[SMJBA]

First and foremost I would like to thanks everyone for making this forum one of best I have been to. I have read pretty much every thread as I was torn between a MB C350 4matic and the Q50. Like all I am facing the same dilemma..buying a car I haven't seen...leave alone driven but thanks to all of you very enthusiast crowd I am hitting my dealer tomorrow morning to place a pre order.

I am still undecided between the sport and non sport over one thing...17' wheel or 19". Being in Canada as you know our configuration choices are more limited ( what's new). I can get 19" only on the sport. The temperature wherw I live is similar to Minniapolis..i.e cold , icy and snowy . and our road are VERY BAD...i mean very very bad. I msut decide on the trade off of comfort for day to day driving on 17" VS more spririted driving of the 19" with sport suspension. I read the review of the poor performance of the RFT which i take with a grain of salt as the Good Year F1 RFT on my Corvette perform very well. I also like the paddle shifter but without a dual clutch I see a reduced purpose. I also like the look of the sport seast but also wonder if the non sport are equally comfortable

Any input will be greatly appreciated...before tomorrow..if all possible

Thank you

 

[Q50Aggie]

You can get the 19" wheels on non-sport as an add-on! I would get AWD with 19" wheels! Sport package is awesome in my opinion, but you can definitely get the 19" wheels without it

 

[maddsiick]

+1. I prefer the feel of the sport seat over the regular seat. The sport seat seems to hug the body better. Paddle shifters are just a plus. And the wheels are awesome. I like the front bumper on the sport better too than the regular bumper.

 

[SMJBA]

This is the dilemma

You can get the 19" wheels on non-sport as an add-on!

This option is not available in Canada...I would have to go after market..and yes the AWD is a given

 

[Q50Aggie]

+1. I prefer the feel of the sport seat over the regular seat. The sport seat seems to hug the body better. Paddle shifters are just a plus. And the wheels are awesome. I like the front bumper on the sport better too than the regular bumper.

Who actually uses paddle shifters though? They are cool, but I read that the computer can shift way better than manual mode anyways. I will have to play around with the paddle shifters when I start driving mine...

 

[gbert15]

Who actually uses paddle shifters though? They are cool, but I read that the computer can shift way better than manual mode anyways. I will have to play around with the paddle shifters when I start driving mine...

I will! Well...maybe! Hehe! I like the feeling of being able to control the gear im on! Downshifting when approaching corners and while maintaining the RPM then suddenly upshift when u clesr the curve! Not sure if its translates the same way as I do in manual but I hope it does somehow! Hehe!

 

[Sinecure]

Who actually uses paddle shifters though? They are cool, but I read that the computer can shift way better than manual mode anyways. I will have to play around with the paddle shifters when I start driving mine...

People in Canada, or other snowy climes. Downshifting to slow the car is frequently a much safer approach than braking. And using paddle shifters in the Q50 to downshift is easier than using the gear shift.

 

[SimpsonTide985]

Who actually uses paddle shifters though? They are cool, but I read that the computer can shift way better than manual mode anyways. I will have to play around with the paddle shifters when I start driving mine...

Oh, no---that's only if you don't know how to use the paddles.

It took me about a year to actually get comfortable with using the manual shifting/paddles and maybe another six months after that to truly master them and once you figure out how and when to use them, they are an absolute blast!

In fact, I don't think I'll ever buy a car again that doesn't have paddle shifters!

 

[maddsiick]

I use it when I'm overtaking someone on the highway, for a quick shift-down. I'm sure the computer could do it better, its just a habit of mine to do it in my current car.

 

[Infiniti Chick]

Who actually uses paddle shifters though? They are cool, but I read that the computer can shift way better than manual mode anyways. I will have to play around with the paddle shifters when I start driving mine...

I've had my G37A for 3 years and have never used them. Although on the way home from Huntsville Saturday, I passed three cars thinking they were closer together. With cars coming from the opposite direction, I floored it and hit over 100mph (without realizing it or meaning to...I blame the Q50 adrenaline high) and it didn't even feel that fast....but definitely the fastest I've gone. SOOOO glad a cop wasn't around considering it as a 55mph zone. ha

 

[Q50Aggie]

Shoot, I hit 100 in my test drive last week on the feeder...I think speed limit was 45! LOL

 

[Q50Aggie]

Oh, no---that's only if you don't know how to use the paddles.

