I just received a brochure frmo my dealer and one of the features of the Automatic is a "Steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifter". What is that?

 

Paddle shifters are little paddles on the wheel that let u shift the Auto trans Manualy like a F1 car the Ferrari's have them so does the BMW M3 SMG
Ps i dont like the way the paddles are set up both paddles have an up and down shift i think they should have made the left paddle upshift and the right downshift.

 

Are you getting an automatic? I haven't decided if I'm buying an RX-8 yet, but if I do it will be an automatic (bad knees).

 

The positioning has to be better than the RX-7's "Hold" button. I have a '93 and I can't stand the way the hold button is positioned.

 

No, no, no. There is a HUGE difference between the Ferrari F1 and BMW SMG systems and what Mazda, Porsche, Chrysler, Mercedes, etc. offer!!!

A SMG system like Ferrari and BMW SMG is a true manual transmission with a clutch and gears on shafts. The difference is that the auto-manuals use hydraulic servos, controlled by computer (with shifting either auto determined or controlled by the driver via the paddles), to actuate the clutch and move the shift forks.

Mazda's system, along with most other Tiptronic style systems, are just plain old ordinary slushbox automatic transmissions with the slushy gear shifts in the planetary gearbox controlled by computer. It's no different than moving the shift lever from D to 3, or 3 to 2, on the auto trans.

By 2006, Mazda will have a real SMG system available for the RX-8 and Miata.

Regards,
Gordon

 

Actually, some reliable estimations are that an SMG will be available with the expected Mazdaspeed RX8, which is expected in about a year.

But NONE of that has even been confirmed officially, so don't base any buying decisions on it.

---jps

 

If you think that the HONDA JAZZ has the 7 speed gearbox with the similar shifter than you just tell the Mazda to get stuff - hopfully they will say the contary

 

Hope this will illustrate better for you DaveL


Cheers...:D

 

That's a great picture

 

Thanks Hercules

 

The JAZZ has a CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) with a preset 7 gear ratios in the Manual mode, very similar to the Audi CVT.

 

Merc is working on a 7 speed auto tranny due out in a year or so. It is going to replace their current 5 speed autos.

On an other note, I don't think that car companies shouldl go much higher than 6 or 7 gears max on a stick. If you want to shift 10+ times then go drive and 18 wheeler.