Quote:
Originally Posted by KevinH1990
I think it is a matter of personal preference. The best way to decide would be to check out all of the options in person and decide which meets your expectations. I picked the 987/997 shifter because:
1. I found one available for about $130
2. I didn't have to destroy my shifter to install it
3. Several people on the forums spoke highly of it
4. As a bonus, I was able to sell my OEM 986 shifter to someone else for $50 so that they could use it as a base for installing an aftermarket short shifter.
The 987/997 OEM short shifters were in the $300 price range and that was more than I wanted to spend. At a net cost of $80 I think I got my money's worth. Since I was painting my center console and replacing the parking brake switch at the same time, the extra labor was negligible. I concede that there are likely to be better options. If I ever run across an inexpensive OEM 987/997 short shifter, I expect I would buy it and install it.
I once drove a Honda S2000 back-to-back with my Boxster and I found the S2000 shifter to be much better than the Boxster. I think the S2000 shifter is superior to the shifter on the Miata I previously owned. The Boxster and the Carrera need longer shift linkages than the S2000 or the Miata. I expect that engineering a good shifter is more challenging in a mid or rear engine car than in a car with a front engine and the transmission located below the driver's right hand. Try driving a 914 sometime. The shifters in the 914s I've driven have been very loose and I found it difficult to determine whether I was in gear or which gear I was in.
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I second the S2000 shifter comment, having owned one and driving a Miata. The S2000 prob has the best stock shifter on the market, nice throws, notchy and precise, prob the best feature of that car. But yes, it sits on top of the transmission so we'll never be able to match that in our cable linkage cars.
Im not sure about the exact differences between Ben's shifter and the ebay one but having tried both I can tell you his feels better. Its still a very economical option and it works great!
He actually designed a new tall shifter that brings the shifter right next to the wheel, I have one of those and will install it in a few days. That might be the sweet spot for me as I feel I have to reach down to shift. Again, living in the past, in the S2000 the shifter sits closer to the wheel because the center console is very tall, and its just a much smaller car overall. With this new tall version it will come up and be close to wheel.