13 Paddle Shift Cars That Will Make You Feel Like a Pro Racer
Flappy paddles are one of the best inventions in the automotive world. The ability to shift gears in an instant and feel like you are in a racing car is one of the best feelings in motoring.
As they have become more widespread, more and more cars have featured the paddles. That hasn’t taken away how special they feel.
This list contains 13 exemplary paddle-shift cars. We selected them based on their smooth shifting and overall performance.
Dodge Charger

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Remarkably, the leviathan that is the Dodge Charger does have paddle shifts. At least it did. The Dodge muscle car is no longer in production, but a new, all-electric version and a V6-powered model are on the way.
It is likely the V6 will have some form of paddle shifting, but the days of flicking through the gears of a Dodge V8 are long gone. Hopefully, the driving experience of the latest Dodge will live up to that of the previous generation.
Subaru WRX

Subaru is known for producing brilliant, high-performance cars, and the current WRX is no exception. The CVT with optional paddle shifters makes it even more enjoyable, although a six-speed manual is also available if people so wish.
Power comes from a 2.4-liter four-cylinder Boxer engine, producing 271 horsepower, which is good enough for a 0-60 mph time of just 5.5 seconds. While the WRX is at home off-road, it’s also perfectly comfortable enough to become anyone’s daily driver.
Alfa Romeo 4C

While reliability and quality can sometimes be questioned, there is no denying how gorgeous Alfa Romeo’s cars are. The 4C is one of the prettiest in recent years, with its slim, low shape and carbon fiber body combining to produce a stunning sports car.
Under the hood is a 1.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, good enough for 237 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. The car weighs just 2,465 lbs, which is an exceptional amount of power, and the 0-60 mph speed is just 4.1 seconds.
Nissan GT-R Nismo

The latest Nissan GT-R, the R35 generation, has become one of the best performance cars of the 21st century. The day Nissan withdraws it from production will be a sad one, and the sports car world will have a gaping hole to fill.
The car has evolved massively over the years, but at its core, it has always been a twin-turbocharged V6. The GT-R Nismo version boosts the power even further to 600 horsepower and 481 lb-ft of torque for a top speed of 191 mph. Few cars can match that figure, and yet the GT-R does this at a fraction of the cost of a Ferrari or Bugatti.
Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

It may have first appeared on the scene seven years ago, in 2017, but the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 remains one of the best versions of the Bow Tie’s muscle car ever produced. The key to its success is the 6.2-liter supercharged V8 engine, which makes an astonishing 640 horsepower.
The Camaro ZL1’s ten-speed automatic transmission makes it such a good driving machine. The paddle shifters produce one of the fastest shifting experiences on any modern performance car, so it’s little wonder that it remains so popular.
Audi S4

It perhaps comes as no surprise to see an Audi make this list. The German brand has long been a favorite in the performance car world, and the S4 is one of its finest efforts to date. The key to its success is the 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 under the hood, which produces 349 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque.
The eight-speed automatic transmission and the 4.4-second 0-60 mph time add to the fun factor. The all-wheel drive, in the form of the Quattro system, ensures plenty of grip and even more fun in the corners.
Jaguar F-Type R Coupe

Jaguar sometimes suffers from quality control and reliability issues. However, it only takes a single lap around a race track in the F-Type R to realize just how good a sports car the British manufacturer can produce. A supercharged V8 under the hood provides the magic and up to 550 horsepower.
That V8 also produces an incredible soundtrack, aided by the active sport exhaust and its brilliant crackle and pop. The eight-speed paddle-shifting automatic transmission is lightning-quick and feels excellent when combined with the car’s all-wheel-drive system.
Kia Stinger

A Kia with a flappy-paddle transmission might not sound that exciting, but it’s a lot more interesting than you might think. The Stinger is one of Kia’s best products, and the base 2.0-liter 255 horsepower turbo is an excellent powertrain. Even better is the 3.3-liter V6, which produces 368 horsepower and a 0-60 mph time of just 4.4 seconds.
The transmission is an eight-speed automatic with paddle shifters, and while it looks like your average sedan, the Stinger is a very potent four-door. Kia has worked on tuning the suspension of the Stinger, making it more than just a straight-line machine and a demon in the corners.
Volkswagen Golf R

Including a Volkswagen on this list might seem like an odd move. But the Golf R is an excellent hot hatchback and likely one of the best of all time. Under the hood, it has a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine producing around 290 horsepower, which is pretty much the right amount for a hot hatch.
Transmission-wise, there is a six-speed manual or a six-speed DSG dual-clutch with paddle shifting available. The automatic transmission provides a silky-smooth driving experience.
Porsche 911 GT3 RS

While hardcore gearheads will want a manual in their Porsche 911, the flappy-paddle automatic in the 911 GT3 RS is one of the best transmissions ever created and one of the best for those seeking maximum performance from the car.
The 4.0-liter flat-six under the hood produces over 500 horsepower, and the seven-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission is an absolute dream. The 911 GT3 RS’s lightness, combined with its downforce, makes it one of the world’s most excellent driving machines.
Hyundai Elantra N

A Hyundai sedan with flappy shifting might not sound that exciting. But the Elantra N is a very hot sedan, with the N badge telling you everything you should know about this car. Power comes from a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 276 horsepower and 289 lb-ft of torque.
Add in the eight-speed wet dual-clutch transmission with its flappy paddles, and you are in for a treat. If you prefer a stick shift, however, Hyundai does provide a six-speed manual.
Porsche 718 Cayman

Porsche isn’t just a one-trick pony; it can produce more than just the 911. The 718 Cayman is proof of that, with the base model offering a 2.0-liter turbocharged flat-four engine that produces 300 horsepower.
The seven-speed PDK transmission with its paddle shifters is smooth, quick, and fully optimized so that you can get the most performance out of the car. For those who want more power, Porsche offers that with the Cayman GTS and the GT4, which are totally different animals compared to the base 718 Cayman.
BMW M3

The BMW M3 is one of the most famous and loved performance sedans in the world. It might look like your average BMW 3 Series, but the M3 is anything but, thanks to its range of engines. The base M3 produces 473 horsepower, while the top-of-the-range M3 Competition xDrive Sedan packs 523 horsepower with its TwinPower turbocharged inline-six.
The interior is one of the finest on any performance car, with the available M Alcantara offering extra grip on the steering wheel. Various M designs feature inside the car, with M badging and accents, tri-color stitching, and a red 12 o’clock clock, a nod to BMW’s racing heritage.