Why the hate for the shaver/nubbin/gear selector?
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Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 82
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From: Bay Area
Why the hate for the shaver/nubbin/gear selector?
I really want to know. Is it purely aesthetics? Or do people regularly / often use the gear selector to, uh, shift gears?
The only auto transmission I've driven in 30 years was a loaner Macan, when I took my car in for service at the dealer (okay, excluding cheap rental cars). It never occurred to me to shift with the gear selector; if I used "manual" mode, I was quite happy with the paddle shifters.
Educate me please!
The only auto transmission I've driven in 30 years was a loaner Macan, when I took my car in for service at the dealer (okay, excluding cheap rental cars). It never occurred to me to shift with the gear selector; if I used "manual" mode, I was quite happy with the paddle shifters.
Educate me please!
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 2,316
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From: Playa Del Rey, CA
I’ll bite. For me, it’s first and foremost the loss of the ability to shift with the gear selector. I like that function in my 991.1 PDK and I use it interchangeably with the paddles to shift when in manual mode.
Aesthetically, the nubbin is hideous to my eyes. It looks cheap, it is less functional than its predecessor and it just adds to what is already an unharmonious interior (for instance, the analogue/digital dash). There are a lot of ways to skin the dual clutch shifter cat as Jaguar, BMW, Mercedes, etc. all have their respective take on it. The nubbin is the worst of the bunch, to me. Huge downgrade from the 991.
Aesthetically, the nubbin is hideous to my eyes. It looks cheap, it is less functional than its predecessor and it just adds to what is already an unharmonious interior (for instance, the analogue/digital dash). There are a lot of ways to skin the dual clutch shifter cat as Jaguar, BMW, Mercedes, etc. all have their respective take on it. The nubbin is the worst of the bunch, to me. Huge downgrade from the 991.
Instructor
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 236
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From: Germany
I regularly shift my Turbo S using the lever. It's more engaging compared to paddles and I like having one control (that doesn't move) for both up- and down-shifting.
I'm ambivalent about the looks. Don't love it, don't hate it.
I'm ambivalent about the looks. Don't love it, don't hate it.
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I don't like the execution because it's a compromise solution that doesn't really offer a compromise.
If one wants to do away with a traditional shifter lever (a la a stick like in a MT), then just have a shifter - maybe a restyled PDK shifter like the one found in the Panamera.
If one wants to simply do away with the shifter (a la Ferrari) then wipe it entirely from the center console and just stick with buttons and the paddles.
Having the castrated shifter lever takes the worst of both situations and highlights everything that is wrong with both solutions.
If one wants to do away with a traditional shifter lever (a la a stick like in a MT), then just have a shifter - maybe a restyled PDK shifter like the one found in the Panamera.
If one wants to simply do away with the shifter (a la Ferrari) then wipe it entirely from the center console and just stick with buttons and the paddles.
Having the castrated shifter lever takes the worst of both situations and highlights everything that is wrong with both solutions.
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Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 61
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I really want to know. Is it purely aesthetics? Or do people regularly / often use the gear selector to, uh, shift gears?
The only auto transmission I've driven in 30 years was a loaner Macan, when I took my car in for service at the dealer (okay, excluding cheap rental cars). It never occurred to me to shift with the gear selector; if I used "manual" mode, I was quite happy with the paddle shifters.
Educate me please!
The only auto transmission I've driven in 30 years was a loaner Macan, when I took my car in for service at the dealer (okay, excluding cheap rental cars). It never occurred to me to shift with the gear selector; if I used "manual" mode, I was quite happy with the paddle shifters.
Educate me please!
My AMG C43 Coupe do not have any gear selector at all. I don't miss it.
I don't love 992 shaver but it's ok for me.
