PG adjustable short shifter

[Red5_02]

Anyone know if this is good. It's from Protege Garage and they don't sell crap stuff normally. Not trying to be cheap, the plan was to buy a TWM but this caught my eye and i was just wondering. http://siteground207.com/~protegeg/product_info.php?cPath=21_31_141&products_id=911

[fatti03msp]

not sure if you read the review about it, but the guy said the throw was shorter but the height was not that much shorter, if you can find a kartboy shifter. I have one and love it. check apexr1.com and see if they still have some. he had a good bit buy im not sure if he got rid of them yet.

[kansei]

The kartboy shifter is a little ghetto low (no offence).. it's designed to look physically low, which is.. a bad thing, as much as it seems to be all the rage. The closer the knob is to the steering wheel, the better. You can have short throws without a low shifter, which is definitely having your cake and eating it too or however that saying goes.

[fatti03msp]

i see your point, and you meaning for racign purposes you want the shifter higher and closer to the wheel, but when i AutoX i stay in second gear the whole time and go into 3rd for a sec at the end. But i usually drive all the time with on hand on the wheel and on the shifter.

[kansei]

hands on the wheel > hand on the shifter

So for that brief moment that you need to engage the shifter with your hand, closer is better.

This is a situation where because it's better for racing, it's better for everyone in any driving situation.

[pro5x2]

That's why I like my TWM. I think it's the perfect height and offers shorter throws

[fatti03msp]

i guess it really comes down to personal preference. to me i dont see it making that much of a difference. you maybe traveling an extra 1-2 inches depending on what shifter you have. it maybe and extra .001 second you will add from you shifter to steering wheel.

[pro5x2]

Have you ever driven a stock Pro5 5speed? It's like driving a semi truck. Friggen 5th gear is almost a throw to the passenger side door.

[kansei]

i guess it really comes down to personal preference. to me i dont see it making that much of a difference. you maybe traveling an extra 1-2 inches depending on what shifter you have. it maybe and extra .001 second you will add from you shifter to steering wheel.

That's a 60-120mph arm movement to do it in 0.001 seconds ;)

As for the stock Protege5 shifter.. the height is nice, it's the long throws that suck. To get short throws without a really really low shifter, you have to cut the heat shield out under the shifter, which is one of many reasons the short throw shifter companies always just cut the height of the shifter down and lengthen it below the pivot only a little. They don't want people to need modifications for it to fit.

[Red5_02]

If the throw is shorter that's all I'm concerned about. I don't need any sort of ricetastic low to the console thing, I just want a shorter shift. If it gets me a shorter shift and is good quality I'll bite the bullet. Besides I was looking at the Kartboy but honestly that's far too low for say track racing which is a direction I've decided to slowly start going in my car. Oh btw the Kartboy shifter can be had a Corksport, they have the model design and their shifter is basically a Karboy.

[pro5x2]

head to the next big Mazda meet around you and see if you can get in and try the throw of different shifters of peeps in your area

[kansei]

lol if only you knew. There aren't big Mazda meets in New England.. at all. Biggest one I've been to in New England in the past couple years had maybe 10 cars? Mostly not Protege at this point :P

Hard to tell from teh PG pics how adjustable that shifter is.. hmmm

[fatti03msp]

hands on the wheel > hand on the shifter

So for that brief moment that you need to engage the shifter with your hand, closer is better.

This is a situation where because it's better for racing, it's better for everyone in any driving situation.

LOL i want to see the math. i really didnt meant those time at all ;) lol, i was just implying that is not that much different in time to really notice it.

[fatti03msp]

If the throw is shorter that's all I'm concerned about. I don't need any sort of ricetastic low to the console thing, I just want a shorter shift. If it gets me a shorter shift and is good quality I'll bite the bullet. Besides I was looking at the Kartboy but honestly that's far too low for say track racing which is a direction I've decided to slowly start going in my car. Oh btw the Kartboy shifter can be had a Corksport, they have the model design and their shifter is basically a Karboy.

well the MSP must be ricetastic stock cause its already pretty dam low shifter lol.

But here is shot of the kartboy, and i do have to say i like the phrase ricetastic it is pretty clever i have never heard of it before lol.

Its low and i like it.

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w47/Fatti03MSP/MSP032.jpg

[kansei]

yeah the stock msp shifter is pretty ricetastic, it's bad because it is just a "looks short" shifter, not a real short throw.

I'd say my TWM is a bit low too.. lemme dig up a pic. I have the same knob and it's definitely not that low.

pardon the mess, pic is from just after winter:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/185/443040098_ea71a45951_b.jpg

[kansei]

some stuff moved here to clean up:
http://www.themazdaforum.com/showthread.php?t=4201

[pro5x2]

Here's my TWM to give you an idea of height

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y13/cbrjeeper/IMG_8541.jpg

[CrashKelly]

yeah the stock msp shifter is pretty ricetastic, it's bad because it is just a "looks short" shifter, not a real short throw.

I'd say my TWM is a bit low too.. lemme dig up a pic. I have the same knob and it's definitely not that low.

pardon the mess, pic is from just after winter:

i have a setup that looks the same...but even shorter...Kartboy with the Greddy knob....I love the greddy knob, but the shifter is so short I dont evven have a boot on...if i did it would probably invert because the knob is so loW!

[CrashKelly]

well the MSP must be ricetastic stock cause its already pretty dam low shifter lol.

But here is shot of the kartboy, and i do have to say i like the phrase ricetastic it is pretty clever i have never heard of it before lol.

Its low and i like it.

ah i just saw this..same setup here...love it but i dont even run a boot

[fatti03msp]

ah i just saw this..same setup here...love it but i dont even run a boot

lol really you dont use a boot, you have to post up a pic of it, im a lil curious to see how it looks and yes i could go out and do that to mine but i spent some time trying to stretch the one i have so it doesnt sit down inside.

[CrashKelly]

lol really you dont use a boot, you have to post up a pic of it, im a lil curious to see how it looks and yes i could go out and do that to mine but i spent some time trying to stretch the one i have so it doesnt sit down inside.

i'll snap a pic now...I really like your boot actually....I was going to order one just like that from redline goods....except with just one stripe down the middle instead of two crossing each other...just never got around to it.

[CrashKelly]

I wish i had the skill to make like a flat plastic cover that would slide with the shifter (sort of like an auto would have) that would cover the whole opening...if anyone could visualize that...

Oh and no comments on how dirty it is...I know I need to clean it! I have crumbs and dog hair everywhere...

[fatti03msp]

lol thats not the best looking thing sorry to say lol, but just curious where do you work???

and i didnnt know you had the option to get the stipe down the middle, i though they predetermined that. I might be getting another one made. I really dont want the sag in the boot

[CrashKelly]

lol thats not the best looking thing sorry to say lol, but just curious where do you work???

and i didnnt know you had the option to get the stipe down the middle, i though they predetermined that. I might be getting another one made. I really dont want the sag in the boot

Yeah i know it looks pretty cruddy, but I was just too lazy put another boot on it yet...Redline can pretty much do anything that you request. They are awesome.

I work in the north philly area.

[fatti03msp]

the reason i ask is i can see you guard number lol and im going to hacks and steal from the company you work at lol.

But you didnt give me tha name of the company so im a lil SOL

[CrashKelly]

the reason i ask is i can see you guard number lol and im going to hacks and steal from the company you work at lol.

But you didnt give me tha name of the company so im a lil SOL

oh haha. Im not a gaurd, its just an employee badge. Dont worry though there is nothing worth stealing at my work!

[Red5_02]

I think this weekend I'm gonna order it. Someone's gotta test it out right? I'll do a write-up.