metroplex

Is the Steeda Tri-Ax still the best short throw shifter for the 05-up GT? I have heard lots of complaints about the Hurst. I just want to know what the OEM would choose - with the least amount of problems during installation and usage.

After using the stock shifter for awhile, I can understand why people say it is like rocking the oars on a boat. I've had problems shifting into 3rd at WOT as well (mainly because I almost miss it). For slow daily driving, the stock shifter seems fine, but I wanted to put a short throw shifter into my list of potential mods after the warranty runs out.

Bullitt995

Pro 5.0, Steeda Tri-ax, and the MGW shifters are all good. I've got the Pro 5.0 myself and I love it.

metroplex

What is the difference between these 3? I'd like to use the stock shifter and boot.

goldenpony

The brand new MGW shifter is going to obsolete the others. There's a new Sheriff in town.

See review below

goldenpony

MGW Shifter Installed First Impressions WOW!
WOW that's how I want to start out on this post. I just got the long anticipated MGW 05 Shifter installed. I wanted to share my first impressions. I wanted to start out by saying that this thing looks like it was designed for jet fighter or Rolls Royce it also looks like a master work of art. You wouldn’t think it was designed for a Mustang GT. It's just a beautiful piece of machinery. Now I've seen the Pro 5.0, Steeda Tri-Ax, and Hurst shifter and I have to say as far as the quality of the materials and the build it self, there is simply no comparison. It would be like comparing coals to diamonds. That's not a really fair comparison because some of the shifters are built differently but even compared to the Pro 5.0 which I think is the best out of that bunch supposed it just fails miserably when looking at them side by side. This is strictly on looking at the way the shifters are built and the quality of the parts they each use. The pictures really don't do it justice you will just have to see it for your self. Ok so on with my review:
1) The adjustability of this shifter is incredible. You can lengthen or shorten the throw itself in multiple ways to suit your needs. I adjusted it twice to dial in what was a comfortable setting to me and it's very easy to tune. There is an adjustable screw which connects to the transmission linkage which allows you to adjust the length of the throw. I have it set to about 12 turns out. It’s a fairly short throw at this setting. Then you can also adjust the length of the actual shifter which also adjusts the throw and the height of the shift ****.
2) The installation process took about 30-45 minutes it was very very quick. Very easy to install. We used a lift so it was even easier. If the car is on stands in your garage you will just have to raise it up so you can get your hands around the drive shaft and still be comfortable.
3) MGW uses two forms of sound deadening materials first is actually Dynamax sticky aluminum tape. This gets placed all around the opening inside and out. Then once the shifter is installed another 1/4" thick foam Dynamax sound absorbing material not sure what this is called but this goes around the shifter sealing it in the car. Ok, so what you might say. THIS IS HUGE. I'm not lying when I tell you it's much quieter in the car than the stock shifter while driving. I have a turbo in my car so it's pretty loud to start with. This alone makes a huge difference in interior noise levels. This was huge for me and it's something that none of the other after market shifters do. I bet that everyone will follow suit once they hear the difference.
4)I have tried just about every shifter on the market up till this point, not necessarily with an 05 but over the years I've had my fair share of shifters. I’ve owned 6 mustangs and I’ve had an after market shifter in all of them. Every single one of them transferred some sort of vibration or noise in the cockpit. NOT ANYMORE. I am truly amazed at how this shifter feels. Absolutely no NVH, NO VIBRATION, NO RATTLES of any kind. I couldn’t believe it. I'm not sure how they accomplish this but it's truly amazing.
5) I know with the Pro 5.0 shifter on our cars It needs to be broken in a bit. Putting the car into first and reverse is hard to engage for a while until it gets broken in. This for me was one of the reasons why I held out. The MGW does not require any sort of break in period what so ever. Shifting into first or reverse is as easy as shifting into 3rd or 4th. There is absolutely no break in period with the MGW shifter!
6) How does it feel? It's a little different. I've been driving with the stock shifter for 8 months now so it's definitely different in a good way. The shifts are very precise and deliberate. They just go where there supposed to. It doesn’t feel notchy. When you shift the engagement is solid, and feels very strong. There is no movement or wiggle play at all.
7) So how would I rate this compared to other shifters. Just no comparison. The amount of adjustability will account for just about every kind of driver. The sound deadening materials and lack of NVH is alone worth the price of the shifter.

Honestly comparing this shifter to any other is like comparing an Escort to a GT500. If you see one up close you will know what I'm talking about. You will probably think I'm full of it but I had pro 5.0, Hurst and Steeda Tri-Ax all sitting on the same bench and the MGW shifter is simply in a category all it's own.

Now my opinions are pretty strong and they are just that. I'm sure I'll get some nasty grams from the Pro 5.0 guys as I'm sure there very proud of their shifters, but you will just have to test one for your self. Is it worth the extra $50 LOL with out a doubt not even a question. If you’re concerned with noise or NVH in the car then it's a no brainier. This thing was way over engineered. It actually made the interior noise in my car noticeably quieter. In defense of the Pro 5.0 shifter I’ve driven one once it’s been broken in and it does feel awesome.

If anyone lives in Atlanta and wants to come check it out feel free to PM me. I'll also be at FFW I'll be hanging out with everyone and you can test it out then.


