Paddle Shift VS H-Shift/Clutch

  • Thread starter Brian_Y
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Brian_Y

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OK, I was wondering if anyone here was able to help me work out what the point of the clutch is on the G25 wheel.

I heard it is supposed to give you better acceleration due to faster shift times, so I tried accelerating on the Fuji straight with a Mk 4 Golf Gti with the clutch/H-shifter, and again with the paddle shift. I shifted at the same revs for both methods and the top speed at the end of the straight was the same for both cars.

So is the h-shifter only quicker for certain vehicles, and if so which ones?

I realise that downshifting is easier with the h-shifter as you can skip gears but I find that I get more control and are more precise with the cornering when paddle shifting. So is there any lap time advantage using the clutch, or is it only for certain cars, I'm not sure!

(I will admit though, it is much more rewarding when you nail a good lap using the h-shifter!)
 
As much as people (non clutch users mostly) think clutch users have a big advantage it simply isn't true.

I and many other use it for the enjoyment of driving (pedal dancing) these cars much like you would need to in real life, like you say at the end of your post it is much more rewarding.

Cars you get the advantage from is the ones that have long gearing, or large gearing gaps between gears because the when GT shifts (you press upshift and GT controls it) the game waits for the revs to drop to match the next gear which in this case is a big difference, while using the clutch you just dump it and the engine revs are forced down. Alfa Brera, Ford Mustang (into 4th) is a bit like this IIRC.

Other cars like the F430 which have F1 shift you can try manual with but you probably wont beat it's paddle shift times a long with other short ratio cars like the Evos.
 
Clutching may give you slight advantage over automatic because of the better control you have over when a gear changes, but you also have the disadvantage of having one hand off the wheel, and extra tasks to peform (clutch in, shift, clutch out), as well has having your concentration split between driving on the racing line and the act of changing the gear.

Personally, I decide whether to use Paddles, Sequential or H-Shift based on what gearing system the car I am driving came with, for authenticity's sake. Eg., if I'm in a standard BMWM3 I could choose paddles or sequential, but if I'm driving the M3 GTR Race version, I'd limit myself to Sequential.

Either way, you practice long enough with whatever shift system you prefer, and you get good at it...the advantages and disadvantages between the different shift systems becomes negligible...
 
Don't forget using the clutch greatly reduces the time you can left foot brake which is a disadvantage also (for clutch users)
 

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