SEAT DSG Paddles - Are they in the wrong position?!
Discussion
I recently bought a new SEAT Leon FR 170 (DSG) and was impressed with the gearbox. The changes are smooth and snappy and to be honest, when driving normally (company miles) I just chuck it in drive or sports mode which is easy.
However, now that I've thrown a few miles on it and had it for a month I decided to 'push' the car through some quality B roads (whilst sticking to the speed limit and being safe of course) in rural Gloucestershire and discovered a monumental flaw. The flippy paddles are fixed to the steering wheel, not the column behind the steering wheel.
Therefore, you need to try and find the damn things when you're going up or down the gears when (potentially) throwing the car into and out of corners instead of instinctively knowing where they are at all times. Am being a tit, or is this normal for flappy paddle cars?!
It just doesn't feel right.
However, now that I've thrown a few miles on it and had it for a month I decided to 'push' the car through some quality B roads (whilst sticking to the speed limit and being safe of course) in rural Gloucestershire and discovered a monumental flaw. The flippy paddles are fixed to the steering wheel, not the column behind the steering wheel.
Therefore, you need to try and find the damn things when you're going up or down the gears when (potentially) throwing the car into and out of corners instead of instinctively knowing where they are at all times. Am being a tit, or is this normal for flappy paddle cars?!
It just doesn't feel right.
Remember you can also use the gearstick to nip up and down the gears when in "Manual" mode. I found it easier to use the gearstick in some occasions when it wasn't convenient to use the paddles
You can also get vastly overpriced Carbon or Aluminium extensions for the paddles to make them easier to find
You can also get vastly overpriced Carbon or Aluminium extensions for the paddles to make them easier to find
As has already been said, you ought to be completing all your gear changes before you start turning. By changing gear mid corner you are unsettling the car which isn't too good for handling.
If you try and get into the habit of reading the road ahead and selecting the correct gear for the corner before turning then you'll find the car more composed and you'll be able to go round smoother and therefore quicker.
Most paddles are attached to the steering wheel rather than the column so this is normal btw.
If you try and get into the habit of reading the road ahead and selecting the correct gear for the corner before turning then you'll find the car more composed and you'll be able to go round smoother and therefore quicker.
Most paddles are attached to the steering wheel rather than the column so this is normal btw.
Don't know about yours but we've flappy paddles on the smart roadster and while fast driving is fine, wiv them being fairly small, I find it while at junctions stood still with the wheel turned ready or just pulling away on a right turn or left, you tend to lose which paddle is what. Same with approaching a t junction that you bend into, in 2nd gear and as you are just about stil attempt 1st ready for going again, I tend to have abit of a kerfuffle! Lol
Markp13 said:
Are the flappy paddles standard with the dsg box? I've seen the 170bhp Leon for as little as £265 a month which seems good value.
Do you rate the car?
As with anything there are pros and cons with the car. The first thing to say is that the FR+ is about to be released (update 12) which has loads of stuff as standard (media pack, etc ...) but is a little more expensive. They've also removed the FR embroidered logo from the seats. I like it, but they're trying to appeal to a wider audience by removing it.Do you rate the car?
As for the flappy paddles, I believe that they come with the DSG box (I didn't ask for it as an extra) but (cop out) I'd check with the dealer. On the sensible side, a lot of the time you wont be using them and the gearbox is generally very good but it is a but lurchy in the low gear range. It also seems desperate (when not in sports mode) to get to 6th gear, then when you encounter a hill it will throw you down into 3rd and as it's pretty quick you are catapulted forward! I love it but the missus is not so impressed!
Pros:
Handling is firm and you feel confident throwing it into corners
It's pretty quick
Very comfortable (leather pack)
Stereo / sat nav touch screen is responsive and has loads of features
Cons:
- Not as quick as it looks (plus mine has the K1 pack so it needed that cupra 'ooomph' TBH!)
- Not as economical as I'd hoped (45mpg on motorway). Just to qualify that, I KNOW it's a sporty little diesel but the previous Leon could get 50mpg.
- Dash (media system aside) looks a bit rubbish
- Speakers are Literally appalling and sat nav isn't full postcode search
The dealership is useless though, so make sure all your comms are via email (so you can bring them up on stuff) and cane them on everything as they were completely unprofessional with pretty much every aspect of buying the car!
Let me know what you go for as I'd be interested to see what decision you make!
Thanks for the full and honest review.
To be honest I am a fair bit away from making a choice as I am coming out of my company ca scheme and my current insignia has a good time left on it's contract.
Value for money the Leon comes up very well but a passat cc is maybe leading the charge at the minute. in gt spec. But that is a fair bit extra cash.
To be honest I am a fair bit away from making a choice as I am coming out of my company ca scheme and my current insignia has a good time left on it's contract.
Value for money the Leon comes up very well but a passat cc is maybe leading the charge at the minute. in gt spec. But that is a fair bit extra cash.
Markp13 said:
Value for money the Leon comes up very well but a passat cc is maybe leading the charge at the minute. in gt spec. But that is a fair bit extra cash.
Great minds obviously think alike! The Passat CC was one of the other cars we were interested in. We loved the shape of it and it drove really well, but the starting spec was really basic and like you say, to get the goodies that the SEAT had was literally another £4k-£5k which we weren't prepared to pay (I came out of our company car scheme as they started being really strict on CO2 emissions, insurance groups and you had to choose a car based on the OTR price which is unrealistic given that most people get a decent discount with most new cars)!Paddles on my smart are on the wheel, I only use the gearstick for slow corners/roundabouts between 1st and 2nd. The rest of the time is paddles all the way. Off on a tangent, which way around is the sequential shift on the gearstick? On mine its pull back for downshift and push away for upshift.
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