I have a 2008 XK and is it me, or is it REALLY easy to accidently depress the paddle shifters on the steering wheel while driving? I have done this numerous times. I accidently bump one of these paddles and I find myself suddenly in 3rd gear, with the engine screaming for an upshift....

Thoughts?

 

ummm yep ma big fingers do that the odd time lol

 

It would help alot if Jaguar would just install stiffer springs in the paddle mechanisms. That would sure cut out alot of me having to explain to my passanger why my car is suddenly screaming for an upshift...

 

I have no advice for you but, I am looking at trading my 05 for an 08. The question I have: how quick is the paddle shifting? Is it close to a manual shift speed or is it just like shifting an older auto transmission, like hitting the paddle and counting 1...2....and finally catch the next gear?

 

the jaguar "sequential shift" box changes gears in 0.6 of a second which is... pretty damn fast.

you can read about it here:

http://www.tuninglinx.com/html/jaguar-xk-06-07.html

 

Thanks Jallitt again for your reply and the great description in your attached Link. My interest is definitely increasing by the minute in the newer gen XK :-).

Just as a matter of interest, the article claimed, whenever it was written, that the Jag transmission shifted in 600 ms, which was 100 ms faster than any auto manual on the market. Just, yesterday I read about the new Lamborghini Avantador, which claims a auto-manual shift time of 50 ms, using a single disc clutch. That is technology moving like a freight train in our times. These days I would not buy a manual street car, for even the fastest street driving the new auto-manuals are better and faster than the full manuals, not even talking about how much easier they are to drive fast, particularly with left-foot braking (no more cumbersome heal-and-toe needed).

 

Now I've never check on IDS/SDD, but I know that you can disable the paddles to only work in sports mode on the XF and XJ (NA) engines. I've never checked to see if you can on XK. The next time I have and XK where I need to link it up. I'll scroll through and see if there is an option.

 

As a Skip Barber trained guy, I have to agree. The days of manuals is coming to an end. What is the first upgrade you get going the base skippy racers to the upgraded models in advanced classes. Sequential shifters.
So many guys are stubborn on this. I love my Lotus but at track, what is number one butt clenching mistake I have made. Invariably , its a missed downshift coming into a high speed corner. Ask anyone pushing hard and if they're honest, they'll tell you missing a shift is one of their biggest scares!!

My test drives in XK's had me amazed at how crisp the gear changes were! Porsche PDK's and pretty much all of the new automanual, twin clutch, etc variants are faster than the best manuals in the best hands now. Honestly, isn't that why most of us drove manuals, BECAUSE THEY 'WERE' FASTER!!

 

I don't use the paddle shifters because 1) often no need to and 2) my old manual-shifting behavior of hanging in a gear based on upcoming road conditions (i.e. sitting in second gear instead of shifting to third because you see brake lights up ahead) isn't allowed with the Jag system -- it will shift for you after a very short time.

 

My experience is that in sports mode it stays where you tell it to stay for as long as you want it to. In non sport mode there seems to be a timeout after a few seconds where it goes back to auto.

 

I read a lot of threads and could not find much on using paddles to downshift when coming to a stop. I have 2010 XK 5.0 and I use these to decelerate(?) when coming to a stop. Im not sure how much transmission wear this causes but it certainly relieves wear on brakes. My question is when downshifting I get the usual roar of the exhaust, but also some popping noise. Wondered what amount of popping is normal?

 

It is faster than a manual and significantly faster in sport. I thought I would miss my 3rd pedal but don't... I'll put it another way... it is light years better than the paddle tranny in an Aston

 

Thanks for the reply, but, this is nearly 3 years old thread. Since, I did purchase the '08XK and even traded it for my present XJL. Indeed, the shifting on the present cars are plenty quick.

Albert

 

The annoying thing about the 4.2s is that even in manual paddleshift mode, mashing the gas pedal can cause the kickdown into a lower gear, just as on a regular automatic car. Additionally, hittin revline will automatically upshift. I am told that the dynamic sport mode on the 5.0Ls solves all these issues.

 

Popping noise is normal and it is AWESOME!

 

As a side bar is there anyone out there who is making replacement paddles maybe out of aluminum?

 

Apparently the Range Rover and F-type ones fit, though I think you may not get the illumination of the "+" & "-". There was a thread on it a while back.

 

According to the Jaguar accessories, part number T2R6547 is supposedly for 'all models - 2012 on' but they are £360!

 

Yikes... Holy thread revival... I rarely look at how old a thread is since I'm still new... The previous post to mine bumped it - but props to him for searching before starting a new thread!

 

I would love it if someone would come up with larger paddle shifters...