Does anyone have the miataroadster.com short shift kit with the tall shifter? It looks pretty cool and I am wondering how it would be to drive with.
http://miataroadster.com/miataroadster/miataroadster_short_shifter_kits/g-63251.aspx
Does anyone have the miataroadster.com short shift kit with the tall shifter? It looks pretty cool and I am wondering how it would be to drive with.
http://miataroadster.com/miataroadster/miataroadster_short_shifter_kits/g-63251.aspx
I suspect you meant this link:
http://miataroadster.com/miataroadster/miataroadster_short_shifter_kits/g-63251.aspx
The one you used leads to a spam site, don't follow it unless you have noscript and ad-blocker installed in your FireFox browser.
Nice looking piece. $250 though....
In reply to turboswede:
Sorry yeah I fixed my post. Add a cool pic for views.
$250, srsly?
Get a fidanza short throw on ebay and add an angled shifter extension for the same effect.
IIRC the fidanza kit looks almost exactly like that but the shifter is the same height as the OEM one, the kit raises the fulcrum point of the shifter.
without the extension, the fidanza throws are ridiculously short. cool for a while but then when I went back to stock after fussing around aftermarket stuff (including the extender), I wondered why I ever bothered to change it. The stock shifter is great.
FWIW, the MiataRoadster unit gets nothing but rave reviews, particularly from the 6spd guys who often have an issue with a "phantom 3rd gear."
some pretty good endorsements, I guess for track use this might be a good mod. Does anyone on here actually have one?
http://www.mazda-speed.com/forum2/index.php/topic,23486.0.html
What's the actual throw at the shifter? Does the short shift simply compensate for the longer lever arm, or are you also tightening up the pattern?
I've never found a short shifter for the Miata I liked, but I've never tried this one. It's not like the Miata has a long throw!
Keith wrote: I've never found a short shifter for the Miata I liked, but I've never tried this one. It's not like the Miata has a long throw!
But this one is better11!!!! I haven't liked many short shifter period.
Keith wrote: What's the actual throw at the shifter? Does the short shift simply compensate for the longer lever arm, or are you also tightening up the pattern? I've never found a short shifter for the Miata I liked, but I've never tried this one. It's not like the Miata has a long throw!
From what i understand, the longer arm compensates for the short shift. Actual hand movement isn't reduced, but you have more leverage, the shift knob is in a more desirable place (for some), and it's supposed to be more precise.
YMMV.
I would really like to try one, as i find the 2-3 shift in my car to suck. Bad.
The problem with providing more leverage is that the usual mouth-breathing monkey's that are used to driving trucks or truck-derived transmissions (I'm looking at you T5, Toploader, etc) will then proceed to destroy the transmission by forcing the syncros and eventually damaging the gears.
I like the idea of the knob being closer to the wheel for racing, but extra leverage? Nah, just move the shifter lever up and its fine.
I find the OE shifter height and throw perfect. Rest the elbow on the console and lay your arm forward. It's right there.
92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:Keith wrote: What's the actual throw at the shifter? Does the short shift simply compensate for the longer lever arm, or are you also tightening up the pattern? I've never found a short shifter for the Miata I liked, but I've never tried this one. It's not like the Miata has a long throw!From what i understand, the longer arm compensates for the short shift. Actual hand movement isn't reduced, but you have more leverage, the shift knob is in a more desirable place (for some), and it's supposed to be more precise. YMMV. I would really like to try one, as i find the 2-3 shift in my car to suck. Bad.
Simple. Ditch the 6 and move to a 5-speed. Problem solved. Sell 6-speed to someone else and you'll probably break even if not a little ahead. 
turboswede wrote:92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:Simple. Ditch the 6 and move to a 5-speed. Problem solved. Sell 6-speed to someone else and you'll probably break even if not a little ahead.Keith wrote: What's the actual throw at the shifter? Does the short shift simply compensate for the longer lever arm, or are you also tightening up the pattern? I've never found a short shifter for the Miata I liked, but I've never tried this one. It's not like the Miata has a long throw!From what i understand, the longer arm compensates for the short shift. Actual hand movement isn't reduced, but you have more leverage, the shift knob is in a more desirable place (for some), and it's supposed to be more precise. YMMV. I would really like to try one, as i find the 2-3 shift in my car to suck. Bad.
