MiataRoadster.com extended shifter kit

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Lokiel
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Re: MiataRoadster.com extended shifter kit

Postby Lokiel » Fri May 31, 2013 7:08 pm

I've tried both the short and long versions in my car. Bill tried REALLY hard to convince me that the long version was the way to go but I bought the short version initially - turns out he was right and I much prefer the long angled version now.

BOTH were better than my SE's stock version.

Also, reverse is much easier to find with the long version.
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MadMikey
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Re: MiataRoadster.com extended shifter kit

Postby MadMikey » Sat Jun 01, 2013 4:03 am

Lokiel wrote:I've tried both the short and long versions in my car. Bill tried REALLY hard to convince me that the long version was the way to go but I bought the short version initially - turns out he was right and I much prefer the long angled version now.

BOTH were better than my SE's stock version.

Also, reverse is much easier to find with the long version.


I bought a standard height shifter for my SE too which I'm awaiting delivery for, could you share your thoughts on both? As mine is a DD that will rarely see a track the standard height seems to suit my needs better but always good to hear an opinion from someone who's tried both.

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Lokiel
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Re: MiataRoadster.com extended shifter kit

Postby Lokiel » Sat Jun 01, 2013 12:48 pm

MadMikey wrote::
I bought a standard height shifter for my SE too which I'm awaiting delivery for, could you share your thoughts on both? As mine is a DD that will rarely see a track the standard height seems to suit my needs better but always good to hear an opinion from someone who's tried both.


My stock shifter made finding reverse hard, I'd only get it one in three times since I never knew whether or not it was engaged. When it didn't engage properly, I either wouldn't move when pressing the accelerator or it would grind the gears loudly (very embarrassing in crowded areas).

Both SSK versions eliminated this issue since it feels much notchier and you can always feel when you're fully in the required "notch". Selecting reverse with the short SSK required more force than the long angled-SSK.

Another issue I'd occasionally find with the stock shifter was accidentally going from 5th to 6th and occasionally "finding" reverse, grinding the gears again (this typically occurred if I was up-shifting on a freeway curve so It was probably the mild G-force that made me pull harder to the right than normal). This never happens with either SSK.

The stock shifter was a little too vague on the track too, sometimes I'd find the wrong gear which would upset the car and made me focus too much on gear changing rather than driving on the track. Once again, the notchiness of both SSKs eliminates this because you can feel whether or not you've got the right gear and it becomes natural (so you don't think about it).

Bill tried hard to convince me that I should buy the long-angled kit but I thought it looked awkward in the car so bought the short versions instead. I subsequently read reports from guys who'd used both and preferred the long-angled version, especially on the track so I tried the long-angled version.

The long-angled version is much closer to the steering wheel so you don't need to move your hand far but it does make shifting far more effortless in terms of force required, especially reverse.

I definitely agree with Bill that the long-angled SSK is the better version but both are definitely superior to the stock shifter.

Originally I didn't want the long-angled SSK since I thought it looked odd. I bought a black Voodoo knob and clad the chrome shaft with black heatshrink to "tone-it down" and it doesn't look as awkward/broken as I thought it would:

Image
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Garage Thread: http://www.mx5cartalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=57&t=76716

MadMikey
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Re: MiataRoadster.com extended shifter kit

Postby MadMikey » Thu Jun 06, 2013 4:36 am

Thanks for that Lokiel. I too experienced the shifter being quite sloppy and finding it hard to put in gear every now and then, glad to know that this fixes it.

elitee
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Re: MiataRoadster.com extended shifter kit

Postby elitee » Thu Jun 06, 2013 6:50 pm

Dam knew I should of picked one up when the group buy was on

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Apu
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Re: MiataRoadster.com extended shifter kit

Postby Apu » Thu Jun 06, 2013 8:30 pm

There are enough people to organise another one. Understand that there is little benefit to a GB in this case apart from shipping.


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