If I put it in Manual mode (which is, sadly, hardly ever..) I use the stick itself. I've only used the paddle shifters to show someone how they work.. For whatever reason I never drive with both hands on my wheel...even though I have tried. It seems like even when I'm just cruising around in Automatic, I have one hand on that gear shifter thing...I guess its a throwback to my stick shift days or maybe I "think" it makes me look faster when I'm driving it