Just curious...
For those who have PDK, I have 2 quesions:
1) What percentage of the time do you use Auto mode, and what percentage of the time do you shift yourself?

2) And when you shift manually, do you use the floor shifter or the paddles/buttons most of the time?

thanks...

 

For me, I have been in auto about 80% of the time. But this has been mostly because of the driving during the break-in period. I have about 2700 miles on the baby now, and intend to do more shifting going forward. So far, but using the paddles, but also intend on using shifter more going forward.

 

For me, it's about 70% auto, 30% manual for dd.
I tend to use the shifter most of the time. (Maybe if they had fixed paddles--that didn't move with the steering wheel-- it might be different, since you're always searching for them after turns)

 

I've only put it in manual mode a couple of times. I use the shifters on the wheel a lot so driving like an automatic, maybe 10% of the time. I use the 3 / 9 driving position and tend to make all corners without taking my hands off the shifters.

ChuckJ

 

Even though I'm still in break in period I use manual shifting with the paddles about 85+% of the time. Only use Auto mode when car is cold. By using manual mode I can vary the rpm's at every speed just like we're supposed to during breakin period. On highway I also change back and forth between normal and Sport mode to accomplish the same thing. Worst thing you can do is lug the engine. In the first 500 miles I varied the rpm between 2200 and 3500 constantly with the odd run up to 4200.

John in Vancouver

 

4,300 miles. Daily driver. Always in Sport + and manual. Until it's bumper to bumper. Then Auto with Sport. Only used paddles. Did never try the shifter. I use the shifter on the other cars.

 

15820 miles.
Auto about 99%.
25% in Sport
when i shift use paddles.

 

Rnl-- you're leaving a lot of the car's capability on the table, I think. I'm still in the break-in period, but when I drive in auto mode, I almost always use Sport (after warm-up)! Auto in regular mode just seems too slow for me!

 

You move your hands around on the wheel when you're making turns? You don't keep them fixed in the same place on the wheel?

I don't mean when you're making low speed turns through a parking lot or that require full or almost full lock-to-lock. But when you're driving at speed and in maneuvers where you'd be upshifting or downshifting in a turn, the wheel is never more than 60 or 65 degrees off center. Why aren't your hands fixed in the same spots on the wheel?

Just wondering if there's some new technique being taught out there.

One of the most important reasons to keep your hands fixed if you are on the track or in an autocross course is that if you spin out and get your hand caught in the spokes as the car breaks loose and the steering wheel spins, there is a high probability of breaking your wrist.

Watch Timo Kluck's hands (and he only uses the fixed paddles, never the shifter stick):

 

I know. I have been using Sport mode more and more these days yes normal mode is slow I agree

 

1) 99% auto. Only time in manual is on track.

2) Console shifter for most gear changes.

 

I tend to reserve manual shifting (from the wheel or console) for when I want to play tunes on the PSE.

 

Paddles and Sport mode 100%.

 

I'm utilizing the stick more. After ten years of automatics it's taking a while to get back to using the stick. Right now I'm doing about 70-30 stick-auto. It's more fun that way, especially once it gets past 4k RPMs.
Just watch out though. The other day I thought I had it in manual at a light. A snotty Acura driver wanted to cut me off knowing his lane merges left into mine. Again, thinking I'm in manual, I hit the gas, took off, hit the stick up and knocked it into neutral. I was fine, car too. Put it back into gear, cursed my self, and was glad the wife want in the car with me. I was embarrassed is all. Just glad there was nobody riding close behind me. The Acura won.... this time!!

As for the shifters, I like them. Able to use either for up/down makes things much easier. I'll use them at times I want both hands on the wheel.

+1 to keeping your hands at 3 and 9 positions

 

That happened to me several times (on my 997.2 pdk)! That's the risk with using the stick and not the paddles/buttons on the wheel to manually shift. Like you, I thought I was in manual mode when in fact I was in auto mode, and inadvertently shifted it into neutral right at the time that I needed good acceleration. It's amazing that I'm still alive.