I’ve included some pics for you to gawk at.

Attached Thumbnails

anthony05gt

The Pro50 and Steeda shifters are pretty much the same thing. The Hurst is inferior to them. I have a Steeda Triax and also have the MGW on it's way. From what I can tell the MGW shifter will far outshine anything that's currently available. After looking at the photos and having the owner (George) of MGW describe the inner workings to me over the phone I've all but concluded the MGW shifter is as good as it gets for whatever you could ask for in a shifter that has the crazy remote design these new Stangs require.

I do, of course, still have to actually put the shifter in the car and drive it which is the ultimate test and comparison to the Steeda I currently use.The Steeda shifter is a quality piece, but loud, clunky with a notchy feel. The Steeda never really impressed me all that much and finding 3rd gear is still an occassional problem. Steeda also has updated it's shifter by no longer using the brass bushings on the bottom and now requiring you to reuse the stock nylon bushings to help with the noise issue. A Steeda employee told me over the phone that they are currently working on a brace or bracket of some sort that will eliminate the shifter/body mount in order to stop the twisting effect on the shifter. So, as far as I'm concerned, Steeda's still working on a shifter that was released too soon.

All things considered the MGW shifter seriously looks like the ticket. Once mine shows up and I get it in I will be posting a thread which will describe an honest comparison between the MGW and Steeda shifters.

metroplex

The adjustability of the new MGW shifter seems intriguing, but how do you keep the adjusted setting? Threadlocker and a nut or some other method?

I just read some of the posts in the MGW short throw thread. I'll keep it in mind as people beta test it over the years. For now I'll put the Steeda in my list of possible mods after the 5 year warranty is up.

tom281

I love my Pro50 and although most people seem to swear by the MGW, very few people have them yet so alot of that feedback is hype in anticipation. Plus, I got the Pro50 for about $100 less than the retail of the MGW, so there is a substantial price difference.

281GT

Tom raises some very good points. Until a few people actually have the MGW it would be best to reserve judgement. It does appear to the best design I have seen yet and I am confident that it's very good but how it compares to other shifters will only be known when there are more of them out there. With that said all that I will have to compare it too is the stock shifter becuase I thought the MGW was worth waiting for. Once I have it, I plan to post a full write up with pics on the instalation as well as what I think of it's performance.

official_style

i have had the tri-ax since i got the car, and love it. occaisonally it will rattle a little in third, but not much, and who cares, the car makes so many other noises you don't notice it lol.

eci

My MGW will be here tomorrow. Any requests? Let me know.

goldenpony

I'm one of those that thinks the MGW will be great, without actually having one yet. I am basing my optimisim on the rave reviews a few years ago on the MGW for the '99-'04 Mustangs. The guys that bought them went on and on about how great they were. I think George's latest effort will be at least as good, probably better. If they are as good as the initial report says they are, it will be worth the extra bucks. Just my @.02.

tom281

Yep..... I hope no one misinterprets my post- if the MGW is as good as everyone says, then I may replace my Pro50 with it. But it's just too soon IMO to give it the crown yet.

dslimbizkit

<-- ordered the MGW .. we'll see if it lives up!

GRAYPNY

I had ordered the MGW and then cancelled. I have the Pro 5.0 and I figured if it ain't broke don't fix it!

wjones14

Well, Ford has already chosen the Hurst as the OEM shifter on the Shelby GT Mustang. Motor Trend magazine (Apr 2007 issue) gave the Shelby Hurst a thumbs up in their review.

I have had the Hurst now for 3 months, and no complaints or problems. There's also not much debate that the Hurst is the best looking aftermarket shifter.

eci

metroplex the OEM would choose the softest, most vague shifter possible, the stock shifter!

I've used the Hurst, and would rather have stock over it. It is far too notchy and does not address the 3rd gear lockout issue at WOT. The design was rushed to be "1st" on the market, with no regard for intelligent design, like the MGW appears to have.

wjones: Ford did not choose the Hurst for the Shelby GT, Shelby did. Ford has nothing to do with that.

MTAS

Isn't the term "best", pretty much like "beauty", meaning that it's in the eye of (or in this case, the hand of) the beholder? That's like asking, "which tires/wheels/chin spoiler/leather treatment/car wash/toothpaste/peanut butter/dishwashing soap is the best?" I love the Hurst (stock bushings at both ends removes quite a bit of the notchiness due to the urethane bushings), yet many others loathe it. The best bet would be to go to a car show and seek out other modified S197's and feel the shifter in person. That's what sold me on the Hurst. I did previously go through the gears with a Tri-Ax in another S197, and wasn't impressed.

metroplex

I don't like the style of the Hurst shifter and I have heard of problems with the Hurst which makes me want to avoid it. I agree that I should have asked about the best engineering design instead of a vague "best".

The stock shifter feels great to me except for the long throws which seems to make it awkward/slow to shift around town.

MTAS

Basically the Hurst, in either the chrome stick or stock **** version (which has an even shorter throw than the chrome stick version), is a re-worked OEM shifter with the pivot point being raised to shorten the throw. It also increases effort. I can't speak to which is the best engineered, but from I've been reading it sounds like George at MGW has his hands on a masterpiece