
First, select the manual mode, which usually requires pressing a button to switch modes. Then, shift the gear lever to the D position. Note that when in D gear, if the manual mode is not used for a period of time, the transmission will revert to automatic mode. To upshift, pull the paddle toward the driver with your index and middle fingers. To downshift, push the paddle toward the steering wheel with your thumb. By using the paddle shifters to upshift or downshift, the driver can freely switch to the desired gear without taking hands off the steering wheel when the engine speed is appropriate.

When I first encountered the paddle shifters behind the steering wheel while driving the Lincoln Corsair, it felt quite novel. These devices are used for manual gear shifting. When the car is in D (Drive) mode, you can downshift with the left paddle or upshift with the right paddle without taking your hands off the wheel, allowing you to control speed more precisely. They make driving more flexible—for example, tapping the upshift paddle during acceleration can improve fuel efficiency, or downshifting on mountain roads enhances engine braking, which feels exhilarating. Don’t worry about making mistakes, though; the system automatically protects the transmission, preventing improper shifts from damaging the car. I enjoy using them during daily commutes to better adapt to city traffic jams or expressways, saving fuel while keeping things smooth. Still, I recommend practicing in open areas first—safety always comes first.

As a frequent driver, I particularly enjoy the paddle shifters in the Adventurer, which add a dynamic touch to driving. After starting the car and switching to driving mode, you can manually shift gears by pulling the paddles on either side of the steering wheel—the '+' side upshifts to accelerate, while the '-' side downshifts to help slow down. This manual operation can save some fuel at high speeds or is quite useful for controlling speed when taking curves. The Adventurer's engine itself is powerful, and combined with manual control via the paddles, the driving pleasure doubles. I often use them during weekend joyrides or long-distance drives, finding the experience more liberating than pure automatic mode, but remember to switch back to automatic for safety in complex road conditions.

Using the paddle shifters is very convenient in traffic jams, as they allow manual downshifting to help slow down and save brake pads. The Lincoln Adventurer's steering wheel paddle shifters are designed simply—just try them after starting the car, with left for downshifting and right for upshifting, making the operation intuitive. I find them most practical for city driving, such as downshifting at traffic lights to recover energy or upshifting for quick acceleration when overtaking on highways. These details make daily driving easier, reducing reliance on brakes and saving time and effort.


