Ok,

Yesterday I went to Gerardo and got my new center console, shifter boot and e-brake boot. They look fantastic.

I replaced the e-brake boot (Gerardo replaced the console, which I had to take off to replace the e-brake boot) following the instructions to the letter. Instead of the 20 minutes, it took me less than 10. I am thinking cool.

On to the shifter boot. There is no Torx screw. It is some kind of chrome trim ring that has to twist and slide down. I am like, ok, no big deal. Got the deed done. Now, it has a standard Philips head screw. I match it perfectly, but the damn thing is so tight I cannot twist it at all. I mean red Loc-Tite tight. Ok, get a pair of slip joint pliers, grab the screwdriver handle and proceed to turn, it strips the head out. Ok, no big deal, grab the easy outs and drill the screw head a bit. Insert the easy out and felt it start to turn, then bam, the easy out broke off in the screw. And of course, it breaks off jaggedly, so there is no place to really get a bite with a drill bit, but it has to come out.

I am like, dammit, what the hell is wrong with this picture?! I proceed to try and drill out the easy out, but the damn metal is so hard, it is making my titanium drill bits smoke. Now, I cut off the old boot to make room to work and this whole thing is turning into one gigantic Charlie Foxtrot.

Anyone else fall into this gigantic miasma? I am going to have to find even harder drill bits (but not for a couple of days, my wife goes in for surgery at 0630 tomorrow for prolapse and hysterectomy).

Now I am going to have to buy a new shifter **** now and replace the screw and chrome ring setup. Is this only on 08's or on 09's? Will Gene have these in stock? What a giant Charlie Foxtrot.
I drove to work in the car, even though there is no shifter boot