Why have manual transmissions become replaced by paddle shifters and such? What are the benefits in terms of performance?
In: 43
The main benefit for average drivers is it reduces the amount of things to think about, leaving you better able to concentrate on putting the car where you want it.
Think of it like a turn based game: coming up to a corner, braking is one go, pressing the clutch, downshifting, blipping the throttle, letting the clutch out is another 4 go’s, change down twice and that’s another 4 go’s, turn in, get on the power, change up, and again, that’s 17 turns to go round one corner.
With paddle shifters: brake, press, press, turn, throttle, press, press is less than half as many.
This leaves much more of your brain power in reserve.
To see what this feels like, try answering simple maths questions (5+7, 2+9, etc) while throwing and catching a ball, and hopping on one foot at the same time.
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