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I'm looking at one or the other to replace my crummy stock knob.
Here is what I have discovered so far from posts.
The Whalen knob is very well liked, as is the UUC. The UUC is slightly taller than the stock knob. The Whalen is slightly lower than the stock knob.
Given that the UUC is slightly taller, and given that a taller shift mechanism will make the throws shorter, the UUC should slightly shorten the shifts, correct? While the Whalen knob, being lower, will actually slightly lengthen the throw.
A common misbelief is that a shorter shifter will shorten the shift throw. Actually, the opposite is true.
The question I have, is this: Is the distance differential for the UUC and Whalen enough to actually make a difference?
I saw a photo on this site indicating that the Whalen is in fact taller than stock, slightly so. Do search on Whalen, I think the poster was "tippy" or someone similar.
Just got my Whalen today, haven't installed it yet. What workmanship, it's beautiful!
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"She was not quite what you would call refined. She was not quite what you would call unrefined. She was the kind of person that keeps a parrot." Mark Twain
I have the Whalen knob, I read a lot about how it change the feel of the shifter. Originally it was bought because it looks great but after i got it on i did notice that shifting felt different, i had my son drive and the first thing he asked was what i had done to the car that something felt different. I Think the Whalen Knob is worth every penny and Doug Whalen is a pleasure to do business with. Haven't heard any thing about the UUC knob but I have yet to meet any one who has the Whalen complain.
I dont think the "stock knob" is crummy
Everyone that sees it thinks its great sooo.....i guess i voiced my opinion
If your talking perf. than maybe you have something there. Any pictures of the whalen, every aftermarket shifter i see pales to comparison to the stock. again my opinion
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03' CR/W MCS
Mods-Borla Sport Exhaust, Helix SS, 15% pulley, Madness Intake, 16" SSR comps w/Falken Azenis
"Short-Shifters" actually extend the portion below the vehicle.
so much so that you can rarely refasten the cover of that area
after installation.
>>Thus your "taller" shift knob will NOT shorten the throw.
That's for sure... I went with a custom EPCO shift knob and it was quite higher than the stock setup. The shifting felt rather weird because the throw was noticablly bigger. I ended up cutting down the stock shaft to drop the knob down to the 'flare' that the stock knob sits on, and the shift action is back to feeling good again...
Just thought i would pop this in as another alternative...this is the one I'll be getting for my car...it is 99 bucks from most places...i've seen it as low as 85. This is new in the MOMO line for 2003.
I would agree. I like the Whalen and the UUC. If I had the UUC exhaust I would have gotten the shift knob. But UUC is vaporware so I cannot get the shifter. Whalen has great engravings but the price is high and I don't like round knobs as much. Momo I can get from retail or mailorder and while there are many designs too tall for the MINI or too flamboyant or colorful, I like some of the shorter designs- about the same height overall as the stock knob in the MCS. This design below has a chrome or brushed metal finish with carbon fiber, black leather, or wood accents. There are others that are full leather in black or colors, full wood or full carbon fiber.
It fits well with the rubber washer adapter. I didn't need to use screws that came with the knob.
A fellow MCS owner drove my car tonight and thought my MOMO was better than the stock knob.
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#43 Street Modified (SM) Class SCCA Hawaii Region
2005-2009 Solo Run Off and Points Champion (Hawaii)(2nd 2006 Points)
2005-2008 Overall PAX: 8th 2006, 7th 2007, Tied 10th 2008.
2010-2011 Modified FWD RallyCross (Points Champion) http://www.sccahawaii.org/pics2008/s.../img_38944.jpg
I have a Whalen and believe that it is worth every penny/ It's heavy, beautifully constructed, and mine is custom engraved. I don't mind showing ot off again!
It attaches far better than the stock knob, and looks better in the car. Due to the weight, the shifts are smoother.
I am so thrilled with it I might buy another one just for variety.
I guess this is slightly off topic for this thread, but...
do any of these guys make a leather wrapped knob? I have to get rid of all the metal on the knob because it burns my hand when I get in the car after work when Alice has been outside in the Las Vegas summer heat.
I'd like one about the same size as the stock, no taller if possible.
And can anyone tell me if CF gets as hot as metal in the same environment? :???:
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2003 LY/B MCS. 15% pulley. K&N HAI. One-ball exhaust. Fireballed ECU. Yellow tinted & stone-guarded factory rally lights. Black scoop, grille & boot handle. Yellow roof stripes & antenna. Rubber chicken antenna topper.
Would I get better milage if I had less fun?
Ok, time to show off my shift knob... bad quality pics, but you can get the picture... and
These are from before I cut down the sitck shaft...
Well worth my 50bux if you ask me.. not a bad price for a custom job... (it would look sweet with a Union Jack done the same way (the top section is clear with the M graphic under the clear section))
I just got my Whalen Shift Machine off the MINI2 group buy $120 w/ graphic. I too thought the factory shifter looked just fine, but I had problems with the plastic, that covers the numbers, coming off. So I wanted something that was one piece, looked good, and had the nice smooth, heavy feel a shifter is supposed to have. Doug Whalen is the best. I hope he can come up with a brake handle soon.
Since no UUC owners have chimed in yet, let me say I've been very happy with the UUC knob. Great fit/finish, much nicer feel--makes the shifts feel crisper; added weight smooths everything out. You won't go wrong with either of these, I suspect.
Ditto on Ethos comments. Have had the UUC knob for 5 months and have enjoyed it. One closing comment, in colder climates steel shift knobs are loads of fun
i'm going to figure out a way to put a lead slug in the stock shifter without changing the look of it and patent the whole mess. how about 50.....no....75 bucks? what can I say..i'm inventive.
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[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] 2004 MCS, EB/Blk Rf&Stripes, Chr. mirrors, Blk&Blu Lthr, HK+300 watt amp/sub with custom enclosure/back seat delete, Stubby, Tint, Blacked Beltline, Exh Tips and S-Lites, Fogs, Madness 22mm rear sway bar and fog mounts, K&N SRI, Custom Cold Air Box, NGK, Royal Purple, One-Balled, M7 FSB/STR, 16% SC and +2% Crank Pulleys. DynoJet;163 whp (pre-mods)...more coming soon!!!
I can't comment on the Whalen knob, but when I had an Audi there was a company sold through UUC many years ago called "Rob Knobs". Same principal with a weighted knob design (I believe mine was around ~16oz) and I absolutely loved that thing. It made shifting so much more effortless..plus it looked amazing
I will most likely buy a Whalen knob once I finalize a design Id gladly pony up a few extra bucks if I can do my own knob design..that's just plain cool!
But as mentioned, if UUC is weighted as well, you cant really go wrong with either brand.
and
Id gladly pony up a few extra bucks if I can do my own knob design..that's just plain cool!
