I don't own a stick, but thought this looked really cool. The question is whether you can shift better/faster with this? Any ideas, comments?

World first: Gearshift gate / 6-speed metal gated shifter / Crossfire tuning | eBay

 

James, my first impression is why would anyone want this? I'd wonder if it would only get in the way, even if the actual path the stick shift travels is in fact the slots. Just seems like something unnecessary that the manufacture is looking to entice owners into spending cash on. Thumbs downs by me.
On the other hand if it has a "look" your after or resolves some shifting issue an owner has, then spend away.
OK I'd go so far as to say any self respecting manual trans owner should have their keys taken away if they put one of these in their car.


"The question is whether you can shift better/faster with this?" No and No

 

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I can see how some might think it looks cool... but for $349, If they sell even ONE of these, I'll be surprised.

 

But it looks like that red Italian car. The one with the horse. Sounds like its worth the 3 dollars and 49 cents.

Some of the guys over in Miata land replace the auto shift plate with the rubber boot of the manual.

What ever blows your skirt up.

 

Some have done the same here with a leather boot.

But here is the answer to me saying at that time that I wanted to make my standard look like an auto .................not.

 

I have always loved the classic gated shifters in older Ferraris, and Audi even has one in the current R8 - and I'd love to have something like this in my car. But note I said "something like this" as this particular piece is grossly overpriced. Machining and polishing a thick piece of aluminum and adapting it to to a mount for the factory opening shouldn't cost anywhere near this much. It is pretty, but for the time being I'm also fine with my two tone leather boot that matches my two tone seats. And, I might add, my shift boot was free since I donated my original to ShiftStyle a few years ago so they could use it as a template.


Hmmmm.... I almost hit "Submit Reply" but then went back and took another look at the item. It's definitely more than just some double sided tape to hold it on and it really does look like a nice piece. I'm not willing to drop nearly $400 (incl. shipping) on the thing, but I really am surprised at all the negativity about it here. It's not going to slow down your shifting as you don't literally move from, say 2nd to 3rd in a straight line anyway. And the gates are cut at proper angles at the bottom of the "tabs" to aid in gear selection, just like the big boys do it.

 

Honestly, I love the look.

I think the gated shifter COMPLETELY goes along with the art-deco feel of the interior. Since I'm making efforts to jazz up the interior, and paid a handsome price for the Startech steering wheel just for something "different", I wouldn't hesitate to purchase this. Function of the shifter would remain the same, and the gates are angled to allow seamless shifting.

But, having said all of that, looks like I'm screwed:

"Important note: Due to differences in the position of gearshift lever (Base Model vs. Limited Model), this product is suitable for the Base Model (Standard Model 2005-2007) only."

My question... WTH are the differences in the position?!?! Isn't the same manual transmission used in all models?

Furthermore, if you skimped on the finer details of the car to save money and buy a base model, why would you pay $400 for a shifter that is cosmetic only?

Seems to me if it has to be an "either/or" market for the Crossfires, you'd aim for the wider sales numbers and year ranges of the Limited 6MTs... 2004-2008 Limiteds were available in a stick, and had the nicest interiors of any of the Crossfires.

FAIL. They just lost $400, because I would consider this.

 

Nice look, but as many of you manual guys know, linkage can change over time. I am curious as to how much "slop" the gates will take. It is a classy look, but is it functional?

 

ncluded in delivery:[
Gearshift gate
Gearshift lever
Gearshift ****
Adaption
Fixings
User manual German/English
TÜV-Gutachten ( German MOT certificate)
Don't be too down on the price, look at what you get........ don't know what an 'Adaption' is ..........but I'm sure the German MOT certificate will come in useful sometime [/font]

 

I cannot see how this improves anything, you still have to follow the actual shift pattern and this has to have some clearance for the side to side wiggle that the shifter has. I see it as a cosmetic component only.

What happens when you drop something down the slots?

Buy a piece of aluminum and make your own, how hard can it be?

We had people wanting to make their auto look like a stick and now this makes a stick look something like an auto, we've gone full circle.

 

I'm still not sure how a shift gate makes it look like an auto... An auto trans has a channel for the gear selector to travel through.

The shift gates for a manual trans are aesthetic but certainly unique. Nobody has ever mistaken the shift gate on a Ferrari with the open-slot automatic trans selector in a Camry.

The "H-pattern" has always been synonymous with spendy sports cars.

The new Audi R8 has them as well, and EVERY person that has test driven the Audi raves over the retro "clink" from the gear selector being thrown from gate to gate.

The synchros guide the transmission lever, not the gates. We have no gates whatsoever and I never miss a shift. It simply plops in by feel.

I would hazard to say that you could remove the shift gate from the Audi R8 and still make your shifts . It just looks much cooler with it in place.

At any rate, I'm not sure why I'm being such a salesman for the product, seeing as it won't even fit my car.

I still beg the question... what is the difference between the Limited and Base cars with the 6MT? Same engine, same trans, same interior, same clutch linkage, same throws (I've driven a base before).

I can't think of anything that would be different from a mechanical standpoint.

Can someone enlighten?

 

John, I can't see why there would be any difference in the Base vs. Limited for this application. I would have to ask why. I personally like the look as well.

 

John, I said something like an auto not like an auto.

It is the shifter mechanism that gives the gear shift lever its radial side to side and back and forth motion not the synchros. The synchros slide back and forth. The shifter mechanism dictates which ones are moved and when.

I also fail to see the difference in the base and the '04s and Limiteds - staying technical here.

It's an expensive bit of bling to my mind.

Anyway I wonder how many R8 owners are wondering how to put a leather boot over their flashy shift gate.

 

ZERO!

I'm like you guys, I can't imagine a mechanical difference. Still, there has to be something otherwise they'd be stupid to alienate their biggest MT audience. I will contact them and ask...

 

After tens of thousands of miles behind the wheel of each, I can not think of a single difference between the tranny on the base and limited...

 

Yeah I think their proximity to Amsterdam has something to do with it...

Smokin' that HASH

 

This is the response I got from the vendor:

Hello,

thank you for your message and for your interest in our first product. We are delighted that you like the gated shifter.

Our basis for the development of the product was a Base-Model (in Germany it is called ?Blackline-Model? and was offered only in black exterior paint).

There are indeed differences between the two Crossfire models. We did not even expect and were very surprised. The problem was discovered when the first customers in Europe (owners of a limited model) purchased and installed the gated shifter.

Then we have taken data from several cars (Base and Limited) and found that there are differences in the position of the gearshift lever. The result was clear: for all Limited-Models, the gearshift lever is farther forward than the Base-Models. The difference is between three and five millimeters.

That does not sound like much but a gated shifter must be precisely matched to the vehicle so that it works perfectly. Our product has only an adjustment of up to two millimeters in order to compensate normal manufacturing tolerances.

We are currently constructing a second version, which fits exactly to the Limited-Model.
Moreover, the gearshift gate will soon be available including the original shift **** of the Audi R8. Our adaption made of synthetic material is also available in other colors. I can send you some pictures of the new variants.

We ask for your patience until the new version is available. Thank you very much.

Greetings from Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Oliver Mühling
Managing Director

 

Thanks for posting John. You can learn something new everyday! James

 

Funny that this showed up a couple of days ago. I happen to like a gated shifter and had talked to Rudy about my interest in having one made at the Dragon this fall. I think there is more than just cutting some grooves in a piece of metal, and it looks like this company has done there homework. I will be decide in the next few days. $400.00 is more that I would like to pay. With that said I LIKE IT.