Ricardo Paddle shifter


I liked the paddle on the Vanquish and found that by backing off the throttle a fraction when changing I could achieve a perfectly smooth change. Changing down was a joy as the Aston used to give an automatic 'blip' on the throttle on downchanges - this combined with an exhaust note akin to Tom Jones being abused in the shower room of a state penetentiary..... fabulous.

However.... would still always go manual. Many Vanquish owners are paying a $30,000 upgrade to have a manual shift.

Snicking the gears on a Ferrari on their gated box Vs pulling a paddle?
 
I would never want padels. For me it is the enjoyment of shifting is part of the experience. I am dreading the day when 3 pedals, and a gear change lever completely disapear (e gear, F1, SMG DSC etc....), HOPEFULLY the marketplace will not let it happen.

Guess if it does come, Kip will have to offer a CF tunel with out a shifter cut out......
 
I'd go with paddles but it'd have to be the right car. If the Caparo T1 ever gets over that side of the pond check it out. It's got a clutch pedal for slow work, but once you're moving it's paddles all the way. Flat, instant changes up and down the box. Try one and you'll never want to change gear with a stick again...on the circuit.
 
Paddles or stick

FWIW, I was a die-hard manual/stick advocate until I drove the F430. It was fantastic and humbling. Faster and more reliable than I (or any other piece of wetware) could ever do, more focus on steering and eyes on the road, no mistakes possible.
It was odd hearing that beautiful engine blipping on downshifts without me doing a thing - but it was a quickly acquired taste.
Of course the F430 transmission is purported to be the best inmplementation of such a thing - so others may not be as satisfying.
As for it being appropriate for the FGT - seems like it does stretch the 'gestalt' of the car. But if there was such an option available on the car during initial purchase (thus a five-option car), I'd check that box in a flash.
t32b
P.S. True confession: Driving in the Bay Area, it would be nice, now and then, to throw the car in to 'clutchless automatic mode' while creeping through traffic and speaking on a cell phone (yes, yes, with headset). Though it needs a foot on the clutch, it makes for a free hand - and queing up shifts could be helpful in this mode. I contacted these paddle shifter folks to see if they have an adaptation for my Carrera S. But I'd never violate my FGT with such a thing.
 
PUt the ford short shift

Plus the low profile knob,Lots of fun.Did the first whipple car like that.
Did the other whipple whthout,Had two change it like the first.so much
faster.
 
As far as the FGT by itself is concerned, it seems to me paddles would just LOOK funny in one. It's BY DESIGN a "60's" interior, if you will. "Sixties" toggle switches ...the origional "sixties" design dash, seats, etc. In fact, the entire CAR matches the "sixties" origional (except for the 5.4).

...So, would it even be "moral" to violate the theme of that interior with paddles?

Philosophical Pockets
 
Empty Pockets said:
As far as the FGT by itself is concerned, it seems to me paddles would just LOOK funny in one. It's BY DESIGN a "60's" interior, if you will. "Sixties" toggle switches ...the origional "sixties" design dash, seats, etc. In fact, the entire CAR matches the "sixties" origional (except for the 5.4).

...So, would it even be "moral" to violate the theme of that interior with paddles?

Philosophical Pockets
Click to expand...

Yea, so where's the 8 track Player big guy ....:eek
 
STORMCAT said:
Yea, so where's the 8 track Player big guy ....:eek
Click to expand...


One cannot SEE the "inner workings" of the Mac (or whatever), BIGGER Guy! :skep :lol

('Sides - where would those interested in 'same GIT enny 8 tracks to play?:shrug I mean, I could supply a FEW ... but...)
 
Empty Pockets said:
One cannot SEE the "inner workings" of the Mac (or whatever), BIGGER Guy! :skep :lol

('Sides - where would those interested in 'same GIT enny 8 tracks to play?:shrug I mean, I could supply a FEW ... but...)
Click to expand...

For the record I have seen the inside of the mac and you can find all kinds of 8 tracks a the flea market !!:biggrin:biggrin
 
One of the many reasons I bought the FGT for was the fact that it does not have any of the electronic nannies that drive the car for you.

ASR, ESP, PSM, PASM, Paddle shift with matching revs etc to me all dilute the driving experience.

Is the paddle shift faster than me shifting a 430? Absolutely. But that is not the point. I don't buy these cars to set any new speed-lap records. I buy them for the pleasure of driving them.

Again people have different views and reasons for buying their cars. Some like to admire them as a form of art, some treat them like a fine scotch.

So a GT with a paddle shifter for me would be less appealing...
 
911teo said:
One of the many reasons I bought the FGT for was the fact that it does not have any of the electronic nannies that drive the car for you.

ASR, ESP, PSM, PASM, Paddle shift with matching revs etc to me all dilute the driving experience.

Is the paddle shift faster than me shifting a 430? Absolutely. But that is not the point. I don't buy these cars to set any new speed-lap records. I buy them for the pleasure of driving them.

Again people have different views and reasons for buying their cars. Some like to admire them as a form of art, some treat them like a fine scotch.

So a GT with a paddle shifter for me would be less appealing...
Click to expand...

I hear ya... and agree on all counts... I just like to keep peolpe informed on what's out there..:cheers
 
This is a glorified air shifter, not to be confused with say the F1 from Ferrari or E-Gear from Lambo. These are very sophisticated algorythms that tie the clutch, rpm, etc. into a central processor, etc. etc. Interesting idea however.
 
Regardles, I'd wager that the 1-2 shift "cold" would be uuuuugly...:willy
 
Empty Pockets said:
One cannot SEE the "inner workings" of the Mac (or whatever), BIGGER Guy! :skep :lol

('Sides - where would those interested in 'same GIT enny 8 tracks to play?:shrug I mean, I could supply a FEW ... but...)
Click to expand...

... and I suppose, much like the car itself, those tapes are unused?

(sorry - inappropriate for a newbie but couldn't resist)
 
t32b said:
... and I suppose, much like the car itself, those tapes are unused?
Click to expand...


ABSA-TOOTLY!!!!! ...You expected anything less...? :skep
 
We have one of the lead engineers for the Ford GT gearbox at our shop right now training our guys on installation of the 3.9 ring and pinion. I talked to him about the possibility of a paddle shifter setup for the GT. He said that it is possible to do it through hydraulics but it would be VERY expensive and would be very tricky. Also another problem will be making sure that the clutch finds a "happy" starting place every time your in neutral or starting the engine. The transmission basically has to find a part of the clutch to rest.

He didn't seem to think it would be easily accomplished.
 
kmillen said:
We have one of the lead engineers for the Ford GT gearbox at our shop right now training our guys on installation of the 3.9 ring and pinion. I talked to him about the possibility of a paddle shifter setup for the GT. He said that it is possible to do it through hydraulics but it would be VERY expensive and would be very tricky. Also another problem will be making sure that the clutch finds a "happy" starting place every time your in neutral or starting the engine. The transmission basically has to find a part of the clutch to rest.

He didn't seem to think it would be easily accomplished.
Click to expand...

The only way these other guys make it work is by you manually oprearting the clutch. I did see the unit at SEMA and it did shift fairly quickly but it would not be for me. There is a fairly large box that houses some servos etc.. Not air operated...
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Top Bottom