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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Favorite: 1967 Beetle. The shifter was a Sears accessory that resembled a 356. My first car, and that shifter allowed my to go wherever I was allowed to go, in 1981. I still have the car.
Runner-up: Hurst trigger shifter for a Beetle drag car built by my father. (Best e.t. 1/8 mile, 7.24 – all motor)
The Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing 6-speed manual is a super smooth shifter!
I remember the 1973 Jensen Healey as having the sweetest gearbox that I had ever driven up to that point.
These days I’m getting similar enjoyment in my ’96 BMW Z3.
I had a 2011 VW GOLF w 5 spd
Like Butta!
Best, the six speed ZF in my 1996 Corvette Grand Sport and 1991 Corvette ZR1.
I liked the manual transmissions in Fox body 5 liter Mustangs and the T-bird Super Coupe, 4-syncro MGBs, all manner of Hondas (starting with 1st gen Civics and Accords) and including S2000s and Integras (up to the Type S), all manner of Mazdas, from 1st gen RX-7 and rear-drive Mazda GLC (horribly slow but shifted great) through generations of Miatas, Proteges and Mazda 3s. I even liked the Fiat X-1/9s and one Lancia Scorpion I drove. I was even pretty happy with my 3-on-the-tree Chevy Nova, and the old 4-on-the tree Peugeots my Dad and brother owned (different shift patterns between the 403 and 504). The really BAD manual shifters or transmissions (tied for worst) were my normally aspirated Dodge Omni GLH (the transaxle must have been located by limp spaghetti) and my Dad’s Fiat 128 hatchback. Ones I just didn’t like were an Alfa Spyder and a Fiat 124 Spider (not the Fiata) and a couple of 4-speed (3+OD) Ford Fairmont 4-cylinders.
I would agree with the comment about the Austin Healy Sprite shifter except that it had no synchro for first gear. I DO agree with the opinion on first-generation Miatas; my ’95 shifted beautifully and with a very short throw. Worst manual shifters: after the notorious Fiat 850 four-speed (which Road & Track described accurately as feeling like a fork in a bowl of spaghetti), my ’84 VW Rabbit GTI. The golf-ball shift knob was down too low and the mechanical linkage was imprecise, to say the least. I still enjoy the car with its much-modified linkage (a weighted link and TWO short-shift kits) and taller shift knob. The next-generation Golf had a much better cable linkage. Worst-shifting automatic was a twin-clutch 2017 Golf GTI with its lurchy shifts and paddle shifter that refused to downshift when I told it to. Ironically, when I finally got to drive one with a manual six-speed, it was one of the best manual shifters I ever tried (so I bought it)!
Re: the Fiat 850 – and if you didn’t know to push down on the stick to go into reverse, you didn’t back up.
Best shifter has to be a Hurst, that’s what everyone has bought over the years, if you wanted firm, not hunt for the gear shifting, especially under full acceleration. Some factory 4spd.’s you could set the factory shift throw to be shorter, I did that with my new ’65 Vette, made a big difference, less slop to go astray with high speed shifting, commonly known as speed shifting.
The ’04 RX8 I had was a wonderful 6 speed to drive. Short throw and smooth as silk without missing a shift. My ’96 Mustang GT is another story… the gate on it is a PITA. I had a Hurst Comp + shifter & Muncie in my ’68 Camaro and loved it. I have a TKO 5 speed in it now with a Hurst Blackjack shifter and it’s good but the Comp + was a better driving experience.
My first new car was an 86 Honda Accord 4 door sedan 5 speed. I owned 2, 4 speed mustangs, a VW super beetle, Honda civic, and VW dasher before and the Accords smooth transmission was the gold standard for me. I had a 92 Corvette 6 speed and currently own a 2014 Corvette 7 speed, and they don’t compare.
I’d also like to give props to AutoSolutions and Ronald for designing short shift kits for BMW manuals. I had his kit installed in both an E36 M3 and and E46 M3. Very precise and smooth, plus a shorter throw. Quite different from the OE setups!
My 1969 Series II Jaguar E-Type OTS with a manual all-synchromesh 4 gear limited slip Thorton “Powr-Lok” differential. Matched with the normally aspirated 4.2 litre in-line 6 cylinder, triple HD.8 SU carbs, Borg and Beck 10 Inch Hydraulic clutch and 3.54:1 Ratio Hypoid Salisbury rear axle, it was smoother than my 1972 GTO 455 CID.
1982 Toyota Corolla SR5 with a hydraulic clutch. Never missed a shift and when the clutch cylinder would eventually leak you could rev match easily without grinding. Cheap ‘o’ ring replacement and leak would stop. 200,000 trouble free miles. Miss that rear wheel drive manual transmission 5 speed hatchback.
Best (by far!): My 1991 Toyota MR2 Turbo. The short throw of the shifter and the overall ergonomics of the driver’s side makes for an amazing experience.
Worst and Most Annoying: Every manual transmission 60’s/70’s-era Volkswagon Bug I’ve ever driven. The shifting was so picky and difficult that only the owner (everyday driver) could work the gear shift.
Caterham Super Seven SV. Two and one-half inches is a short throw. You shift with your wrist.