Paddle Shifting Proposal

[Noah]

I propose Enterprises make the inevitable move to paddle shifting in two phases.


Phase 1:
Move to a fly-by-wire optional throttle body. This would allow auto-blip downshifts, rain throttle maps, and a pit lap speed limiter. The parts required (FLW throttle body, throttle position sensors, shift sensor, map switch, ecu update, etc.) would cost around $1,000, so by Enterprise's math; it would be a $3,000 upgrade for us.


Phase 2:
Make the paddle-shifting mechanism OPEN. With the speed of shifts fundamentally limited by the ECU, there's no benefit to the most expensive system. It also minimizes the advantage of paddle-shift cars over non-paddle-shift.

[CheckeredFlag]

Interesting. I could get behind this. With autoblip controlled by the ECU in all cars with that upgrade, paddle shift drivers would have little advantage over manual shifters; a level playing field, as it were. The 2-phase approach makes sense. Good suggestion.

[CGOffroad]

To allow both paddle shift and manual shift in the same 'spec' class will invite deterioration. Even if 'science' proves the two systems are equal..... someone won't believe it to be true. Pandora's box of 'parity' will then be opened. The haggling and belly aching will soon follow !! The FE/FE2 class has gone through a large financial change with the engine and gearbox. Leave it alone for a while.

If some driver is just 'faunching at the bitt' to drive a paddle shift car, I would like to introduce them to the idea of Formula Regional, F4 and FMzR.

[Fred Michael]

It is not necessary to have throttle by wire to have an auto blip system

[Noah]

To allow both paddle shift and manual shift in the same 'spec' class will invite deterioration. Even if 'science' proves the two systems are equal..... someone won't believe it to be true.

The reality is they are not equal. Paddle-shift will always be faster, but not by much. 1-2 tenths on a typical track. It's main advantage is the it reduces errors particularly in the braking zone.

My proposal allows drivers to decide if that is worth the $5,000 to install the system.

[Noah]

It is not necessary to have throttle by wire to have an auto blip system

True. But it is required for a paddle-shift downshift. It allows the ECU to calculate the perfect amount of blip for any given speed, RPM and gear.

[lowside67]

True. But it is required for a paddle-shift downshift. It allows the ECU to calculate the perfect amount of blip for any given speed, RPM and gear.

No, it is not required to achieve that. Many cars with traditional throttle cables will use an air-powered blipper controlled by the ECU with all the sophistication possible. Drive by wire reduces a little bit of of pneumatic complexity but there's really no requirement to have it to achieve a full paddle shift system.

-Mark

[Noah]

No, it is not required to achieve that. Many cars with traditional throttle cables will use an air-powered blipper controlled by the ECU with all the sophistication possible. Drive by wire reduces a little bit of of pneumatic complexity but there's really no requirement to have it to achieve a full paddle shift system.

-Mark

I was trying to keep it simple but yes it's true, but since the PE ECU doesn't have the ability to control a pneumatic blipper without a separate GCU and because the FE does not have the a pneumatic system, the most cost effective way to implement auto-blip for FE is with a drive-by-wire throttle body. And other than auto-blip, DBW throttle body allow you to day other features to the car like rain maps.

My goal is to allow auto-blip with forcing people to switch to paddle shift.