Whats a paddle shifter?Is it used on an automatic or stick shift?

It's an automatic transmission that uses paddles mounted behind the steering wheel that allows the driver to control the up/down shifts of the transmission. It's like the system that the F1 drivers have been uses for years.

FieroLinks

It doesn't have to be an automatic. There are paddle shifted manual transmissions. I believe that they still have a clutch peddle but you don't need to use it to shift the gears just to stop and start the car. I believe it's Audi that has a paddle shifter with two clutches, the clutches take turns transmitting power to the rear wheels. The gears are devided between the two clutches, while one clutch is under power the 2nd clutch is disengaged allowing the next gear to be selected and ready to transmit power when called on. I think the clutches are manipulated electronically during shifts.

------------------
RickN
White 88GT 5spd
White 85GT Auto

Here's how it works.

A majority of paddle shift cars have a manual transmission with a robotic clutch, so there is no clutch pedal. (Toyota MR2 Spyder, Lamborghini Murcielago and Gallardo, Ferrari Enzo and 360 Moderna, Formula 1 cars, etc.)

There are some cars, like the Pontiac Grand Prix Comp-G where it's an electronically shifted automatic, not a robotic clutch manual. All GM automatic transmissions with a -E after the designation are electronic and can be customized for this feature (4T65-E, 4T60-E, 4T40-E, etc.). All cars that have the "Slap-shift" manu-matic feature, like the Acura TL and RL, are electronic automatics, but could be configured to have paddles or shift buttons on the wheel.