It took me about a year to actually get comfortable with using the manual shifting/paddles and maybe another six months after that to truly master them and once you figure out how and when to use them, they are an absolute blast!

In fact, I don't think I'll ever buy a car again that doesn't have paddle shifters!

How about a quick write up tutorial for paddle noobs

 

[gbert15]

How about a quick write up tutorial for paddle noobs

Would definitely want to hear that! Not really a stranger to manual shifting but would definitely want to know some different aspects of paddle shifting!

Looking forward to that write up SimpsonTide!

 

[SimpsonTide985]

Hey! What just happened?!

 

[EX-infinitisalesguy]

One complaint I had about Infinitis - manual mode shifting really stank unless you used paddle shifters, it had a really bad delay between shifts (not sure if they addressed this in the Q50). And I forget when they started doing this, but paddle shifters add another benefit now - you don't have to put the drive selector into manual mode to control the gears. You can just "shift" into manual mode while driving in regular auto mode by simply using the paddle shifters to go up or down a gear. If you do that, then the drive mode will reset to regular auto mode when not actively using it, if you forget to shift back. This has probably happened to many of us who use manual mode - you get distracted at a red light and forget you're in manual mode, then on green light, you rev your car way up in 1st gear like a dork until you realize what happened.

That adds a very nice convenience factor to sport mode if you want to have more control over your gears, especially since they won't be producing a manual Q50 (last I heard, correct me if I'm wrong). I will admit, I am heavily biased toward the sport package, I think it adds so much benefit. It's value is excellent (advantages easily outweigh the added cost).

 

[SimpsonTide985]

One complaint I had about Infinitis - manual mode shifting really stank unless you used paddle shifters, it had a really bad delay between shifts (not sure if they addressed this in the Q50). And I forget when they started doing this, but paddle shifters add another benefit now - you don't have to put the drive selector into manual mode to control the gears. You can just "shift" into manual mode while driving in regular auto mode by simply using the paddle shifters to go up or down a gear. If you do that, then the drive mode will reset to regular auto mode when not actively using it, if you forget to shift back. This has probably happened to many of us who use manual mode - you get distracted at a red light and forget you're in manual mode, then on green light, you rev your car way up in 1st gear like a dork until you realize what happened.

That adds a very nice convenience factor to sport mode if you want to have more control over your gears, especially since they won't be producing a manual Q50 (last I heard, correct me if I'm wrong). I will admit, I am heavily biased toward the sport package, I think it adds so much benefit. It's value is excellent (advantages easily outweigh the added cost).

Yeah, I'm not sure if I can properly describe how to the use paddles properly, but for example, this is how I like to use them for a nice burst of effortless acceleration from a stop.

1. While stopped, move the gear selector in DS mode.
2. Downshift (-) using the gear selector or paddle shifter. In the cluster display, you should see a "1" signifying that you're in 1st gear.
3. Step on the gas and get moving! You'll start to rev up extremely quickly so at this point, pay attention to your RPM.
4. Once your RPM hits around 3500-4000, quickly upshift (+) to 2nd. Your RPM will still continue to stay high and speed up.
5. Now, quickly upshift again to 3rd at around 4500-5000 again. You should be at around 50mph at this point.
6. At this point if you're cruising and at a steady speed, start upshifting gear by gear (probably one gear every other second) until you get to 6th gear. I'd say stay in 6th gear once you're on normal stretches of road driving along normally. 7th gear should be reserved for highway cruising.
7. Remember, while in DS mode and you've activated the paddles/manual shift, when you come to a stop, the car will revert back and stay in 1st gear until you manual shift it again or until the computer takes control and upshifts for you (I recommend not letting the latter happen).


8. It might take a while to get the timing down to a comfortable level. My advice is, unless you're trying to hit redline and possibly screw up your car, try to never let the RPMs go past 5500-6000 and once you're cruising along on flat road at a constant speed, make sure to shift up to 7th gear.

Once you start messing around with the paddles in a straight line, you should eventually be able to know how to use them in curvy roads.

Personally when I'm on a curvy road with uphills, I tend to stay shifting in between 2nd, 3rd, or 4th. These are great gear sections, especially going down to 2nd or 3rd when you want to tackle uphills and quick accelerations out of turns.

