What's it like?

What's it like pumping the clutch in traffic queue's? How much heavier does it feel after 30 minutes?

What's it like pulling away, sedately? Is it a pain getting the instant engagement of drive without the ability to drag it?

Can you still do hill starts ok?

Is it more effort in the winter?

etc.!

i think they are pretty easy to use, and don't feel much heavier than a standard clutch.

they are a bit difficult to use at first but once bedded in and you have got used to it they are fine. just give it a tiny bit of extra revs when pulling away!

Fantastic when driving fast!

+1

feels as heavy as my 170K km original clutch was just before it started slipping
not too bad, but can be tiring if you on massive traffic jams.

V.

have you guys got 4 or 6 point paddles ?

as an alternative to giving it revs you can get your car mapped with a slightly higher idle and that will do the trick as well

I found the extra "digital-ness" took me a few drives to get used to - I stalled it a few times

But now I'm used to it, when I get into the other half's KA after driving the coup, I stall it because when I think "BITE" it kind of puffs out of steam and dies

I hated it when I first drove mine after having it fitted. I stalled the car about 10 times on the drive home from Barbs place.

However, I now really like it. It took me several weeks to get used to, but once over that, it's fine. It holds the power really well and has never slipped.

what would you recommend John? around 950 or even more?
Stock idle should be 850 (at least at the 16vt)

V.

I've driven Formula Firsts and Rally cars that have paddle clutches and although great for racing, I'd imagine they would seriously hamper your finesse on the road!

Just look a bit silly to the uneducated who see you pulling away with a load of revs when crawling in traffic. Little do they know what's under the bonnet

"Sorry officer, it's a paddle clutch. I have to dump it when I pull away, as that's all it is, engaged or not."

Somehow I can see them using their ignorance to their own advantage, again...

its not as if you have to dump the clutch at 4000rpm!
pulling away isn't stupidly different to a normal clutch!

Yeah, nothing that bad!!

Reverse is fun - pumping up and down on the gas.

Its brilliant changing gear as you hardly need to touch the peddle.

Round town is doable, but does do ur nut after a bit. I tend to just let the car roll down the hill or leave nice big gaps in front so I keep moving.

Make sure you do get one that is 'sprung' so that way there is some give.

If your daily commute includes lots of traffic jams go organic or get a 2nd car. If its just sets of lights here and there, paddle is great.

I'll also add that the harder you are on the paddle clutch, the smoother it becomes. Crail sorted that for me.

Happy Birthday m8!

Cheers chief!

helix ceramic all the way, quite smooth & light as the Alfa clutch I had years ago, so far, it's held at over 380hp..

grips like a bastard

.....silly silly me.......

about 340 lb/ft......

this will get betta when I can be arsed to drive the car again

got a bit too attached to the estate car.

ive got a 5 paddle and its fine, just need a few more revs when trying to creep in traffic or it can get a bit 'juddery' (like when a learner tries to pull away lol)

most of the time i dont even think about it being there tbh,

So do you think my 60yo mum will still be able to drive it? (seriously!)

Nope.

But she will have the exhaust hanging off by the end of the day because she will have juddered it to death.

Its not bad but its certainly not designed for people who want to use it occasionally, you need to get used to it.

welformed, has your mum got a v.strong left leg by any chance?
'cause she'll need it

doubt she'll drive it more than once (and for more than a few miles...)

V.

hmmmm....

Vas - I disagree. I've driven a helix 4 paddle clutch and IMO it's lighter than a standard clutch. The organic is also lighter than OE. The problem I find with the paddle is that it'll shake your car to bits. It feels like axle tramp and if you're mechanically sympathetic it's cringeworthy.

how old was the paddle clutch you drove Kenno?
when i test drove my car the paddle had only been fitted for 1000 miles or so, my foot shot to the floor first time i used it because it was so light but it has gone heavier since after a few more miles!

Vas has my old Helix. That is uprated beyond the Helix clutch being offered in the group buy or generally on sale now and was a one-off made especially for me

Eldinho - I've driven Alessandro's car a number of times and it's always been consistently light. When he first had it i'm sure it shook a few fillings loose. A couple of thousand miles later on and although it's not as harsh, it still will judder if you get the revs a smidgen wrong going down the box.

kenno i had an experience like yours, i couldnt hack it at all...

i had to get it rid of it, felt like like the dash was going to jump out and land on my knee at every set of traffic lights and the 3rd to 2nd downchange was def. less than smooth..

yeah third to second i have to blip the throttle! when braking bit of toe heel action going on!