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Joined: Oct 2008
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From: South Florida
I'm an MT guy, so I don't have a dog in this hunt, but the nubbin does look ugly and out of place to me. It's undersized, so it leaves that huge expanse of black plastic. It removes functionality, and it looks ill-suited for its sole remaining function of shifting to drive and reverse - it looks too small to put your whole hand around, so do you grasp the thing with a couple of fingers and your thumb? Or maybe you're supposed to slap it back and forth? And all this when Porsche has a perfectly good looking and fully-functional solution from the Panny. I just don't get it . . .
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Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 750
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From: Somewhere in Space....the final frontier
Nubin is just plain ugly. Love upshifting/downshifting with the pdk lever, Porsche even fixed it in 991.2 (the direction was weird imbo prior to 991.2 - aka in 997.2-991.1).
And then I love manual also..
See all my posts hatin on the nubin.
And then I love manual also..
See all my posts hatin on the nubin.
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Michael S. Palmer
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From: London, UK.
I really don't get it guys. I sometimes use my daughters Mini Cooper S (auto) which doesn't have paddles, but has a push shifter/lever.
I hate using the dam thing. I also hate using my PDK lever on my 991.2 C2S.
The paddles on my C2S are fantastic to use. And I'm sure they will be great to use on the 992 also. Very convenient, your hands are literally on the steering wheel all the time, whats not to like for goodness sake.
Maybe they should bring back shifters on F1 cars lol.
I don't have an aesthetic problem with the Nubin, save for the fact they should have got rid of it all together. As per most new Ferrari's and McLarens, and just add a couple more buttons, like D and R.
I hate using the dam thing. I also hate using my PDK lever on my 991.2 C2S.
The paddles on my C2S are fantastic to use. And I'm sure they will be great to use on the 992 also. Very convenient, your hands are literally on the steering wheel all the time, whats not to like for goodness sake.
Maybe they should bring back shifters on F1 cars lol.
I don't have an aesthetic problem with the Nubin, save for the fact they should have got rid of it all together. As per most new Ferrari's and McLarens, and just add a couple more buttons, like D and R.
Last edited by Senna01; Feb 26, 2019 at 09:54 AM.
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Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Northern NJ
Personally in cars with automatic transmissions (including PDK) I like shifting with the shift lever. I am not a paddle fan but I do use them occasionally. I use both.
With BMW having the shift level in the left position vs the drive position also changes shift patterns.
The toggle switch on the 992 reminds me of a prius
With BMW having the shift level in the left position vs the drive position also changes shift patterns.
The toggle switch on the 992 reminds me of a prius
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 207
Likes: 62
From: London, UK.
Personally in cars with automatic transmissions (including PDK) I like shifting with the shift lever. I am not a paddle fan but I do use them occasionally. I use both.
With BMW having the shift level in the left position vs the drive position also changes shift patterns.
The toggle switch on the 992 reminds me of a prius
With BMW having the shift level in the left position vs the drive position also changes shift patterns.
The toggle switch on the 992 reminds me of a prius
RwTQvGJ.jpg
Rocky Mountain High
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From: Kolorado
I don't like the execution because it's a compromise solution that doesn't really offer a compromise.
If one wants to do away with a traditional shifter lever (a la a stick like in a MT), then just have a shifter - maybe a restyled PDK shifter like the one found in the Panamera.
If one wants to simply do away with the shifter (a la Ferrari) then wipe it entirely from the center console and just stick with buttons and the paddles.
Having the castrated shifter lever takes the worst of both situations and highlights everything that is wrong with both solutions.
If one wants to do away with a traditional shifter lever (a la a stick like in a MT), then just have a shifter - maybe a restyled PDK shifter like the one found in the Panamera.
If one wants to simply do away with the shifter (a la Ferrari) then wipe it entirely from the center console and just stick with buttons and the paddles.
Having the castrated shifter lever takes the worst of both situations and highlights everything that is wrong with both solutions.
I drive my 991 in manual mode 90% of the time or more, and I always use the paddles. I'd rather have buttons or a dial than the little shifter nubbin in the 992.