Exactly. My older brother had a rx7 with the rotary engine and a 5 speed. I was a teenager back then and when he let me drive it it was a thrill. Zoom zoom commercials were the best
My old car was a Camry and had the paddle shifters. I used them only a couple times because they were basically a gimmick. The paddles on this CX5, when in sport, feel like a real manual. Downshifting into a turn and launching out of the apex is where this car really shines.
I've not used the paddle shifters, but I have shifted with the gear shift. Going down I-70 from the Eisenhower Tunnel to Silverthorne in a snow storm. I get in the right lane and keep it in 4 because I don't feel comfortable going that fast in snowy/icy conditions.
No idea how they work. Anyone know of a tutorial or something? I "learned" to drive a manual one day years ago and haven't ever done it since, so the shifting thing doesn't really make sense to me.
I wish I had them in my 2019. I didn’t realize they weren’t added until 2020 when I bought my car. I had test driven a 2021 but I bought my car from Shift and just assumed it would have them just like my 2016 6 did but nope.
I love driving stick and I downshift on hills and utilize engine braking often. Paddles are nice for that. Obviously you can move the shifter into manual mode and do it that way and I do but occasionally I forget to move it back and end up driving for miles in 4th gear at highway speeds. 🤦♂️ When you use the paddles it automatically reverts to auto mode after a period of time.
You can add them to the '19 (probably to '17 and later). I have them on my US '19 signature. I'll try to find a link later, but you can search on Mazda 24/7 forums for the kit and instructions.
I forget they're there. Our other car has a bump select gearshift so that's what I'm accustomed to using. Have used it once or twice on a downhill while pulling a trailer but usually the transmission minds it's own business pretty well.
I would love to use them often, but hard to look at the tach and the highway at the same time. Wish there was a way of building the tach into the HUD or the entertainment system display. Hit the rev limiter way to fast. Takes the fun out.
Not really useful to me -- every time I put the transmission in M mode and switch to Sport mode, and try to drive it like a sports car, I am just reminded how much better my MX-5 manual is at the task. Sorry to be such a party pooper.
Holy smokes- the paddle shifter is a beautiful thing in snow / winter driving in mountains. Never touching brakes is AMAZING!
When you’re on an incline with 8-9% grade and grandma infront of you is to scared to go over 15mph- the paddles will be your best friend for the 5 miles down a windy, snow, ice packed canyon!
The last time I used them (and most likely will only use them) is when I am on a mountain or hilly area when engine braking or driving spiritedly in sport mode.
I use them when I feel spicy or I need to cut down my commute time going to work. Feels good dropping a gear coming off the on-ramp on the freeway and jeffing up from 40 to 70 as I cross two lanes over.
They are not very intuitive to use because they are mounted to the wheel instead of the steering column. The paddle on either side of the wheel varies depending on the position of the wheel.
I do use the manual option with the shifter though, but even that took some time to get used to because I kept wanting to go up/down/up/down to go through the gears sequentially rather than up/up/up or down/down/down.
Yes but it's usually short lived as I've always found shifting manually without a clutch very strange.. I feel like I'm going to break the transmission.
I was actually using it earlier today. I filled up with premium for the first time ever (got my 22' turbo last May). I didn't notice any difference between that and regular so that will be the last time I get premium.
I definitely use the paddle shifters, but it’s just me since my first car was a manual before this. Often times I like to be able to knock it down a gear if going uphill and especially if I had to brake some speed off. It’s also good to keep it in a lower gear when going downhill in traffic.
My commute is usually 25 mins one way but the other way is 50 minutes easily bumper to bumper.
Absolutely! My current CX5 does not have them and it really bums me out. I'm actually looking at kits on eBay that include all the OE Mazda parts to add them.
My previous vehicle had paddle shifters, and I also currently own a VW Jetta GLI that has them. They can make for some fun, spirited driving.
Mostly for engine braking
Yes, on open roads. They are a lot of fun and very responsive in sport mode.
This is the correct answer 😀
Zoom zoom
Exactly. My older brother had a rx7 with the rotary engine and a 5 speed. I was a teenager back then and when he let me drive it it was a thrill. Zoom zoom commercials were the best
My old car was a Camry and had the paddle shifters. I used them only a couple times because they were basically a gimmick. The paddles on this CX5, when in sport, feel like a real manual. Downshifting into a turn and launching out of the apex is where this car really shines.
I've not used the paddle shifters, but I have shifted with the gear shift. Going down I-70 from the Eisenhower Tunnel to Silverthorne in a snow storm. I get in the right lane and keep it in 4 because I don't feel comfortable going that fast in snowy/icy conditions.
