Fixed Or Movable Flappy Paddles, What's Best?

"123456" (ferrari)
08/08/2013 at 12:00 • Filed to: oppositelock, gearbox

Flappy paddles connected to the steering column , or steering wheel ? What's your preference and why?

If you're wondering, I think column-mounted paddles are superior in just about every way. Easier to keep oriented, let's you have a proper grip on the wheel etc.

DISCUSSION (29)

TheBaron2112 > 123456
08/08/2013 at 12:04

Rack.

I drove a Honda Fit Sport with flappy paddles on the wheel. The most irritating thing I've ever driven. They really are never where you left them.

twinturbobmw > 123456
08/08/2013 at 12:04

It depends on how big the paddles are. If we're talking Ferrari/Maserati then fixed is fine because you can reach them from anywhere you hands should be. But if we're talking paddles on the high end VWs (Gallardo, Bentley, Phaeton) which are quite small, I would like them steering mounted.

McMike > 123456
08/08/2013 at 12:05

Tough call.

If turning laps, it would make the most sense to have them turn with the wheel. Your hands are at 9&3 and never leave the wheel.

On the street, it's different. Manufactures don't want to confuse the hand-over-hand, casual habits of 99% of their customers and confuse them.

BurningDinosaurs > 123456
08/08/2013 at 12:10

It all depends on the car/steering setup. On a road car with several turns lock to lock? I'd prefer the paddles in a fixed location that does not move with the wheel.

Ideally in a race car setup where you're never repositioning your hands on the wheel (think Formula 1) I would prefer paddles fixed to the wheel itself.

. . > 123456
08/08/2013 at 12:11

For track use you want paddles on the wheel. For the streets, you definitely want them to be fixed.

123456 > BurningDinosaurs
08/08/2013 at 12:12

We think the same. I think the ratio of the steering turn has a lot to say. If you have super quick steering, the requirement for fixed paddles is lesser than if you're in a car which demands more work on the wheel. Oh, and fixed paddles need to be long enough, too.

123456 > . .
08/08/2013 at 12:15

Depends on how long the fixed paddles are and the ratio of the steering. (i.e. how quick it is)

Forgetful > 123456
08/08/2013 at 12:20

Having them fixed doesn't cause any obvious problems, other than maybe crowding the controls a bit.

With paddles on the wheel you can get caught out and grab the wrong pedal when you're turning. Even if the system is smart enough not to let you blow up the transmission, it's still annoying.

DocWalt > 123456
08/08/2013 at 12:20

Long column mounted paddles for me. Maybe wheel mounted on a race car where your hands never leave the wheel because you have such quick steering.

Forgetful > . .
08/08/2013 at 12:22

I disagree. On my sim racing rig the Fanatec wheel has wheel mounted paddles. I wish they were fixed like the Thrustmaster wheel.

Sure it's just sim racing, but the inherent problem with wheel mounted paddles is still the fact that they move about and you can get it wrong. Not good for lap times, grabbing wrong gears here and there.

Dusty Ventures > 123456
08/08/2013 at 12:23

One paddle, column mounted on the right side, rally style

#DustybeingDusty

HammerheadFistpunch > 123456
08/08/2013 at 12:26

I can't find the example I was thinking about, but The disc style is what I would say is best. An unbroken carbon disc behind the wheel, forward for up, back for down. Always works, no matter the steering wheel position. I've seen in on a WRC car, but I can't recall which one.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > Dusty Ventures
08/08/2013 at 12:30

Why are you Grimes today? O.o

Dusty Ventures > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
08/08/2013 at 12:37

We're all Frank Grimes down here

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Victorious Secret > 123456
08/08/2013 at 12:53

There is a very good reason most cars have them fixed.

Most of the heavy hitters I have driven have them fixed, I prefer it. I like knowing where they are. I am not changing gears when my hands are in opposite locations, nor should I.

9 is up, 3 is down. plus or minus 2 and it still works. F12 and Aventador being the last 2 cars I got to be in, I didn't mind one bit.

