Shift Knobs Newbie Question

jadawgis732 · 02-24-2013, 03:38 PM

I love my WRX, but I'd like a better, shorter shift knob. Therefore I ordered this one from WC Lathe Werks. I have two questions. Why do people prefer ball-shaped knobs? (I'm only assuming that because there seem to be many more ball-shaped ones than cylindrical, or piston-shaped ones for sale on many sites.) Also, what are the benefits of a short shifter? They seem to be relatively cheap ($100 or so) but I read somewhere that it can mess up your motor.

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swpshgnwgn · 02-24-2013, 04:05 PM

It just comes down to personal preference I guess. I used to play baseball so maybe that has something to do with why I have a ball shaped knob.

Regarding the short shifter ruining your motor, that's a crock of ****. Where did you hear that?

OxCitywrx09 · 02-24-2013, 05:07 PM

Lol, a short shifter ruining your motor? Link us to the place where you found that. Shifter feel will all come down to personal preference, and same goes for the knob. Some people like pepsi, some people like coke. Some people like colored wheels, some don't.

jadawgis732 · 02-24-2013, 05:40 PM

I got mixed up. It was a post about a Perrin cold air intake, another easy to install, relatively cheap, performance-related mod.
http://www.wrxtuners.com/forums/f121...45/#post245918

Thanks for the tip about ball shaped shifters. I was a pitcher in high school, and I think maybe I'm just not crazy about the look of a ball-shaped one. I even had one in my 2006 that was totaled on 1/31/2013. (Just to differentiate from I totaled.) So what is the consensus on short-shifters. Is the $100 Kartboy a good one, and will is mess with my warranty?

EDIT: Found an answer to my warranty question, and it was a very informative video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UB6dlC_iGM

RM_2 · 02-24-2013, 05:51 PM

It's all about what you're comfortable with.

WC Lathe Werks makes excellent knobs though.

tuzzio · 02-24-2013, 07:40 PM

I prefer the ball style shift knobs because of the way they fit in my hand.

00camaro16 · 02-24-2013, 08:24 PM

I am actually just like you, I just don't like the look of ball shifters. But it is more about feel. Ball shifters seem (I have never personally had one) like they will just fit your hand better which can make it more comfortable I guess. It is really the material and the weight of the shift that will change to way it shifts and performs, but then that again is based on what you are trying to do. some people like lighter shifters, some like heavier. Me personally am going to go with a heavy. From what I hear WC lathe works does amazing work and most likely will be where I get my shifter from.

Pakal967 · 02-24-2013, 10:07 PM

Yeah, all personal preference, I'm not all that crazy about ball shape myself, but went for Lathe Werks' teardrop for my WRX - Copolymer WRX Teardrop - and am really pleased with it. I like the shape & excellent quality; really happy I sprung for it, well worth it.

- Steve

tuzzio · 02-25-2013, 08:18 AM

I never really liked the spherical ones until I bought one. I had a kartboy and loved it. It was small and fit in my palm great. Now I got a spherical ribbit shift knob, and love it as well. Shifts seem lots smoother. Kartboy lives in the trunk in case I ever feel the need to change

jadawgis732 · 03-06-2013, 10:46 PM

Oh, just wanted to update. I returned the piston shaped one as it was too small, too light, and I didn't like the shape. Instead, I bought an aluminum sphere with narrow grooves throughout. I LOVE it. So, yeah, spheres for the win.

02-24-2013, 03:38 PM	#1
jadawgis732 Scooby Newbie Member#: 208409 Join Date: Apr 2009 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: NJ Vehicle: 2012 WRX WR Blue	Shift Knobs Newbie Question I love my WRX, but I'd like a better, shorter shift knob. Therefore I ordered this one from WC Lathe Werks. I have two questions. Why do people prefer ball-shaped knobs? (I'm only assuming that because there seem to be many more ball-shaped ones than cylindrical, or piston-shaped ones for sale on many sites.) Also, what are the benefits of a short shifter? They seem to be relatively cheap ($100 or so) but I read somewhere that it can mess up your motor. * Registered users of the site do not see these ads. Last edited by jadawgis732; 02-24-2013 at 03:50 PM.

