How to Use Paddle Shifters

What Are Paddle Shifters?

Paddle shifters are often found on sportier vehicles and trim levels to help them shift gears quickly. They are located near or behind the steering wheel, where one paddle brings you down a gear while the other brings you up a gear. When you use a paddle, the clutch receives an electronic signal to select and shift gears. 

Paddle shifters are easy to use and offer more control to help you manage your RPMs better. Correct downshifting can even extend the life of your brake pads. 

Instructions on How to Use Paddle Shifters

Now that we know the answer to the question “What are paddle shifters?” let’s discuss how to use them. You'll want to enter manual mode when driving a car equipped with paddle shifters. This puts you in complete control of the paddle shift. While the right paddle upshifts and the left paddle downshifts, you can easily switch gears manually as you drive around St. Odessa.

Don’t worry about harming your vehicle when shifting gears, as the paddle shifters won’t change gears if:

• You upshift before the engine reaches the lower limit of the higher gear
• You downshift before reaching the upper limit of the lower gear
• You press one paddle while the other is being held down
• You press both paddles at the same time
• You try to shift to third or higher while stationary
• If you’d instead let the automatic transmission take over for a while, just enter D mode.

Cars with Paddle Shifters

Subaru offers a wide range of cars with paddle shifters to enhance your Wesley Chapel drives: 

• Subaru WRX
• Subaru Legacy
• Subaru Outback
• Subaru Forester
• Subaru Impreza

Learn More about How to Use Paddle Shifters at Subaru of South Tampa

If you'd like to explore the cars with paddle shifters in person, contact us or drop by whenever you desire. Our service team will be happy to answer any questions you have about shifting with paddle shifters. Schedule a service appointment with our team today; we are conveniently located in Tampa.