It would be quite a bit ahead in my case, but i know myself too well to make a decision of giving up the extra strength my 6spd gives that i might regret 5 years down the road when i want ALL THE POWER. 
Also: was never supposed to be a project, dammit!
92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:turboswede wrote:It would be quite a bit ahead in my case, but i know myself too well to make a decision of giving up the extra strength my 6spd gives that i might regret 5 years down the road when i want ALL THE POWER.92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:Simple. Ditch the 6 and move to a 5-speed. Problem solved. Sell 6-speed to someone else and you'll probably break even if not a little ahead.Keith wrote: What's the actual throw at the shifter? Does the short shift simply compensate for the longer lever arm, or are you also tightening up the pattern? I've never found a short shifter for the Miata I liked, but I've never tried this one. It's not like the Miata has a long throw!From what i understand, the longer arm compensates for the short shift. Actual hand movement isn't reduced, but you have more leverage, the shift knob is in a more desirable place (for some), and it's supposed to be more precise. YMMV. I would really like to try one, as i find the 2-3 shift in my car to suck. Bad.
My Miata was never supposed to be project either. Then I put a 1.8 in it, and now I'm piecing together turbo stuff. It's karma for all of the enabling you do.
MG Bryan wrote:92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:My Miata was never supposed to be project either. Then I put a 1.8 in it, and now I'm piecing together turbo stuff. It's karma for all of the enabling you do.turboswede wrote:It would be quite a bit ahead in my case, but i know myself too well to make a decision of giving up the extra strength my 6spd gives that i might regret 5 years down the road when i want ALL THE POWER.92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:Simple. Ditch the 6 and move to a 5-speed. Problem solved. Sell 6-speed to someone else and you'll probably break even if not a little ahead.Keith wrote: What's the actual throw at the shifter? Does the short shift simply compensate for the longer lever arm, or are you also tightening up the pattern? I've never found a short shifter for the Miata I liked, but I've never tried this one. It's not like the Miata has a long throw!From what i understand, the longer arm compensates for the short shift. Actual hand movement isn't reduced, but you have more leverage, the shift knob is in a more desirable place (for some), and it's supposed to be more precise. YMMV. I would really like to try one, as i find the 2-3 shift in my car to suck. Bad.
If it were TRULY my fault you'd be driving an MX6 or a Celica by now.
Umm, if the car has a short throw setup to compensate for the longer arm - are you really increasing the leverage? The short shifter decreases the leverage. Brain teaser. The movement at the bottom (in the trans) is the same. The movement at the top is the same. Pivot points and arm lengths have been changed - but is the leverage different as long as your inputs and outputs are unchanged?
If it were gears or hydraulics, I'd know.
I think most 6-speed boxes have busted up bushings on the shifter. I've never looked into it closely (we generally prefer the gearing of the 5-speed anyhow) but it's my understanding that they have more trouble than the 5-speeds in that regard.
I put a shifter extension on one of my cars. But that's because 3rd gear on a Vanagon is about 3' away from the steering wheel 
Keith wrote: Umm, if the car has a short throw setup to compensate for the longer arm - are you really increasing the leverage? The short shifter decreases the leverage. Brain teaser. The movement at the bottom (in the trans) is the same. The movement at the top is the same. Pivot points and arm lengths have been changed - but is the leverage different as long as your inputs and outputs are unchanged? If it were gears or hydraulics, I'd know. I think most 6-speed boxes have busted up bushings on the shifter. I've never looked into it closely (we generally prefer the gearing of the 5-speed anyhow) but it's my understanding that they have more trouble than the 5-speeds in that regard. I put a shifter extension on one of my cars. But that's because 3rd gear on a Vanagon is about 3' away from the steering wheel
Sorry... my fingers ran away without my brain again. I meant increased leverage compared to your traditional short shifter.
I hope you're right on the bushing, i have an aluminium one sitting here i need to install.
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