Paddle Shifters on a Honda Fit
jimhannon1
Why does Honda offer paddle shifters on a Honda Fit? My daughter's Honda Fit came with them and we're trying to figure out if they serve any meaningful purpose.
Should she just ignore them or can they be useful?
Thanks for your advice to this automotive newbie.
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Mena
It's just a marketing gimmick. Gives the illusion of shifting it yourself. In that price range, the transmission doesn't hold gears anyways so I would just let it shift itself.
Chris Paukert
Having driven both the Sport with them and the version without, I definitely prefer the paddle option. I would wager that most people won't use them terribly often, but tend to use them just to make the most of what little power is available. I like having them but a digit's-extension away, they can prove useful for downshifting to pass, as well as for those occasions when you want to rely on engine-braking on long descents.
Chris Paukert
Editor-In-Chief
Winding Road Magazine // NextAutos
jimhannon1
Thanks, Chris for the reply.
Is there an "Idiot's Guide to Paddle Shifting?"
2K1Civic
Just gives you that 'sporty' feel over the Yaris..
Anonymous
The Fit "Sport" with flappy paddles felt anything but "sporty"...
I drove it back to back with the Scion xD (or whatever their little econobox was) and the xD definitely felt "sportier" if you can use the word "sporty" with either of these cars.
If I had to drive a Fit I'd probably take the auto for fear of abusing it to death, otherwise...