TPE_A3

Ive had the same thoughts about the shifting. My natural mode of thought assumes that i should be pulling the shift towards me as opposed to away to shift up. maybe its all those years of watching formula1 and Indy car. who knows but great point i thought i was alone on that one.

 

The past 2 cars I owned were both 5 spd manual. I found myself downshifting from 5th -> 4th or 3rd-> 2nd most of the time. That's probably why I'm used to pulling the lever down while downshifting.

 

I agree with TPE that it would be more intuitive to pull for upshift, push for downshift.

 

+1 for rally style shifts

 

Hey Omni,

I drove a manual all my life too...and I still want to pull down! It's odd how the brain works, but I'm glad there are others too! The first time I used it, I downshifted when my car was already 3/4s of the way to the redline. Interestingly, the computer allowed the shift but it put it right at the redline. Luckily, (perhaps) I didn't use the DSG at all for the first 1500 KM just in case of exactly that type of bonehead mistake! Even now, 6 months after having the car, I still have to remind myself. Old dogs!

 

BMW and Mazda (and thus Ford, Jaguar, Aston Martin and Volvo?)staunchly believe that 'push forward for downshift' is correct and more intuitive. The rest of the manufacturers think the opposite. This would seem like the ideal situation for the ever-precise Germans to standardise one way or the other.

My wife's current car is a Mazda6 auto wagon and she previously had a Passat Tiptronic wagon. It took both of us a while to get used to the inversed shift direction. Since her car is opposite of my A3 (and I often drive the Mazda), I have decided avoid use of the A3 lever for manual shifts to keep my meager brain from getting confused. Besides, the A3 paddles work so well.

 

^^^^
Yes the Paddles are so nice and quick! but back on subject has anyone seen a paddle modification for our girls?