The importance of the shifter

[Stormrider]

Recently I've read some comments about how bad and imprecise the shifter in Lotus cars is. I was considering and Elise in two or three years, but the idea of a long-throw and imprecisse shifter in a sports car like this really makes me thing about my decission. Is it really that bad? The shifter is as important for me as the steering. It's part of the pleasure of driving. To put things worse, my car has the best shifter ever made for a road car, or at least the best I could ever imagine. It's a MX-5 NB2. Therefore, I'm afraid the change may be really shocking. Another option for me is to wait and see what happens with the third generation of the Elise.

[lotusforsale]

Originally Posted by Stormrider

Recently I've read some comments about how bad and imprecise the shifter in Lotus cars is. I was considering and Elise in two or three years, but the idea of a long-throw and imprecisse shifter in a sports car like this really makes me thing about my decission. Is it really that bad? The shifter is as important for me as the steering. It's part of the pleasure of driving. To put things worse, my car has the best shifter ever made for a road car, or at least the best I could ever imagine. It's a MX-5 NB2. Therefore, I'm afraid the change may be really shocking. Another option for me is to wait and see what happens with the third generation of the Elise.

The shifter is not the car's strong point, but you should drive one and see for yourself. Only you know what standards you can live with.

The shifter may be a shock, but what will really be shocking is that after driving the Elise your MX 5 is going to feel like you're driving a boat.

[LesAlbin]

Pretty tough for a mid engine car's shifter to be as precise as one that comes right up from the tranny on a front engine car, but a light mid-engine car has plenty of advantages in steering and handling that more than makeup for any shifting comparisons.

Drive an Elise quickly and see what a difference there is. The Miata is very nice compared to most cars, but it is not a Lotus.

[g and the sauce]

I'm just over 4000 miles in mine (yes I know I need to drive it more) but it seems like the shifter has gotten better for me as the miles increase.

[Stale_Hotdog]

My previous car was an Ap1 s2000 and it had by far the best shifter I have ever driven with. Even though the Exige doesn't have a great shifter the 08's are a huge improvement over the previous years. My exige feels so good I have totally forgotten about the s2000. Yes, it's that good.

[Cali]

I see no problems at all with the shifter. I drove an RSX-S prior to the Lotus and its shifter was known as one of the best for a FWD car. The Elise shifter has been very smooth and I've never gotten "stuck" trying to get it into gear. I don't know what the fuss is about... It's just fine.

[Riddlefox]

In my opinion, the shifter is a little notchy, but I still love it regardless. I have driven an S2K and a NA Miata, and those do have better shifters in terms of sheer effortlessness, but the Elise's isn't bad.

[cstetter]

Even on pre-'08s, with a couple of hundred dollars worth of modifications (or <$100 plus some time) the shifter can be very solid and precise. Stan's shifter mod and the Sector 111 reinforcement together FTW

No more rackety-clack-clack.

That said, even without the mods, the shifter always was fine in mine. I wouldn't worry about it.

Cheers

[goelise]

I was told if you treat the shifter like its an egg and shift gently it will easily fall into gear. So far the technique seems to work beautifully.

[Thomasio]

The shifter is just fine. If you want an imprecise shifter, try a Porsche 914.

I've never missed a shift in 8,000 miles.

[perryeyges]

If you stiffen up the structure that the shifter is attached to and find and install a B&M shifter it ends up being a great shifter.
My Ikeya sequential shifter is fast and precise when it's working properly....

[thegoat]

the sector 111 shifter reinforcer kit works wonders.

[fredkto]

Originally Posted by cstetter

Even on pre-'08s, with a couple of hundred dollars worth of modifications (or <$100 plus some time) the shifter can be very solid and precise. Stan's shifter mod and the Sector 111 reinforcement together FTW

No more rackety-clack-clack.

That said, even without the mods, the shifter always was fine in mine. I wouldn't worry about it.

Cheers

+1 on shifting improvement w. both the Sector 111 and Stan's mods.

[RichS]

I had a 1999 Miata and a 2006 Exige at the same time. The Miata shifts MUCH better than the Exige. I used to miss-shift the Exige at the track quite a bit. I don't anymore. It gets to be fine with experience. It will never be as nice as the Miata though.

[doug_porsche]

Yep. I have a 91 miata (130,000+ miles), and traded a 04 S2000 for the Elise. With the Mazda or the Honda, if you missed a shift, it was/is your fault. With the Elise, its more of a partnership. Its in no way a show stopper, just an something I would improve if I were Lotus.

As for the 914; I was reading an article and they were comparing a 914 with a boxter. Their quote on the 914's shifter was: Your more likely to find 3rd gear stirring your Cheerios then stirring the shifter in this car. From what I remember of my 914, they may be right.

[sleepe]

I love my shifter...never thought it was bad.

[dma550]

I agree, not as nice as my 135i, but it's pretty good, I like the height and location a lot.

And yes, try driving a 901 gearbox 911 or 914 if you want to know what bad is, it's like a butterchurn.

[cstetter]

The 914 got a little better in the later model years (73 on, I believe) but it was still AWFUL.

[Illumiloti]

Originally Posted by fredkto

+1 on shifting improvement w. both the Sector 111 and Stan's mods.

Add to this one of the stiffer motor mount solutions being offered by Sector 111, Manly, or Forcedfed and it gets better still.

[SUTOL111x]

Originally Posted by cstetter

The 914 got a little better in the later model years (73 on, I believe) but it was still AWFUL.

on my early 914, shifting was easier than snapping all the clutch cables in that thing! I was a student and couldn't afford to fix the broken cable insert on the firewall. Had to carry a spare - always.