They don't call me "quick draw" for nothing you know.

I don't understand the complaining about the 6speed shift. For those of you having problems with the shifter, I would suggest that the linkage is not adjusted properly; if you look underneath the car, there is some adjustment both to stop the popping out of gear and otherwise sticky shifting.

I have never had a problem with mine and never had to adjust but I can see that adjustment can be made; also there is a TSB on the shift linkage problems.

I guess I have just been lucky but I would try to resolve your problem with the shifter
before giving up on the fact that it is just a poor working shifter/transmission.

BTW, if allowed to make any change in my transmission, I would change the first gear ratio slightly so it is not as low as it is, but that is another story. Not an easy adjustment.