For those of you with manual trannies, what do you think of the shifting quality? Good precision, slick, or a bit notchy at times?

How would you compare the GM shifter to German products? Do you consider the GM shifter acceptable?

And have aftermarket shifters improved your enjoyment ?

 

A bit notchy is my assessment. Acceptable, but lots of room for improvement. Rumor has it the 2008 model has been upgraded in this area.

Haven't really had the opportunity to compare other performance cars on the market.

 

My last car was an 05 Honda with a 6mt and compared to that tranny my 07 mn6 shifts like a breeze. I was constantly mashing gears in that car the two years I had it and I've been driving manuals since age 15. That was one of the reasons I got rid of it. I have yet to experience any mashing of gears in this car. It's still a little notchy but you get used to it and even still the shifts are very precise.

 

The C6 shifter is a bit 'notchy' and I'm sure there are other cars that shift smoother. That said, I don't have any problems with the C6 shifter. Every car has its own quirks and characteristics....I really don't have any complaints about my C6...I love it.

 

I would not call the C6 factory shifter "notchy" at all, I would call it "RUBBERY" and lacking precision.

The Hurst shifter I have now though is definitely notchy and I love it. It is also quite precise.

 

 

I took -all- of the rubber out of my B&M shifter, it's probably even "notchier" than yours

The C6 tranmission has big gears top handle a lot of torque and to be able to be built to a price target. It's a "notchy" tansmission whether a rubbery shifter hides that fact or not.

At least you and I appreciate the honesty of a solid shifter.

 

So what's main contributing factor to the rubbery feel? The bushing at the end of the shifter, or the shift rod flexing?

 

I have installed the B&M. Once you hold the shifter in your had you quickly realize that anything you feel is attributed to the shift rod and the transmission. The shifter has no stops or gates it's nothing more than a lever with a ball socket in the middle. So all the thoughts that the shifter is notchy, hard to get into first, misses 3rd or lacks precision has little or nothing to do with the shifter

 

The rubber bushings on the shifter mount. I replaced mine with a Z06 shifter, which is the same except for the bushings; it feels much more positive. It also gives the feel of a shorter shifter, although by measurement the throw is the same.

I didin't know that the bushings were the only difference when I ordered the Z06 part, or I might have tried fabricating some replacement bushings myself. It would be much cheaper than replacing the shifter.

The notchy feel is in the transmission itself; it has serious detents to hold it in position. There are no detents in the shifter. The shift rod linkage itself is quite robust and tight - not going to get much flex out of it.

 

I have always hit the gear I aimed at. The shifter feels robust in my hand. I enjoy the several comfortable ways you can hold it. I'm not complaining.

 

C6: Notchy when cold. Very smooth when warmed up. I like it a lot once warmed up!
Apparently the Honda S2000 is about the best out there, though I have not driven one.

The new Porsches with the cable shifters are good.

The older Porsche 915 and G50 (1973-1989) were not good.
The old 911/912/914 type 901 tranny was a joy... until the synchros went out. The early 914s... worst ever...because of the linkage.

 

Must use excessive force to down shift to first when stopped or wait 2 or 3 seconds. Old tricks like going into second then first do not work. Have tried shifting into third and then first at stop light works with good results. Always shifts beautifully from reverse to first. Strange!

 

Yea my good friend has an s2000. Let me say wow. you couldnt imagine how 'easy' it is to shift. The gears are extremely close, but precise. I wouldnt even have to move my arm to go from 1st to 5th, just my wrist a little.

 

'90 Miata 9/10 shifter.
'05 C6 6-7/10.

Changing out the clutch fluid frequently keeps my rating higher. Shifting is smoother when warm and is surprisingly easier at high RPM's.

But I've had too many clutch/shifter issues to recommend it.

Clutch sticking to the floor at high revs.
Clutch engaging too far back.
Shifter rattle and buzz when the outside temp is <60 degrees.
Difficulty hitting reverse, and the '05 requires reverse to shut down, making that one a double P in the A!

 

 

I have found one good answer to the difficult to shift into first when stopped issue. I think many of use old-timers are used to non-synchronized first gears and baby it too much. Just push the clutch down and push the shifter into gear all in one motion, like you do when shifting. The innards of the box are still spinning a little when it hits the blocker, and it synchs up and goes right in.

 

So I bought one of the first 89 Z51 coupes with the German made ZF MN6 and it was smooth as butter.
Then I bought a new 93 40th Z51 coupe with the American made ZF MN6. What a difference between the German and USA version. The USA version was not shifting as easily, quite a difference. Made in America!
Now come forward to 2007. My Non Z51 Vert with MN6 shifts darn poorly. What a shame. When I first got it the palm of my hand was sore from trying to shift it like a "true" sports car. So I stopped doing that and am just annoyed about it. How in HeL_ did GM take a perfectly good thing and make it awful. Very sloppy I think. Now I see the 2008 will have an improved shifter, but too late for me. I never read anything on this forum about undeperforming shifters before I bought the car. I think GM needs to recall these transmissions and fix them as they lack Fahrvergnugen.
Fast but could be a lot faster if GM didn't wrench every nickel and dime out of their engineered products.

And where did they get that lousy clutch design from. It is not possible to feather it. Got to give it a lot of gas or the engine will stall. It bucks going into 2nd gear- YUK!

So that is my opinion (disappointed at the least); hope y'all fair better.

 

I have periodically experienced the "notchy" feeling but, since my car seems to shift very smoothly under all conditions, I figured it was just attributable to my driving.

 

I owned several 911s during the '73 - '84 period, and the C6 is vastly superior to them. I attribute any shift issues to the rear mounted tranny. The C4 was much better, but the shifter was directly mounted to the gearbox.