02-24-2013, 05:40 PM	#4
jadawgis732 Scooby Newbie Member#: 208409 Join Date: Apr 2009 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: NJ Vehicle: 2012 WRX WR Blue	I got mixed up. It was a post about a Perrin cold air intake, another easy to install, relatively cheap, performance-related mod. http://www.wrxtuners.com/forums/f121...45/#post245918 Thanks for the tip about ball shaped shifters. I was a pitcher in high school, and I think maybe I'm just not crazy about the look of a ball-shaped one. I even had one in my 2006 that was totaled on 1/31/2013. (Just to differentiate from I totaled.) So what is the consensus on short-shifters. Is the $100 Kartboy a good one, and will is mess with my warranty? EDIT: Found an answer to my warranty question, and it was a very informative video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UB6dlC_iGM Last edited by jadawgis732; 02-24-2013 at 05:51 PM.

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02-24-2013, 04:05 PM	#2
swpshgnwgn Scooby Specialist Member#: 150494 Join Date: Jun 2007 Chapter/Region: SCIC Location: All over Orange County Vehicle: 11 WRX SWP Torqued Stg II	It just comes down to personal preference I guess. I used to play baseball so maybe that has something to do with why I have a ball shaped knob. Regarding the short shifter ruining your motor, that's a crock of ****. Where did you hear that?

02-24-2013, 05:07 PM	#3
OxCitywrx09 Scooby Newbie Member#: 216362 Join Date: Jul 2009 Chapter/Region: SCIC Location: Ox City Vehicle: 2013 WRX DGM	Lol, a short shifter ruining your motor? Link us to the place where you found that. Shifter feel will all come down to personal preference, and same goes for the knob. Some people like pepsi, some people like coke. Some people like colored wheels, some don't.

02-24-2013, 05:51 PM	#5
RM_2 Scooby Specialist Member#: 163058 Join Date: Oct 2007 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Central Indiana Vehicle: 2011 Impreza WRX SWP Hatchback	It's all about what you're comfortable with. WC Lathe Werks makes excellent knobs though.

02-24-2013, 07:40 PM	#6
tuzzio Scooby Specialist Member#: 292532 Join Date: Aug 2011 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: Southwick, Ma Vehicle: 05 STI PSM	I prefer the ball style shift knobs because of the way they fit in my hand.

02-24-2013, 08:24 PM	#7
00camaro16 Scooby Newbie Member#: 334291 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Ann Arbor, Mi Vehicle: 2013 WRX Limited Dark Grey Metallic	I am actually just like you, I just don't like the look of ball shifters. But it is more about feel. Ball shifters seem (I have never personally had one) like they will just fit your hand better which can make it more comfortable I guess. It is really the material and the weight of the shift that will change to way it shifts and performs, but then that again is based on what you are trying to do. some people like lighter shifters, some like heavier. Me personally am going to go with a heavy. From what I hear WC lathe works does amazing work and most likely will be where I get my shifter from.

02-24-2013, 10:07 PM	#8
Pakal967 NASIOC Supporter Member#: 333750 Join Date: Sep 2012 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: Eastern MA Vehicle: 2012 WRX silver	Yeah, all personal preference, I'm not all that crazy about ball shape myself, but went for Lathe Werks' teardrop for my WRX - Copolymer WRX Teardrop - and am really pleased with it. I like the shape & excellent quality; really happy I sprung for it, well worth it. - Steve

02-25-2013, 08:18 AM	#9
tuzzio Scooby Specialist Member#: 292532 Join Date: Aug 2011 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: Southwick, Ma Vehicle: 05 STI PSM	I never really liked the spherical ones until I bought one. I had a kartboy and loved it. It was small and fit in my palm great. Now I got a spherical ribbit shift knob, and love it as well. Shifts seem lots smoother. Kartboy lives in the trunk in case I ever feel the need to change

03-06-2013, 10:46 PM	#10
jadawgis732 Scooby Newbie Member#: 208409 Join Date: Apr 2009 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: NJ Vehicle: 2012 WRX WR Blue	Oh, just wanted to update. I returned the piston shaped one as it was too small, too light, and I didn't like the shape. Instead, I bought an aluminum sphere with narrow grooves throughout. I LOVE it. So, yeah, spheres for the win.