pearlpower

Of all the cars I have owned and driven I have yet to come across one that shifts as poorly as this car does. This is the primary reason I chose an auto this time around vs my prior sticks. Just does not have that precision click to it.

Ron_H

There have been replies to this thread that one cause of vagueness in the 928 is the distance to the rear of the shift linkage, since the transmission is in the rear. If anyone knows anything about original 914/6 cars, and their tail shifter linkage, they know how awful that POS arrangement is. Vague and looseness don't properly describe the condition. But once the tail shifter linkage is replaced by a side shifter, and all the bushings, cups, linkages, etc. are brought up to good condition, the car is transformed. So theoretically, the 928 shifter should be better than the 914/6. I have no trouble with my 914/6 sideshifter linkage once it is adjusted correctly and the clutch is adjusted correctly. Of course it is really easy to work on that car compared to a 928, so it is easy to adjust everything. Or just take the whole engine and transmission out in one step in a couple of hours and fix everything and then put it all back in. No problem. Then go out to dinner.

Dennis K

Have you tried using a 3000 rpm or higher shift point? At least for me, it makes the 1-2 and 2-3 shifts much smoother. Revs seem to drop perfectly for the next gear. It's far from a Honda or Miata gearbox in terms of throw, but when it's done right, it's incredibly smooth.

And to answer your question, yes it does become 2nd nature eventually. It took me quite a while (2+ years) but I'm pretty uncoordinated. Now I can go up & down through the gearbox w/o thinking about it (automatically?).

Bill Ball

Well, to bring up a sore subject...how does the new Corvette shift? It has a rear transaxle too.

Bus

I've worked on that shifter a lot to get it where I like it... like everyone said, the front ball and rear couplers are places for slop. I also found an unusual defect, and I'm anxious to find out if anyone else has it. There are two pins that go into the shift lever itself, one from the front shaft, and one from the rear. The pin in my rear shaft was wobbling. When I looked closely, it appeared that they were both pressed in. The rear pin had worked loose in the shaft. I removed the shaft, welded the pin and reinstalled. Worked better after that.

Oh, and an easy way to tighten up the rear bushing, without buying anything. The orginal pin in there is a 12mm one. 1/2" is 12.7mm. I drilled out the center block to 1/2" and then replaced the original pin with a piece of 1/2" drill rod. I didn't modify the bushings at all, but the old ones fit like new after this mod.

Bus

Here it is, with pics:

https://rennlist.com/forums/showthre...35#post3710835

Abby Normal

Like a high end bolt action rifle that was made in Austria, very nice! Wish the shark shifter felt that way!

Marine Blue

Lol, actually I was referencing the civic's shifter when I commented on the rubbery feeling. The shifter in the shark is solid, although the leather is worn a bit. Seriously I really like the dogleg once you get used to it.

SwayBar

I liked it a lot, although I'm sure it doesn't shift like a Honda S2000; what I really appreciated about it was how the gear shifter self-centered itself while in the neutral position.

Coming into Turn 5 or Canada at 140+ mph in 5th gear, one needs to be in 3rd before the turn-in for the exit. So heavy on the brakes from 140 to under 60 mph, and during that period, execute a true double-clutch which is push in the clutch and move the gear shift down from 5th (..upper right-most position in the Z06) to the neutral position and let out the clutch, blip/stomp the throttle to get the revs up, push in the clutch again and simply push the gear shift forward into 3rd gear and let out the clutch; smooth as silk transition without upsetting the chassis while rapidly approaching the turn-in. I did not even have to think about it because the gear shift always always always lined up with 3rd - 4th while in the neutral position, thus could concentrate fully on hitting my turn-in point as opposed to praying I'm in 3rd gear when I let the clutch out in the 928.

In the 928 under the same circumstances I am all thumbs, and as a result lack confidence that I'm in the proper gear, hoping to God in the back of my panicked mind after the 5 - 3 shift that I did not end up in 1st and blow up the engine when I let the clutch out due to a resultant mechanical over-rev.

What I don't like about the 928 shifter is that it feels so vague and ambiguous; there is no 'snick-snick' on a gear change. On the street it doesn't matter since comparitively, one has all day to make the downshift, while out on the track and coming in hot into a corner, one does not have that luxury.

Mark K is correct (..I can't believe I said that! ) when he stated elsewhere that shifting a 928 at-speed is an acquired art. I wish it wasn't true!

Mike Frye

SwayBar,

My shifter settles itself between 2 and 3 when it's in neutral. I think there's a spring in the tranny that is supposed to do this, and it's adjustable from outside (Someone please confirm or deny this, I've never done it, but I think it's in the WSM).

The reason I like the pattern (now that I'm used to it) is that once you get going it's essentially an H pattern until you have to stop completely. I never shift into 1st or reverse unless I'm completely stopped. 2nd and 3rd are all I can use around town, which is fine, but I haven't been on a track yet. If I had to consistently use 3-4-5, I'm sure it would take some getting used to again.

Bill Coleman

After 10 years - yes, it's pretty much second nature. As long as I don't think about it.

heinrich

Shifting my 5-speed is second nature. I never miss a shift. But I had to sell all my other manual cars because the difference between the 944's and the 928's was killing me. I used to end up grinding reverse on 5th-shifts in the 944, and actually rolling forward in reverse at intersections in the 928's, so I got rid of both 944's back in 2001. No problems, all my other (non928 and some 928) cars are automatics.

heinrich

Mike it's different for different years. My 87 settles in the 2-3 plane and I LOVE it.

H2

This thread must have Rog100 grinning from ear to ear.

Someday, I'll get an auto but right now I have five stick-shift rigs. But, I don't live near a lot of traffic and I like rowing the gears. It's true that the 928 shifter is not intuitive....and neither is the 968. The TT is easier to speed shift with but no brute HP. I have trouble going between cars.

Harvey

EC928NC

I find that I don't have any problems shifting per-se, but reminding myself which vehicle I'm in helps at stops. I find myself trying to launch in 2nd sometimes.

Converseley, I have once or twice tried to back-up in 1st in the Nissan.

Installing my short-throw shifter and new front socket assy helped loads. It felt like I'd strapped on a whole 'nother car.