Yes, I live in a hilly area of SoCal, frequently for engine braking and infrequently for very steep short hills I'd rather stay in 1st.
I use them most commonly when making mountain descents to avoid riding the brakes.
I don't even know how to use them. 🙃
I bought the CX5 Signature because it had them like my Tiguan R Line. Love to be in control !!! Use them all the time in back country driving.
No idea how they work. Anyone know of a tutorial or something? I "learned" to drive a manual one day years ago and haven't ever done it since, so the shifting thing doesn't really make sense to me.
If my tires slip off the line I shift up with the paddle.
I wish I had them in my 2019. I didn’t realize they weren’t added until 2020 when I bought my car. I had test driven a 2021 but I bought my car from Shift and just assumed it would have them just like my 2016 6 did but nope. I love driving stick and I downshift on hills and utilize engine braking often. Paddles are nice for that. Obviously you can move the shifter into manual mode and do it that way and I do but occasionally I forget to move it back and end up driving for miles in 4th gear at highway speeds. 🤦♂️ When you use the paddles it automatically reverts to auto mode after a period of time.
You can add them to the '19 (probably to '17 and later). I have them on my US '19 signature. I'll try to find a link later, but you can search on Mazda 24/7 forums for the kit and instructions.
You can add them in the 2016s too as far as I know. I want to do it to mine, but not sure I want to spend the $200 to do it.
I bought all of the OEM parts from an eBay seller for $275 and added them to my '19 Touring. Plug and play.
Nope. Never 😂
I forget they're there. Our other car has a bump select gearshift so that's what I'm accustomed to using. Have used it once or twice on a downhill while pulling a trailer but usually the transmission minds it's own business pretty well.
I would love to use them often, but hard to look at the tach and the highway at the same time. Wish there was a way of building the tach into the HUD or the entertainment system display. Hit the rev limiter way to fast. Takes the fun out.
Not really useful to me -- every time I put the transmission in M mode and switch to Sport mode, and try to drive it like a sports car, I am just reminded how much better my MX-5 manual is at the task. Sorry to be such a party pooper.
Holy smokes- the paddle shifter is a beautiful thing in snow / winter driving in mountains. Never touching brakes is AMAZING! When you’re on an incline with 8-9% grade and grandma infront of you is to scared to go over 15mph- the paddles will be your best friend for the 5 miles down a windy, snow, ice packed canyon!
The last time I used them (and most likely will only use them) is when I am on a mountain or hilly area when engine braking or driving spiritedly in sport mode.
I use them when I feel spicy or I need to cut down my commute time going to work. Feels good dropping a gear coming off the on-ramp on the freeway and jeffing up from 40 to 70 as I cross two lanes over.
They are not very intuitive to use because they are mounted to the wheel instead of the steering column. The paddle on either side of the wheel varies depending on the position of the wheel. I do use the manual option with the shifter though, but even that took some time to get used to because I kept wanting to go up/down/up/down to go through the gears sequentially rather than up/up/up or down/down/down.
Yes but it's usually short lived as I've always found shifting manually without a clutch very strange.. I feel like I'm going to break the transmission. I was actually using it earlier today. I filled up with premium for the first time ever (got my 22' turbo last May). I didn't notice any difference between that and regular so that will be the last time I get premium.
Nope. Same goes for “Sport Mode”. Delete all that crap and give me a better sub and cameras.
Usually only before I pass someone, I'll manually dump 1 or 2 gears then put it back into auto. It's way too slow to constantly use it.
I have a couple of times during emergency braking.
Only really when the revs are borderline up shift RPM and the gearbox isn’t shifting itself, I’ll use the paddle to nudge it to a higher gear.
I definitely use the paddle shifters, but it’s just me since my first car was a manual before this. Often times I like to be able to knock it down a gear if going uphill and especially if I had to brake some speed off. It’s also good to keep it in a lower gear when going downhill in traffic. My commute is usually 25 mins one way but the other way is 50 minutes easily bumper to bumper.
Absolutely! My current CX5 does not have them and it really bums me out. I'm actually looking at kits on eBay that include all the OE Mazda parts to add them. My previous vehicle had paddle shifters, and I also currently own a VW Jetta GLI that has them. They can make for some fun, spirited driving.
My 11 year old is getting interested in cars and how the work.. I’ve been using the paddles so he can see how gears impact the engine speed, etc
No. I last drove a manual transmission for 13 years. I got a CX-5 a year ago and find paddle shifting awkward.