You really need to give HDC a go. Definitely not too fast....

I used HDC for the first time when going down Mount Nameless, Tom Price WA and I have to tell you it is certainly not too fast - as a matter fact it is snail pace so I switched it off so that we could be back at camp before a search party was sent out to find us I guess that is when I could have used the paddle to drop down to 3rd, but I bet the revs would have been close to the red line.
Peter

Originally Posted by cjc_td5

.... You can adjust the HDC speed using the cruise control buttons.

What!
Wish I had known that

Originally Posted by Grentarc

I tend to have my Llams set to Low most of the time around town, not sure if it is psychological or not, but feels tighter with the numerous roundabouts I deal with in Wagga. Also my wife finds it easier to get in and out of the car at this height. Only really switch it up when going on dirt roads, and then switch it straight to the +30 setting

The proper way is to set the LLams to raised mode, and just go straight across the roundabout. Quicker too and less wear on the steering ...

Originally Posted by pprass

What!
Wish I had known that

The cruise control button application is in the Owner Manual, along with some other good stuff. But I found I had to play around to get a smoother technique with engaging HDC.

As you say, it starts out at quite a slow speed, suitable for very steep inclines and so can be quite a jolt when turned on if you're moving fater than that speed. But if you hold down the "+" cruise control button while turning it on, the vehicle stay closer to current speed. Then release the button when you're at the desired descent speed. If you overshoot, use the "-" button to slow it down a bit.

Once you get the hang of it, it's smooth to go from a paddle selcted gear to HDC or just from normal Drive to HDC.

Scott

I use the paddles a lot.

When towing, you'll get 17% better fuel economy when using the paddles, and also viewing the instant fuel gauge, and trying to keep the instant fuel economy steady. This is aided a lot by slowing down a bit going up inclines, and speeding up on the other side of the incline... and using the highest gear possible.

I am not sure though if using 8th is bad for the gearbox. But using the paddles will avoid torque converter usage, which heats the gearbox, so overall using the paddles not only saves heaps of fuel, but also may keep the box cooler.

In traffic I'll also grab lower gears for engine braking if a red light appears up ahead, hence avoiding braking.

On my vehicle the gears do stay on - once I thought the power was poor, and then I realised the revs had dipped below 1100 Rpm and that low there is little grunt. The gearbox had held onto 8th. If I pull the right hand paddle towards me and leave it there for a second or two, then the full auto is restored. The full auto will also restore if I use the paddles just once; but if I use them a few times, it holds the manual mode until I hold the right paddle towards me for a second or two. Putting the box in neutral and back to D also neutralizes manual mode.