What’s the Best Shifter You’ve Experienced?
This week’s question in Hagerty’s Our Two Cents series is a feel-good affair all the way around. Many (all?) of us have enjoyed the mechanical, analog thrill of shifting a manual transmission, or maybe a direct sequential gearbox, with those mechanically perfect aluminum paddles found behind the tiller of a modern Ferrari. But a feel-good affair isn’t exclusive to exotics—quite the contrary, in fact!
I enjoy the heft of that Hurst shifter in a 5.0 Mustang, I revel in the excitement of a Pistol Grip in an E-body Mopar, and I never tire of Honda’s shifters back in the 1990s. But there could be more to this question, if you take a pause for the cause. That cause is the automatic transmission. Here are three examples of amazing autobox shifters, from newest to oldest.
That’s right, some automatics tell your fortune are controlled by crystal balls. This design by Genesis is admittedly a little cheesey, but these days, that added drama is what helps differentiate luxury cars from their (surprisingly luxurious) sister ships with cheaper asking prices. I know that tech-intensive vehicles aren’t what we normally think about ’round these parts of the automotive internet, so how about that cool AutoStick from Chrysler?
Then again, Chrysler automatics from this era might not bring up pleasant memories for some folks. But Autostick Chrysler LH cars were still a lot of fun when new. They personify the phrase “fun while it lasted.”
So let’s get to our final example, one that I hope will warm hearts and get y’all’s keyboards in gear for some long-distance typing. Because if there’s a king in the world of automatic shifters, well, it has to be the next one.
Hurst Lightning Rods are one of the coolest automatic shifters ever made. The three levers certainly look impressive, but seeing them in action is a whole ‘nother story. This has to be the best shifter of all time.
Or not? You tell us, Hagerty Community! What’s the best shifter you have experienced?
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Anything Porsche beginning with the 944.
‘02 Boxter S, like a bolt action rifle. I’ve owned 9 different manual shift cars/truck, this was the best, bar none.
My ’02 Boxster had a pretty crappy shifter with lots of play – granted the car had 130k on the clock when I bought it. It’s all plastic on plastic under the shift boot. I replaced it all with a billet aluminum short-shifter and it is greatly improved.
I have a stage two 2016 Mustang GT, with six speed manual with the Ford racing shift kit. I do track events and the shifting is effortless (with the stock shifter I had a difficult time selecting the right gear at the higher gears.
I’ve been shifting for over 70 years. Owned many, driven more … Ferrari, Alfa, Lotus, Maserati, Mustang …. hands down best, smoothest shifter was my 1958 Corvette …..
Best ever was 1996 Corvette Gran Sport…smooth as silk
Most fun 1971 Mopar pistol grip…makes me smile every time
how about a worn corvair 4 speed? guess which gear you are in!
Loved the shifters in my 1985 Honda CRX and my Miata. Truly snick-snick. Ford must have learned something about shifters from the years that they invested in Mazda because the shifter in my ’17 EcoBoost Mustang is soooo much better than the one in my ’87 Mustang GT. Worst? My ’95 SHO. Like a Mack Truck!
Careful what you say about Mack trucks! I drove a Model F with Maxidyne power and Maxitorque 8-speed (twin sticks) all over the U.S. in the mid-seventies and except for a chipped gear tooth piece fouling a bearing in one of the diffs, never had any trouble in nearly 300,000 miles. Now, was it the “best shifting” rig I ever drove? Well, no, honestly, But it wasn’t bad, either!
Several truck makers have passed them up and made more popular OTR trucks in subsequent decades, but in their day, those old Macks were the toughest out there and held their own against most anything else.
In my past life, we had an F Model Mack with a 5 speed and of course manual steering that was hooked to a waste water trailer. I had to bring it into the shop at night if it was going to be below freezing, which was a bit of an adventure with an unbaffled tanker if it was even remotely slick out. One of the drivers eventually purchased the F Model and drove it back and forth to work like a car.
It wasn’t the fastest thing we ever had, but it’d pull a load up any grade I ever encountered and walk around lots of other trucks that would smoke me on the flats. Also, not the most comfortable ride, but hey, it was the ’70s and I didn’t know any better. Later on, I came to appreciate several other brands and suspensions for comfort.
I can’t imagine horsing an unbaffled tanker on ice! I hauled bulk milk tanker trailer locally for awhile in about 1971, and that was not baffled, but I don’t think I lasted long enough at that job to still be there in winter. 😜
Our 1983 Mercedes 240 D, 4 speed.
So smooth and quiet.
The synchros could take anything thrown at them.
Runner up has to be our 1998 VW Jetta TDI, 5 speed. Like warm butter.
My favorite shifter has to be my 1996 Acura Integra GS-R.
Second this comment. My ’94 GS-R was awesome, especially given that it is a front drive with a cable actuation for gear changes!
The shifter in my Zanardi. Perfection.
My 1984 Mustang GT…just BW T5 with a Steeda Tri-Ax shifter, but it was very satisfying to move around.
The 6 speed Ricardo in the 2006 Ford GT modified with a short shift kit. Magic
I have to agree with StressCraxx. The Elan had a nice shift box.. Smooth and tight!Except for my 1991 DSM Eagle Talon AWD TSI had the smoothest syncronized shift throws.. First gear..30 mph; Second gear..50 mph; Third gear..70 mph; Fourth grear…90 mph; Fifth gear…115 plus mph and still lots of room between the gas pedal and floor for higher velocities especially up hill. Topped the speedo at 145 mph..Not bad for a 4 banger! Dynamic!!!. Great for downshifting also! Of course the turbo whined all the way!`The Talon rode the road as if it were on rails! Sorry I sold it!!! AMC never really knew what a monster they had in their stable!!!
66 DeVille on the column. No effort needed.
My first and favorite was my 1952 Chevy converted from Powerglide to a spring loaded 3 on the floor by J C Whitney. With a bench seat, my date(s) would slide over next to me, which made shifting a lot more fun…
Fast forward 50+ years, my VW GTI was a real joy to shift. Fun – but in a different way.
Some memories just deserve applause. This one from Morris is one. 👏👏👏