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Old 05-31-2000, 11:55 AM   #1
Narso
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 1442
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Baltimore, MD USA
Vehicle:
1999 2.5 RS
Aspen White

Post Shifter Upgrades

O.K., I'm sort of taking a poll. Who has aftermarket shifters and what do you think of them? Also, how easy are they for an idiot to install in an afternoon? I'm thinking of getting a shorter throw shifter and want all the input I can get.

Thanks,
Dan Z.
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Old 05-31-2000, 01:07 PM   #2
efoo
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Member#: 80
Join Date: Jul 1999
Post

I have a SYMS shifter - costs a lot more, and I haven't tried the Kartboy shifter, but I can say I am completely satisfied and more with my SYMS unit. I've had Miata owners compare their shifter to it favorably, and I think most people will agree that the Miata has a really sweet shift feel. SCC also put the SYMS shifter in their project car and had good things to say about it.

I'm sure the Kartboy shifter is great too. Just letting you know that there are other choices.

-Edwin
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Old 05-31-2000, 01:19 PM   #3
jhoffmann
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Member#: 1407
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Brooklyn Center, MN
Vehicle:
2000 2.5 RS-T
BRP

Thumbs up

I just installed the Kartboy shifter the other night - Man what a differnce, this is the way the car should come. I think the easiest way to install the shifter is to buy a rubber mallet, mine is about 3lbs. That way you don't need the piece of wood (alot easier to do by yourself - I had trouble holding the shifter and the piece of wood and then trying to hit it). Anyway I would recommend it highly.
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Old 05-31-2000, 01:32 PM   #4
Geoff
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Member#: 592
Join Date: Dec 1999
Chapter/Region: TXIC
Location: P-Ville, Texas
Vehicle:
'11 X5 xDrive35i
'09 135i 6MT/'15 GTI 6MT

Talking

I upgraded from the stock Outback Sport shifter /w nasty rubber boot to the 2.5 RS shifter with leather knob and boot. Great shifter! All you OBS owners out there, start grabbing the 2.5 shifters everyone's throwing out for Kartboy's...they have a shorter shift and firmer feel compared to the stock shifter.
Scavenging,
Geoff
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Old 05-31-2000, 01:32 PM   #5
Geoff
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Member#: 592
Join Date: Dec 1999
Chapter/Region: TXIC
Location: P-Ville, Texas
Vehicle:
'11 X5 xDrive35i
'09 135i 6MT/'15 GTI 6MT

Talking

I upgraded from the stock Outback Sport shifter /w nasty rubber boot to the 2.5 RS shifter with leather knob and boot. Great shifter! All you OBS owners out there, start grabbing the 2.5 shifters everyone's throwing out for Kartboy's...they have a shorter shift and firmer feel compared to the stock Outback Sport shifter.
Scavenging,
Geoff
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Old 05-31-2000, 01:34 PM   #6
Geoff
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Member#: 592
Join Date: Dec 1999
Chapter/Region: TXIC
Location: P-Ville, Texas
Vehicle:
'11 X5 xDrive35i
'09 135i 6MT/'15 GTI 6MT

Thumbs down

And a corporate network hiccup causes me to post twice. C'est la vie. :P
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Old 05-31-2000, 02:48 PM   #7
Dan00RS
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Member#: 1367
Join Date: Apr 2000
Chapter/Region: MWSOC
Location: Cleveland, OH, USA
Vehicle:
2000 Impreza 2.5RS
Blue Ridge Pearl

Post

I got an email today from Dale Teague. My Kartboy short shifter is on the way!! Yehaa!!!!! I know that it is as good as everyone is saying it is. Easy installation, inexpensive, Go with Kartboy!!
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Old 05-31-2000, 02:51 PM   #8
EddyRS
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Member#: 1257
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: In the Valley.....Somewhere...
Vehicle:
2000 GC8 WRX
93 RS-W Wagon (White) RIP

Cool

I have the Kartboy Shifter/Bushings....as for installation??? (Kartboy) did the install in my car himself It took him about 10 minutes from beginning to stop to do the whole job (both SHifter and Bushings)

True I could have done it myself....but WHY...when the job was done PERFECT from the man himself.....Thanks TOM.

Cheers

Eddy L.
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Old 05-31-2000, 03:46 PM   #9
Fmdeadrick
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 200
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: San Diego, CA, USA
Vehicle:
1999 Impreza 2.5RS
Black

Post

Thanks for the support. You can view our shifter, bushings, as well as other products at our somewhat plain website. (We devote more time to the product.)

We will soon have the trick solid endlinks for the rear anti-roll bar. If you have an 18 or 20mm bar, these are the ticket. With the stock 13mm bar, I doubt they will help much. Thanks again.