 

[Rick]

I've had my G37A for 3 years and have never used them. Although on the way home from Huntsville Saturday, I passed three cars thinking they were closer together. With cars coming from the opposite direction, I floored it and hit over 100mph (without realizing it or meaning to...I blame the Q50 adrenaline high) and it didn't even feel that fast....but definitely the fastest I've gone. SOOOO glad a cop wasn't around considering it as a 55mph zone. ha

When I bought my first G I remember being out on I65 btw Chicago and Indy touch the gas and the g35x went from 70 to 80 touch again and it is at 90 then again at 100 and the car hasn't even broken a sweat was fun
Try not to do that often

 

[Rick]

Yeah, I'm not sure if I can properly describe how to the use paddles properly, but for example, this is how I like to use them for a nice burst of effortless acceleration from a stop.

1. While stopped, move the gear selector in DS mode.
2. Downshift (-) using the gear selector or paddle shifter. In the cluster display, you should see a "1" signifying that you're in 1st gear.
3. Step on the gas and get moving! You'll start to rev up extremely quickly so at this point, pay attention to your RPM.
4. Once your RPM hits around 3500-4000, quickly upshift (+) to 2nd. Your RPM will still continue to stay high and speed up.
5. Now, quickly upshift again to 3rd at around 4500-5000 again. You should be at around 50mph at this point.
6. At this point if you're cruising and at a steady speed, start upshifting gear by gear (probably one gear every other second) until you get to 6th or 7th gear.
7. Remember, while in DS mode and you've activated the paddles and manual shift, when you come back to a stop, the car will stay in 1st gear until you manual shift it again or until the computer takes control and upshifts (I recommend not letting the latter happen).


8. It might take a while to get the timing down to a comfortable level. My advice is, unless you're trying to hit redline and possibly screw up your car, try to never let the RPMs go past 5500-6000 and once you're cruising along on flat road at a constant speed, make sure to shift up to 7th gear.

Once you start messing around with the paddles in a straight line, you should eventually be able to know how to use them in curvy roads.

Personally when I'm on a curvy road with uphills, I tend to stay shifting in between 2nd, 3rd, or 4th. These are great gear sections, especially going down to 2nd or 3rd when you want to tackle uphills and quick accelerations out of turns.

Thanks would be great to have this moved to a separate thread so all of us can find it when we get our sport versions and think now were are those great instructions

 

[gbert15]

Yeah, I'm not sure if I can properly describe how to the use paddles properly, but for example, this is how I like to use them for a nice burst of effortless acceleration from a stop.

1. While stopped, move the gear selector in DS mode.
2. Downshift (-) using the gear selector or paddle shifter. In the cluster display, you should see a "1" signifying that you're in 1st gear.
3. Step on the gas and get moving! You'll start to rev up extremely quickly so at this point, pay attention to your RPM.
4. Once your RPM hits around 3500-4000, quickly upshift (+) to 2nd. Your RPM will still continue to stay high and speed up.
5. Now, quickly upshift again to 3rd at around 4500-5000 again. You should be at around 50mph at this point.
6. At this point if you're cruising and at a steady speed, start upshifting gear by gear (probably one gear every other second) until you get to 6th or 7th gear.
7. Remember, while in DS mode and you've activated the paddles/manual shift, when you come to a stop, the car will revert back and stay in 1st gear until you manual shift it again or until the computer takes control and upshifts for you (I recommend not letting the latter happen).


8. It might take a while to get the timing down to a comfortable level. My advice is, unless you're trying to hit redline and possibly screw up your car, try to never let the RPMs go past 5500-6000 and once you're cruising along on flat road at a constant speed, make sure to shift up to 7th gear.

Once you start messing around with the paddles in a straight line, you should eventually be able to know how to use them in curvy roads.

Personally when I'm on a curvy road with uphills, I tend to stay shifting in between 2nd, 3rd, or 4th. These are great gear sections, especially going down to 2nd or 3rd when you want to tackle uphills and quick accelerations out of turns.

I vote for u to make a separate thread of this with pics and vids!

Wait...i want to clarify...so I dont need to shift back to 1st gear when I reach a stop? It shifts back by itself? If so, how long does it to shift to 1st gear! Ive been downshifting to 1st gear every time I come to a complete stop!

 

[SimpsonTide985]

Yeah, I can put that in a separate thread. Yes, the car will downshift you back to 1st automatically, but you can come to a stop even more controlled and smooth if you downshift yourself down to 3rd or 4th while you're putting on the brakes.