Fixed? My daily driver has them. A lot of Audis, BMWs, Mercs, Hyundais, Fords...you get the idea. Its a cheap cop out in my mind because having fixed paddles means re-engineering the steering wheel cluster to accommodate large paddles and a vast majority of these cars are not bespoke creations, they are borrowing clusters and dashboards and what not. No time to make large, proper paddles.

ncasolowork2 > Forgetful
08/08/2013 at 13:07

For the exact opposite reason I refuse to buy a Thrustmaster wheel.

ncasolowork2 > 123456
08/08/2013 at 13:08

I say for the track you want them to be fixed and for the street static is fine. As someone else said in this thread you're not shuffling the wheel on the track. On the streets you almost certainly are.

Scorpio GTX1 > 123456
08/08/2013 at 13:09

I've had no experience with either, but almost every reviewer on Earth seems to prefer them to be column-mounted.

. . > Forgetful
08/08/2013 at 13:10

My G25 has wheel mounted paddles too and they're very annoying when I drive road cars. But for stuff with a quick rack, you might as well put the paddles on the wheel, since that will let you drive without moving your hands around.

Stef Schrader > 123456
08/08/2013 at 13:10

Depends on the size of the paddles and the steering rack.

Super short steering rack? Eh, let 'em stick to the wheel. Normal road car? Mitsu's big honkin' fixed paddles seem like they're doing it right.

Chteelers > ncasolowork2
08/08/2013 at 13:58

I do not shuffle steer on the road. Ever.

The only turns sharp enough for shuffle steering are 90-deg turns at intersections, and I have already downshifted into the proper exit gear before the corner. The next gear (usually 3rd) won't be needed till I'm pointing straight again.

Fixed to the wheel +1

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > Dusty Ventures
08/08/2013 at 16:54

Lord'a Mercy ._.

Wonk Unit > 123456
08/08/2013 at 18:36

the correct answer is a car with NO paddles....

johncalvinyoung > 123456
08/08/2013 at 23:30

The only car I've driven with paddle shifters was a 2009 Mercedes E320. It had wheel-mounted paddles. For the first little while, having them there was confusing and it seemed like it'd be easy to accidentally hit the wrong paddle while executing a turn, but that car had a relatively quick steering rack, and so I found myself rolling the wheel less often, and so they were in fairly consistent positions. I guess I'd get used to either one, but I can't hate on the wheel-mounted option.

Foo2rama > 123456
08/09/2013 at 01:23

On the wheel... you would never want to shift when the while the car was turning so much you had to shift your hands. When mounted fixed, you have to move your hands in even light turns to shift which is bad...

BMW, Porsche, Ferrari all on the wheel.. Infiniti and Nissan are fixed and bug the hell out of me.

Please do not comment unless you have spent time in both set ups.

Foo2rama > Forgetful
08/09/2013 at 01:24

Never once had the problem.. I had problems in turns having to move my hands to shift in mild turns.

Foo2rama > Victorious Secret
08/09/2013 at 01:25

Nope cheaper to have them fixed... that way the same wheel for manual cars and for flappy cars. Hence why Ferrari is like that. They only have to design 1 wheel. BMW and Porche both mount on the wheel for obvious reasons if you have ever driven one. This costs more to mfg as you need 2 different wheels and 2 different harnesses to attach to the wheel.

ManuDJ > . .
05/29/2014 at 15:14

This is the opposite. Track use=fixed paddles. Your hands should always be at 9:15 on the steering wheel no matter whether you are in a turn or in a straight. But this depends on the steering ratio. Race cars have a "direct" steering, allowing you to keep the hands "fixed" on the wheel and thus, allowing for fixed paddles.

Ferit > McMike
02/25/2015 at 22:02

why are they fixed on the lambos then? shouldn't they be the most track friendly car? i do agree it's better to have them on the steering wheel for sport usage. they are on rally cars too.