[email protected]
www.kartboy.com
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Old 05-31-2000, 05:21 PM   #10
bill harvey
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Member#: 10
Join Date: Jul 2002
Chapter/Region: NESIC
Location: Aisle 3 next to the nuts
Vehicle:
2005 Legacy Gt wagon
Garnet red pearl

Post

I have two shifter kits in my98 rs right now first i got the prodrive/sti kit and i loved it then i got a crazy idea so i took out the graham goode shifter lever that comes in the kit and put in a kartboy one and wow is it even better now i say buy both kits and mix and match to get your own perfect shifter kit.
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Old 05-31-2000, 06:33 PM   #11
Sammy
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 1254
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Buffalo, NY USA
Vehicle:
1999 Impreza 2.5RS
Black Pearl

Question

I'm curious what difference do the bushings make? Personally I'm not a huge fan of "notchiness" but I would like shorter throws. Are the hardened bushings a "must" (i.e. is there more play in the aftermarket shifter vs the stock shifter without the bushings) or can you get away with just the shifter?
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Old 05-31-2000, 07:56 PM   #12
Aspen
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Member#: 145
Join Date: Aug 1999
Chapter/Region: MWSOC
Location: The Windy City
Post

I'm a very very lazy boy(especially owning three previous cars with short shifters on it).
It definitely brings the fun back into driving(especially in rush hour traffic or around the city)

Not sure with the Sube, but I shaved off 2/10 consistently off my 1/4 mile time with my last car and didn't ruin any synchros in the process. A guy that had the exact same car/mods as me lost at every race by 3/4 car length and broke a couple of his synchros by the end of the day.
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Old 06-01-2000, 12:33 AM   #13
Marquis
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 64
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Lansing, MI
Vehicle:
1999 Impreza 2.5RS
Rally Blue Pearl

Post

I've got the Karboy Kustoms shifter, and I like it alot. As for installation, it couldn't have been easier. I've done oil changes that were much harder. The only problem I ran into was that I live in an apartment and didn't have a block of wood lying around. When you put the new shifter in, it takes some brute force with a hammer and you don't want to ruin the threads (hence block of wood between shift lever and hammer). Once I had said block of wood, it took me about 15 minutes (Kartboy can probably do it in about 30 seconds ).
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Old 06-01-2000, 12:34 AM   #14
Lexicon
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 283
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Post

I've got the Kartboy shifter and it ROCKS!! It was quite stiff when I first got it in but after a while, it has loosened up so it feels great now. It is a PITA to install if you're by yourself, make sure you have a friend to help you.. Also, if its cold outside, use a hairdryer to heat up the plastic when you pound it back in, it helps ALOT!!
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Old 06-01-2000, 12:43 AM   #15
Keirik
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 507
Join Date: Nov 1999
Chapter/Region: Tri-State
Location: Long Island, NY/ china
Vehicle:
2005 Saab 9-2x Aero
black

Post

hey,
I have the kartboy shifter also...getting it installed for me wasn't as easy as some other people had it...had a terrible time trying to get the shifter into the ball socket, but then did a search on the board while I was trying to install it and got some helpful hints..then it was in eventually.
It's sweet....shorter throws, didn't cost an arm and a leg..and it feels nice and tight for a while...then loosens up a bit nicely.
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Old 06-01-2000, 12:47 AM   #16
AaronB
Worst Mod Ever
Moderator
 
Member#: 369
Join Date: Oct 1999
Chapter/Region: SWIC
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Vehicle:
19 CTS-V, 18 XC90
17 GTI

Post

I also have the kartboy shifter and Cusco linkage bushings. I like them both a lot. I had the bushings before the shifter so I can't comment on how that is alone, but they make a good combination. It is really stiff and notchy for a while, but it broke in after awhile and I like I more now.
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Old 06-01-2000, 12:53 AM   #17
SKiDaZZLe
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 19
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Dallas, TX
Post

i do NOT have a kartboy shifter, but essentially the same thing... Graham Goode Shifter. I also have the CUSCO bushings. Great mods!

michael
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Old 06-01-2000, 12:55 AM   #18
BugBomb
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 1342
Join Date: Apr 2000
Chapter/Region: MAIC
Location: Pennsylvania, USA
Vehicle:
99 OBS & SUXASS
May your line be smooth

Post

I just installed my kartboy last night! Fantastic shifter, I cant say enough good things about it. It is still stiff but so much faster through gears than the stock one. I have the hardened bushings too. The bushing are a little tough to get in. They dont like to compress into the linkage (if I can call it that) under the car. We had to use the nut to tighten the bushing into the linkage before sticking the washer back on that separates the bushing and nut. That was the only solution we had to try that wasnt on the online instructions. All in all it was a snap and it was very inexpensive! Kartboy even sent us a box of hot tomales with their logo taped on it! hehe
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