R8 manual - that darned emergency blinker switch!

[zondar]

Hello folks,

I'm a new R8 Spyder V8 manual owner.

Here's one thing that is very irritating: The bank of switches right below the shifter are ill-positioned and too sensitive. I keep accidentally turning them on (or off), especially the emergency blinker, which is right below where my wrist naturally falls.

I'm sure this is much less of a problem for those with R-tronic's, but with a manual, this happens over and over every time I drive.

To make matters worse, I can't hear the blinker switching while driving, and I have the steering wheel positioned where I can't see the indicators either. So it's often miles and miles before I notice.

I suppose I'll just get used to it in time, but does anyone have any other suggestions? I can't be alone on this.

Cheers.

[sundowner]

You are not alone. I have an r-tronic and have turned on the emergency flashers a couple of times. I always shift into neutral when stopped and find that when I bump her back into gear I can hit the emergency flashers if I get lazy and lay my wrist down.

zondar, Please add your location to your profile. It helps with area specific differences.

[v10]

Lol, good to know I'm not the only one who accidentally hits those buttons.

[AL3ayali_Dubai]

lool i dunoo i just laughed it sounds funny ... it never happend to me though

[guod]

Yes!!! i am not alone. when i get lazy my wrist has hit the flashers a few times and i never notice until after a while. wouldnt be so bad if it was just the spoiler button or something lol

[Newspyderv10man]

Thanks for the info. I will be prepared!!

[KfabR8]

It happens. You get used to it too. When I got my first R8 (MT6) I was always being "a hazard" on the streets.

You're probably using your wrist more than your arm to shift (holding onto the shifter knob with your fingers), so you're resting the base of your palm down on the buttons. Put the top of the shifter into your palm and it will get better.

[maegeri]

Happened to me all the time moving from a Porsche. I used to hold the knob between my thumb and 2nd finger with the back of the knob in the webbing inbetween. I would inadvertently turn off the stability control, go into sport suspension or raise the spoiler when I shifted into 2nd and 4th.

Now I put my palm on top of the knob and it seems to have corrected the problem.

The buttons need some kind of 3 second delay if they're going to locate them in that area.

[Moggy]

Hazards? Hah! My first few times out I was turning traction control off!

[spyder ned]

This is too funny! I've had my car 3 months. I'll bet it's happened half a dozen times. I've had to reposition my steering wheel so it doesn't hide the blinking lights. I can't hear it either. All the "looks and stares" are due as much for me feeling like an idiot driving with my lights flashing rather than the beautiful red R8 spyder that I'm driving.