Maniacs DSG paddle extension

[WazR36]

just thought i would post this that i found on eBay tonight.
i have a set of maniacs DSG paddle extenders, they are the absolute best thing i could possibly buy for the car. they did however cost me over $150 posted from overseas.
whilst on eBay i came across these: VW Steering Wheel DSG Paddle Extension MK6 Golf GTI R SCIROCCO R20 CC R36 | eBay
basically the same thing but cheaper! this is how much they probably deserve to cost given they are only plastic.
will post some pics of my own ones over the coming days but hope that someone else can benefit from this find

cheers,
Warren

[Steve]

I have some replacement paddles made of aluminium and they are great. I'm not sold on the idea of plastic.



They are a great addition to the car, and as far as I'm concerned they should be standard equipment.

[Ryan_R]

Great find Warren - look just like the Maniacs one (I was planning on getting them but ~$190 shipped it way too much).

Only problem is the smaller range of styles - I was hoping to get the silver ones without the writing on them. Will make up my mind eventually - heck I might even buy two types xD

[bwen]

Great find Warren - look just like the Maniacs one (I was planning on getting them but ~$190 shipped it way too much).

Only problem is the smaller range of styles - I was hoping to get the silver ones without the writing on them. Will make up my mind eventually - heck I might even buy two types xD

Hey mate, there are often group buys (to save on shipping). There's been a few that have been setup on vwgolf.net.au. I'm sure you could either head there and fit yourself in another group buy or even organise one here at vwwatercooled. I've heard from numerous people that the Maniacs have the one up on the S2TT paddles in that they do not lose the original click that you get when using the stock paddles. They also keep the factory illumination of + and - on each paddle

[Ryan_R]

Yes but I doubt a GB will get anywhere near the $46 shown on eBay

[bwen]

Yes but I doubt a GB will get anywhere near the $46 shown on eBay

I would get it from cargear07 on eBay as well, but I'm a bit picky and can't find just simple black ones (unless you know where I can find them? )

[Ryan_R]

I've asked the seller if he has the plain silver ones & waiting for a response. If it's a yes for me than chances are it'll be good news for you too.

If not I'll have to choose between silver with script or carbon fibre. CF would probably look more out of place on my car due to the beige interior. Silver would probably match the chrome trim pieces better.

[Jay Gee]

How do the aluminium ones attach. Are they stickon like the plastic?

[kleung]

How do the aluminium ones attach. Are they stickon like the plastic?

The ones in Steve's photo appear to be the S2T Performance paddles - they replace the original plastic mini paddles.

The S2TP paddles are similar to the Oettinger paddles, which also replace the original paddles.

Here's a howto video that will show you exactly how they are fitted.

[Steve]

The ones in Steve's photo appear to be the S2T Performance paddles - they replace the original plastic mini paddles.

The S2TP paddles are similar to the Oettinger paddles, which also replace the original paddles.

Here's a howto video that will show you exactly how they are fitted.

You got it - I have the S2T paddles

The fitting guide looks a bit daunting but it's not too difficult at all. I said that these should be standard on every R36, but they're not - so every R36 owner should fit them. I think I have posted some thoughts on this forum about the fitting process.

I rarely drive my car without using the paddles to change gear, and the larger paddles make a huge difference over the rubbish standard paddles. Thoroughly recommended. I really don't understand why VW delivers cars with a great gearbox but a useless way of interacting with it.

[kleung]

I really don't understand why VW delivers cars with a great gearbox but a useless way of interacting with it.

I actually don't mind the standard paddles. I have zero interest in stick-on paddles, so if I were to upgrade, the only option would be either the S2T or Oettingers, which are upwards of AU$250 a set. Of course the bigger paddles are better, but for me, it's not $250 better.

[Ryan_R]

I know how you feel, but I've read people's reviews on the stick on ones (even one person who had tried both (Maniacs + S2T) and they were full of high praise for the Maniacs. No problems of them falling off - even VW use 3M tape when fitting their OEM weather-shields to the Golf 6 (as they did on my car).

[Steve]

I actually don't mind the standard paddles. I have zero interest in stick-on paddles, so if I were to upgrade, the only option would be either the S2T or Oettingers, which are upwards of AU$250 a set. Of course the bigger paddles are better, but for me, it's not $250 better.

I drive the car almost exclusively with the paddles and to my mind it is definitely a $250 improvement. The only time my car is ever in "D" is when I'm on long highway trips. Around town it's always driven with the paddles. The S2T paddles look and feel great and are much more usable than the terrible stumpy paddles that the car is crippled with from the factory.

I'm a little passionate about it

[kleung]

I know how you feel, but I've read people's reviews on the stick on ones (even one person who had tried both (Maniacs + S2T) and they were full of high praise for the Maniacs. No problems of them falling off - even VW use 3M tape when fitting their OEM weather-shields to the Golf 6 (as they did on my car).

As far as the styling goes, they look fine. It must be a little weird though, having the + and - symbols lit up at night down low on the paddles though.

Even if it is 3M tape, it is still just tape, and it will eventually deteriorate and fall off - my father has the OEM shields on his Golf 118TSI, and the dealer did point out that they will eventually fall off. With the shields I guess it's not a big deal to just buy a bit more tape and slap them back on again, but with the paddles, they are exposed to much higher temperatures than the weathershields, and they also have to withstand being 'pulled' repeatedly over their lifetime.

And if they ever come off, intentionally or otherwise, they'll undoubtedly leave behind a horrible, sticky residue on the OEM paddles, which, because of the location, shape and texture of the paddles will make it difficult if not impossible to clean off.

Besides, plastic stick-ons just seem a bit half-arsed to me, and the aluminium ones would feel so much better. I know TID Styling make aluminium stickons, but seriously, $400+ a set?

I'm a little passionate about it

Nothing wrong with that. They look great, and are undoubtedly nice to use as well. I did seriously consider getting the S2Ts when there was a group buy on here, but I decided that my $250 could be better spent elsewhere.

Besides, it could be worse - I just had relatives staying with me for just over a month, and we spent 6 days in Sydney and 6 days in Perth. We had an FG XR6 hire car both times, and it was an appalling car to drive. Huge boot and surprisingly good fuel economy for its size, but crap in pretty much every other way.

[Ryan_R]

my father has the OEM shields on his Golf 118TSI, and the dealer did point out that they will eventually fall off. With the shields I guess it's not a big deal to just buy a bit more tape and slap them back on again,

lol, if my shields fall off while driving it might be a bit of bigger deal than you've alluded to there :p

Hopefully we've upgraded cars before that time comes anyway