Hello all,

Came across this short shifter on ebay, it doesn't seem to have a brand mentioned on the ad, so was just wondering if anyone had one installed or has any experience of this product?

Price seems reasonable but I am always very wary of ebay "bargains" :wonder:

Thanks in advance

Link to E-Bay might help so we know what were looking at.

i have an ebay short shifter fitted, its a copy of the B&M kit and is awesome, word of warning though......its an absolute pig to fit, i wouldnt do it again on my drive, i would pay someone to do it as access without a ramp is minimal

I paid someone after listing to Oet bitching about his skinless knuckles

4x4s' have a prop in the way too, which needs to be dropped

flea-bay b+m copy

Doesn't fit the OE gearknobs, you'll need one with a screwthread

~that's Oets

Link to E-Bay might help so we know what were looking at.

Apologies, as I was writing my post the Mrs was telling me to get off the computer so we could do the food shop and I forgot :(

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VW-SEAT-SKODA-SEAT-AUDI-5-SPEED-SHORT-SHIFT-1-8T-20VT-/150590976972?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item230febf3cc

Edited 19 April, 201115 yr by johnnyknox

justified bitching no less

Oet and snow_muncher how does the car feel after fitting one of these? do you get up to speed quicker? does the car feel more responsive/ quicker at all?

many thanks

Just use the kits you get from Awesome or Jabba sport, place like that ive got the side and in the throw kit fitted and they are top notch, no fitting issues like with cheap fleabay crud

Oet and snow_muncher how does the car feel after fitting one of these? do you get up to speed quicker? does the car feel more responsive/ quicker at all?

many thanks

The type you've linked too are good. Reduced forward/back throw. That's a copy of the Forge unit, which has been copied by Compbrake and others.

The type Oet and I have fitted are a different ballgame though. They completely change the feel of the gearstick and gear change.

Heavy, solid and posative - changing gear feels like operating an old-school in-line direct-stick gearbox

TBH, I doubt it really makes difference to speed of gear change, just makes it a vastly more enjoyable experrience ~ it puts a smile on my face

ps

If you think about, your seat, steering wheel and gearstick are your most tactile connection to the car, therefore having them setup extactly as you what will hugely increase you're enjoyment of the car

Just use the kits you get from Awesome or Jabba sport, place like that ive got the side and in the throw kit fitted and they are top notch, no fitting issues like with cheap fleabay crud

thats incorrect sadly...

The kit linked by the op is a copy of the forge item, and the kit we linked is a copy of the b&m kit, neither are crud, both work very well, however the b&m kit, does side to side shift unlike the forge ones coupled with a reduced throw and a heavy gearknob which gives a much more positive and much shorter gearchange without making the shift unuseable.

The forge style are easier to fit, also diesel geek do a good version, however the gearstick b&m style give more effect but are far more taxing to fit.

I'm not a fan of short shift kits. alot of gear boxes aren't designed for them. I used to be able to change gear quicker than the synchro would be ready for the box with one of my old cars

vag gearbox happily accepts a short shifter, the throw is way too long as standard

Don't know about the copy but I have the B and M one and OMG,

Pig to fit and all I had to do was swap the selector box over not strip it down. Like you will need to.

Once fitted tho it does make the gear change crisper and less wollowy and youy get the instant confidence from it.

Hard to explain but the feeling with the std one is not really there but with this, you feel part of the car along with the R32 rack.

Personally don't see the point oin just shortening one axis? It wouldn't feel right I don't think but this shortens everything.

Top notch but get it fitted on a ramp.

Also big bummer is it won't fit the vRS knob on top. Least mine is black tho

Billy

justified bitching no less

lol indeed!

Thanks for all your input guys, I think I might go for it as it's not a huge cost and I just feel the throw on the std 5 speed box is just too long (I may have been spoilt by the Honda boxes I used before now)

I'm not a fan of short shift kits. alot of gear boxes aren't designed for them. I used to be able to change gear quicker than the synchro would be ready for the box with one of my old cars

I am not too bothered about changing gear quickly, it's just about improving the driving experience and I want to feel like I am driving something a bit sporty as opposed to a bus.

thats incorrect sadly...

The kit linked by the op is a copy of the forge item, and the kit we linked is a copy of the b&m kit, neither are crud, both work very well, however the b&m kit, does side to side shift unlike the forge ones coupled with a reduced throw and a heavy gearknob which gives a much more positive and much shorter gearchange without making the shift unuseable.

The forge style are easier to fit, also diesel geek do a good version, however the gearstick b&m style give more effect but are far more taxing to fit.

Yeah thats the one ive got, Forge, forgot the name lol if they are good copies then i stand corrected and will put myself on the naughty step for 36mins

Ive got nothing bad to say about the Forge style of short shifter

Ive had it on two cars now and they work great, feel great infact now ive got used to it i wished it was a little shorter!

It doesnt make anything quicker, or make you drive better but it does enhance the cars feel, which is what its all about at the end of the day.

And like what has been said on here the stock throw is far too long.

So it sounds like the smart money is on the ebay job as its a copy of the force one but cheaper!

Cant go wrong

I also have the Ebay one that OET and Snowmuncher have. Its a good bit of kit for the price. I got my local garage to fit it (they said it was a bit of a pig to do) Once I got the car back I couldnt go from 3rd to 2nd without the shifter going to far to the left. This turned out to be the nylon bush to the left of the shifter (you can see it when you lift the gaiter off) needing adjustment and some trial and error. All good though after that. Finding a replacement knob was a mission though!

Just thought I would let you all know that I purchased and fitted this item and am very pleased with it. It even came with the grease required when installing, which I thought was pretty good