Does anyone else hate the stock shifter? Has anyone replaced it and with what? MGW or Barton?

 

I love the stock shifter. I can do fingertip shifts on the track. It has the same centering spring as the MGW.

 

I gotta say, on my drive home with the car, I was not a fan of the shifter. Since then (1300 miles +), I've found the shifter to be quite good... and even more so on track.

The gates are a little tight for ham-fisted drivers, but if you practice patience and don't beat on it, it works excellent.

 

After a few hundred miles I was having problems with missed shifts, etc. At nearly 4000 miles it's working perfectly with the exception of a slight buzzing/high frequency rattle in 2nd that goes away if I push it towards the passenger seat a bit. I did buy a Barton brace and will likely put it in when I monkey around with the trans- oil change, kitty litter scoop install.

 

I hated the feel of mine the first few hundred miles, too. I now have about 600 miles and the transmission is getting much smoother. So, I am not going to make any changes until after the 1000 mile break-in period. I like the nice short throw. I will say that I don’t like the spongy feel – and that is not going to get better on its own.
On the 1994 and 1996 mustangs I’ve owned the spongy feel was all in the mounting of the shift lever to the shifter mechanism. Could be fixed with an aftermarket shifter or (if on a budget) with a set of solid bushings from Brothers.
Somebody please educate my about these Boss shifters.
1. Is there any slop (rubber mounting, etc.) in the mounting of the shift lever to the shifter?
2. Is the slop in the attachment of the front of the shifter to the transmission? (If so maybe that Barton mounting bracket is all that is needed). I really THINK the shifter itself is fine.
Thanks.

 

FB - please update on your install and impressions after you finish this up. The brace looks like it could solve some of the play in the shifter as well as full-throttle misalignment.

 

Funny, compared to my '07 this shifter feels like a laser guided missile.

 

I was worried I'd have to replace the shifter, but to be honest, I think it's great; which is cool because now I can pull $300 bucks back out of the "mod fund" and put it somewhere else.

The narrow gates are definitely "different" than my '06 but I'm used to it now.

I'll have the ultimate verdict after I take her to her first track event next month.

 

My shifter has the same rattle. Service department thinks there is something loose or misaligned under the boot and they are going to look at it next week. I'll post up anything I learn.

 

Only problem I have is it does get a touch hot being in the sun. Not a fan of that.

 

I have one of those "Circular-folding" sunshades for the windshield, I put the "bag" for the shade over the shifter when parked.

 

I have no problems with shifting. At first there seemed to be problem catching 2nd but after 2200 miles no problems.

Sunshades are definitely the way to go. I purchased mine from www.autopartswarehouse.com and it is made by covercraft for under $30. The shift **** that came in the Bullitt was aluminum and that puppy would get hot. I would point the a/c vent towards it.

 

Got a sunshade. No bag for it though. Might need to get something though.

 

The shifters just fine. I wouldn't think of changing it.

 

I've never driven the Boss, so I don't know about the shifter. I just can't imagine it not needing to be changed. Out of all the mustangs I've owned, there has never been a stock shifter that didn't need to go. My 500 shifter although it was okay (too spongy) doesn't come near my MGW.

 

A small towel would work fine, or if you're feeling stylish, a BOSS302 baseball hat...

 

I have an MGW in my '06 and love it. The Boss shifter is a little spongy by comparison, but very accurate and LOW effort required to shift. I don't think there's anything that needs changing so far.

 

It's closer to my Hurst Comp Plus with steel bushings on my Toploader than the ZF6 with factory shifter in my '99 Super Duty which has a Brand new transmission from Canada in it. You truly can use two fingers and a thumb to do most if not all shifting.

 

It may not have the snick, snick percussion of a Miata shifter (best factory shifter IMHO) but once you get used to the short throws and light touch it's as close as anything I've ever driven.

 

IMO the shifter and trans in the car are some of the best I've had. Low effort and precise.