after burning myself for the last time on the black plastic subaru oem shift knob getting in my car after work (since it seems to conduct heat better than any material i've ever seen), i decided to go out and find a replacement at the local shift knob/big muffler store...which was quite a hilarious adventure in and of itself. :lol: but that's another story.

anyway, i found a metal race air replica (since i can't justify spending $80 on a shift knob) on the closeout shelf for $10...worked for me.

(yes, technically i guess i have a ricey knockoff part on my car now)

i gleefully run home to put it on, and because it's universal fit, it slides all the way down past the threads on the shift lever...making it noticeably shorter than stock. tighten it down, and the effort is a bit higher (since the fulcrum point is obviously unchanged), but the action is a bit more precise as well. so figured if a little is good, a lot is better, so i get out old mr. metal saw, and cut a few threads off the top...

when it's all said and done, the shift throw is quite a bit shorter, and the action, while requiring a bit more effort, is much improved. it feels like a heavier version of the shifter in my ex's del sol.

i would have never thought something so ghetto-tech would work this well, but there you go...

your mileage may vary.

-adam-

I'm just curious where this shift knob/big muffler store was. I'm always up for a laugh.

If You're happy...?;)

You think the stock knob is bad, try a Subaru titanium knob. My girlfriend took to wrapping the knob in a bag and a rubber band when driving my car over the summer. It is brutal.


Ben

Metal knobs are indeed harsh. The guy who started the custom shift boot revolution, Rick Hesel from www.s2000online.com for the Honda S2000 (who is producing the boots in my Group Buy), also built "knob socks" in black or red leather for the metal S2000 knob.
The STi knob is so small, I'm sure it'd fit over there. Maybe not fit snugly, but it'd fit.

http://www.ricks2k.com/images/Knobsock.jpg http://www.ricks2k.com/products/images/knobsock/blackblack.jpg

A couple pics from his site, www.ricks2k.com . Hell I think it's a good idea. Y'know what else might work is one of those small felt marble bags with the ties on them.

-S2-

Originally posted by gumby647
I'm just curious where this shift knob/big muffler store was. I'm always up for a laugh.

it's that one at the fashion square mall..."the last stop" or something. retailers of fine shift knobs, "tuned by ____" license plate frames/seat belt pads, big mufflers, neon lights, etc. :lol:

-adam-

Seeing as you're down south, it could be The Fourth Turn. They're big in the Carolinas, anyway.... though that's NASCAR country, so maybe they're more popular there (all the mall car stores sell a lot of NASCAR stuff).

Up here, we have Drivin' Style in a few malls. Basically the same overpriced cheese. :D

-S2-

Originally posted by Siper2

Up here, we have Drivin' Style in a few malls. Basically the same overpriced cheese. :D


Heh. My MoMo Combat knob with blue insert was only $67 at the Drivin' Style in the MoNH in Manchvegas. Cheaper than most places, and immediate gratification.