i did a quick search and didn't find what i was lookin for(i'm sure it's there somewhere)- what do those who have done track time think about the paddles on column vs on wheel- which do you think is the answer? For street drivng i'm happy where they are, but i know when i race on playstation, i thought the shifters on the wheel were stupid at first until i learned to twist my arms fully around and so that got me to wondering- the only track time i've had is with manual.....'what say you?'

 

At first I thought it was weird to have the paddles on the column, because I had to move my hands (for daily driving) to shift.

But on track, I've experienced both (Porsche PDK with the buttons on the wheel, and paddles on the GT-R). I've noticed two things:

#1 Most of my shifting is done going into corners and coming out of them, not during them, so shifting isn't a big deal. I mean, with a manual, you'd move your hand completely away from the wheel. Here you just let go a little move up or down slightly, tap the paddle, and go back to the wheel.

#2 For daily driving even if you drive your car the same way you track (like me), I found that with the PDK, when I'm trying to shift while cornering, I'm trying to find the the right paddle, or I've found it, but because I'm already contorted, I can't maneuver my fingers to hit it where it is located.

So with the paddles, you always know where it is, and which one is where. I equate this, for people who aren't sure what I'm referring to - as (for those who have bluetooth buttons on their wheels) trying to answer your phone in your car mid-corner. You have to look at the wheel, don't you?

 

thx for that- kinda what i expected. Also thanks for bailing me out of a zero reponse lol....now i feel less of a loser....

 

I agree totally with Jasper above. Knowing exactly where your shift paddle is located at every moment at exactly the same place is what you desire. My daily driver is a Genesis Coupe ZF Auto which has the paddle shifters on the steering wheel. In tight corners you can't find the paddles fast enough. Hyundai however was smart enough to also have the center console stick shifter let you upshift or downshift with a simple forward or backward motion like in the F1 racers. This solves the problem nicely and allows for quick shifts when you can't use the wheel paddles.

Also, you are not a loser here, ever.
Tachsman

 

Agree with the above. I never had any issues finding the paddles on the steering column even on track. I do wish that the 'gearshift' in the centre console also allowed up/down shifts as it does in the SMG II etc. Many times it would have been faster and more natural to just drop my right hand down to it and initiate a shift rather than move my hand on the steering wheel to reach up to the paddle. Regardless, its not a big problem.

Bish

 

It would seem that someone would design a modification to elongate the paddles when they are mounted on the column so hand shifting would not be necessary: