Hooray for un-mods

[landrovered]

I removed the B&M short shifter from my Boxster and wow what a great un-mod this was. The SS was overly mechanical in feel and made reverse almost impossible to get into. It was kin to me of trying to feel something through thick rubber gloves.

The stock shifter with the aluminium bushings from the B&M is as close to perfect as I could want. It shifts smoothly, quietly and I am 100% certain that the gearbox is in gear when I let out the clutch. Reverse is easy to find and the shifter translates lots of information to me that the short shifter didn't even know existed.

It may slow me down by milliseconds but not missing a gear and overreving plus a more pleasurable driving experience is enough for me.

[Boxtaboy]

I also do not like the B&M short shift kit. Drove 2 separate cars with that mod, and really did not like the feel of it. Reminded me of an 80s Mustang GT shifter...rough and notchy, and not smooth, buttery and refined like the OEM shifter.

I will say, however, that Porsche's newest short shift kit made for the 987 and 997 line (which also fits the 986/996 line) does shorten the throw significantly while still retaining the buttery smoothness. Drove a friend's 997 S cab that had one, and really was impressed by it.

[landrovered]

I drove the Porsche SSK in a 2010 Carrera S a few weeks ago and while it was smoother than the B&M I just did not like the feel of it. It is a confidence issue for me. I like to feel the shifter slide out of gear, cross neutral and then engage then next gear. While the OEM part does give more feel than the aftermarket even in the Porsche SSK this sensation was reduced more than I like.

My driving style is fast and smooth, the SSK is too "short track" for me.

BTW: The 3.6 Box is epic! Fast like no other 986 I have experienced.

[Boxtaboy]

I bet that 3.6 is awesome. I've driven a 3.4 converted Boxster, and that was already pretty nice. Congrats.

[landrovered]

The more I drive it the more impressed I am with it. I am getting used to the noises from the lightweight flywheel since that is a new feature for me.

It is brutally quick if you put your foot in it but beyond that what I like most about it is that to me it has taken the 986 into the realm of a world class grand tourer.

It goes fast so effortlessly. No need for lots of noise or hoopla with the torque in 5th and 6th, you get from 70 to 90 in the blink of an eye. It is hard to drive it at 55, it takes real concentration because it really wants to go 85 which seems to be where the sweet spot is.

I need a radar detector really soon!

[Quickurt]

Originally Posted by landrovered

The more I drive it the more impressed I am with it. I am getting used to the noises from the lightweight flywheel since that is a new feature for me.

It is brutally quick if you put your foot in it but beyond that what I like most about it is that to me it has taken the 986 into the realm of a world class grand tourer.

It goes fast so effortlessly. No need for lots of noise or hoopla with the torque in 5th and 6th, you get from 70 to 90 in the blink of an eye. It is hard to drive it at 55, it takes real concentration because it really wants to go 85 which seems to be where the sweet spot is.

I need a radar detector really soon!

I beat a guy off the lights at Gator Dragway (during BrumosU school) so bad DOn gave him a sample pack of Nodoz when we came back around!! He was in a 3.8 Carrera and still passed me about the time I hit third gear with my 3.2 S. I did a .196 light and he did about a .750!!
I can't imagine, well I could but then I'd have to clean my shorts, how sweet the 3.6 986 has to be!!
Congrats!!

[Quickurt]

While the Schnell unit I put in my 987 is a bit more "mechanical" feeling, as one said above, it is not the least bit hard to shift or rough feeling. It is actually much more precise feeling than the OEM and I am MUCH more confident which geear I am in. You definitely feel the synchros releasing when coming out of one gear and you know, without a doubt, you are in the gear you wanted to select and it is all the way into gear before releasing the clutch. I don't rush shifts or abuse gearboxes, so the only issue I'm having, so far, is the shift is enough shorter, I have not yet adjusted clutch engagement timing.
It's another "To each his own" and it's looking like you either love or hate them, but the Schnell does not remind me of any of the criticisms I'm reading on the B&M unit.

[landrovered]

It is definitely a personal preference thing no doubt.

I think that the aluminum bushings from the B&M with the stock shifter has improved the precision to some extent over straight stock poly bushings. So I guess it could still count as a mod.