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Nittersing

(8,634 posts)

8. At least my little Smart Car has paddle shifters

Fri Jul 17, 2026, 10:17 AM

Yesterday

Not being a particular car enthusiast, I had no idea there were cars with a thing called "paddle shifters" until I bought my first Smart Car. I think that feature alone helped me decide.

I live near the mountains and the ability to choose what gear you want to drive in is really a game changer... especially for a little car like mine.

I learned to drive in a vw hatchback and I really do prefer manual for the added control, but at my advancing age, I love being able to shift with just a click of the paddle.

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EverHopeful

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Highlight:

The death of the stick shift is almost here [View all] Zorro Yesterday OP

CVT's bucolic_frolic Yesterday #1

I love manual transmissions UpInArms Yesterday #2

I loved my manual Mazda3 zeusdogmom Yesterday #3

I learned to drive EYESORE 9001 Yesterday #4

I've always had a stick shift in the car inventory. Firestorm49 Yesterday #5

I loved my stick shifts. But... Biophilic Yesterday #6

Both of our company's semis are 18 speed manuals and my POV is a 6 speed stick. MarineCombatEngineer Yesterday #7

At least my little Smart Car has paddle shifters Nittersing Yesterday #8

.y Acura has paddles, I'm afraid to use them because i don't know what they do. dem4decades 8 hrs ago #33

Drove a stick shift until Mme. Defarge Yesterday #9

I learned how to use a stick shift on Jeeps Vogon_Glory Yesterday #10

Still have my '02 Nissan pickup and it's low mileage Hey Joe Yesterday #11

I prefer manual transmissions to automatics gay texan Yesterday #12

First time I drove an automatic I almost threw my friend into the windshield EverHopeful Yesterday #13

Rich person with 2 BMWs and a Tesla crying about automatic transmissions going away intheflow Yesterday #14

Cars with manual transmissions are fun to drive! CozyMystery Yesterday #15

I am driving my first automatic that I bought in Costa Rica. I have been driving 64+ years. sinkingfeeling Yesterday #16

Varies hugely by country muriel_volestrangler Yesterday #17

My uncle "taught" me how to drive stick in his 65 Ford pick up when I wad 16. kacekwl Yesterday #18

who else drove a "three on the tree" Skittles Yesterday #19

The very first vehicle I ever drove was an early Hey Joe 21 hrs ago #22

Yup Zorro 20 hrs ago #23

No great loss. n/t valleyrogue 23 hrs ago #20

I'm still driving my stick shift 2013 Toyota Corolla. Love it. madinmaryland 23 hrs ago #21

Coolest car I ever owned was a 1982 Datsun 280-ZX. Aristus 18 hrs ago #24

Something like this? True Dough 9 hrs ago #27

Datsun and Nissan were the same company Zorro 9 hrs ago #29

That's it exactly. Aristus 7 hrs ago #41

I drove a stick shift from 1980 thru 2024, and my wife still drives one Martin Eden 9 hrs ago #25

I love my stick buzzycrumbhunger 9 hrs ago #26

I've had two sticks in three of my Honda Accords. no_hypocrisy 9 hrs ago #28

You're absolutely correct about it being an antitheft device Walleye 8 hrs ago #38

Car thieves in Memphis have been caught & arrested because they couldn't drive a manual lol SheltieLover 7 hrs ago #39

I'm 72 and never drove a stick shift hauckeye 8 hrs ago #30

Love my stick shift Veloster debPip 8 hrs ago #31

I've always had a stick shift. HappyH 8 hrs ago #32

You can't text while driving. Lochloosa 8 hrs ago #34

We have a 23 year old Ford Ranger Edge with a 4 speed manual transmission. Tikki 8 hrs ago #35

One of my cousins will only buy/drive cars that are manual Picaro 8 hrs ago #36

Tell her to keep her old Toyota. New cars are absolute junk SheltieLover 7 hrs ago #40

I drive a 2012 Hyundai Accent. Stick shift six gears forward. Walleye 8 hrs ago #37

I learned stick on a Volkswagen Beetle sdfernando 7 hrs ago #42

I owned probably an equal amount over my 62 years of driving. I Have gone from stick to auto then back again. doc03 7 hrs ago #43

I had a 5spd manual Mercedes coupe, my mom had an automatic; purrmaid 3 hrs ago #44