So, I now have a combination of the Mania SSK, which reduces throw by ~20% and a sweet JCM shift ****, which I've adjusted up to about 3/4" higher than stock. This is an awesome combination, imo. I've got the shifter up closer to the wheel and a reduced throw (I'm guessing around 15%). Feels about perfect to me. Click. Click.

 

So you made your shifter crappier than before?

You find that shape more comfortable than a ball? Whats the radius on the edge of the top (not the max radius of the shifter)?

 

So what does the **** do that differs from the other *****?

Looks comfortable, Very. More info please!

 

The **** is comfortable in the MINI, whereas that would seem like it would be ungainly... In the m3, with the location of the shifter, that style works better....

 

No, my friend. JCW is crap, not JCM.

I do like this more than a ball. Not more comfortable, but pushing/pulling against the straight sides seems to feel more... precise. I'd say the top of the shifter is about 1.25" in diameter.

 

You mean aside from the heat and vibration features?

 

It might seem to be ungainly but, in fact, it is anything but.

 

So you use your palm then, when you shift? Bondurant recommends you should cradle the shifter like an egg, hence the palm.

The JCM shape looks like it would be comfortable with that technique.

 

And it makes a very nice omelette.

 

This style of **** is designed for a sequential gearbox rather than our H-pattern regardless of what JCM says.

 

What's the pattern of a sequential gear box? Never driven one of those, myself, unless you're talking slush box.

 

Motorcycle gearboxes are sequential, to give you an example. From any given gear, you can only shift to the next higher or lower gear - no skipping past gears.

In cars, most sequential gearbox shifters are of the simple "push away from you to downshift, pull towards you to upshift", and the gear lever is spring-loaded to pop back to the center position after each shift.

Scott

 

Ah, so are there any "production" cars out there with sequential manual gearboxes? I've only heard of this on dedicated racers.

 

Here's a link to a page describing BMW's SMG-II Sequential Manual Gearbox:

http://www.toodarkpark.org/misc/cars/m3/smg/index.html

Mercedes and Fiat also have similar setups, with different names.

Scott