Well , I've been told many things , I myself like to shift with my hand over the knob (from the top and gripping the top). But many videos I've seen the person is shifting from gripping the side of the shifter. Which one would result in a faster shift ? The stock shifter feels better from the side because of it's shape , but I like to shift from the top because it feels faster to me. Anyone know the correct answer ? I've been searching for this answer for a while ...

I have my shifter angled so it fits my hand better, i hold it from the side, it seems to be alot easier, although i do grip it from the top when i get bored. Also i dont think there is a correct vs incorrect way of holding the shifter, its just personal preference.

either way is fine as long as the shift is smooth and easy

and keep hand off shifter when not shifting!

It's personal preference. Part of shifting fast involves not only comfortable hand placement, but smoothness and preciseness of movement, and proper timing with the clutch and throttle. You'll have to work out which position give you the most precise throw, for you.

1-2 hand on the right side applying medium pressure to the left
2-3 thumb down palm on top with right pressure (to keep it out of 1st)
3-4 thumb down palm on top with light pressure to the right (to keep it out of 2nd)
4-5 same as 2-3
5-6 same as 3-4

i also keep a very light grip on the knob, this way if i miss a gear my hand flies off instead of mashing the gears even harder.

hard to explain, easier to show. this of of course only when im gettin on it hard, out of millions of shifts i've never gone into a wrong gear

3 and 4 are the easiest for me, just a push up and pull down motion. I tried applying left or right force before but that resulted in shifting to the wrong gear.

I have only made a Reverse gear instead of 6th once. That was stupid. I wasn't thinking at all, instead of just pulling the stick down and towards the right, I pressed on the stick and pulled down right. I feather the clutch so before I could fully disengage, tranny grinded and I stepped on the clutch again. I then realized the mistake. sheesh.

1-2 on fast shifts i usually use 3 fingers on the front of the knob and snick it down... 2-3 fast shift i usually put the palm of my hand on top of the knob and try punching the dashboard

Originally posted by epitrochoid
out of millions of shifts i've never gone into a wrong gear

Why bother with the RX....you should be in an F-1 car, Fangio!

Dare I say...

"Get your hand off it guys!"

Hehehehe.

Cheers,
Hymee.

Originally posted by English
Why bother with the RX....you should be in an F-1 car, Fangio!

well, since i used to drive semi's for a living...so with 18 gears, i got to shift alot....lol

Can you get a short-shifter?

my goodness, the 1.5" it takes to move the shifter from neutral to any gear is too far??

please, shifting fast isn't what its all about, and having a shorter throw isn't going to help you with that anyways.

having your hand on the top, and using your fingers to guide the shifter through the gates with purpose (ie, thinking about where its going next) and just having a feel for where the engines revs are versus the car's speed and the gear you're going from and to is going to help you shift faster. if you're changing speeds very quickly, skipping gears is goign to cut a lot of time off. if you're coming to a complete stop, just pop it into neutral and quit bothering with shifting. there aren't rules when it comes to selecting a gear, and there really is a sort of maximum quickness you can do it with without pounding your synchros, ruining your box, and grinding your gears.

the only other 'performance' gearboxes I've driven hard have been that of an STi and an e36 m3...i dont know if because it's just not what im used to, but both shifters feel very disconnected, especially the sti as it has linkage. i like how the 8 lets you know it's in gear and has it's rifle bolt smooth movement

For quickest shifts, hand on top, cupping the knob in your palm.

shifting to 1, 3, & 5: push forward with a smooth, full elbow and shoulder movement, while your hand arches back. This allows the "flick-of-the-wrist" that is key to quick and smooth hand motions.

Shifting to 2, 4, & 6: pull back with a smoth full elbow and shoulder movement while your hand bends down. Again, the flick-of-the-wrist thing.

Most critical though is knowing what gear you're in, what gear you want, and the exact moment to execute the shift. If your in the twisties, you want to quickly move your hand from the whell to the knob and back (smoothly, of course). It will feel rather unnatural at first. You'll notice, once you get used to it, that your shifts are cleaner and more consistant. When cruising, I'll sometimes shift from the side or just with my fingers, but when I'm winding down a canyon road it has to be instinctual.

Practice, practice, practice.

3 and 4 are the easiest for me, just a push up and pull down motion. I tried applying left or right force before but that resulted in shifting to the wrong gear.

I have only made a Reverse gear instead of 6th once. That was stupid. I wasn't thinking at all, instead of just pulling the stick down and towards the right, I pressed on the stick and pulled down right. I feather the clutch so before I could fully disengage, tranny grinded and I stepped on the clutch again. I then realized the mistake. sheesh.
That's why I wish Japanese car makers would follow the European convention of having the Reverse gear near the 1st gear. No way of mistaking reverse for 6th.

That's why I wish Japanese car makers would follow the European convention of having the Reverse gear near the 1st gear. No way of mistaking reverse for 6th.

nah, i think near 6th is a better place to put it, especially when backing out of a spot... having it in 1st instead of reverse is a lot worse in a tight parking lot, than grinding reverse a little by accident when your'e cruising on the highway.

seriously though, just don't PUSH DOWN the gearshifter a WHOLE INCH while you're shifting into any gear, without the express purpose of putting it into reverse.

Yea its like saying I wish we would drive on the left like the European's do.

i've tried all ways you guys have said, and I found the fastest way to shift from 1st to 2nd is pull the shifter and step on the clutch at the SAME TIME, you have to practice it over and over, not a single second missing, pull and step at the SAME TIME, then release it and floor the 2nd til you hear the beep, then push it up to 3rd it's easy. now another question should be what's the best RPM to start launching?

Can you get a short-shifter?

RX-8 stock IS a short shifter (even classified as one)...much shorter and your hand is in the gear box

I think the best answer is the one race drivers will give you - the best/fastest way to shift is the one that works the best for you. I don't think there is a "best" way, though there is a "wrong" way - jamming it into gear is not advisable. If you're in that much of a hurry double clutch.