Richard Paul

iTrader: (5)

I just had this thought, people in this section who are using their cars on the track don't visit the Aftermarket and Mazdaspeed section. Therefore they are not aware of my short shifter kit. These are the people who need it the most. The improvment in feel and action are amazing. I offer you the teestement of the users on the thread called "RP shifter installed (first impresions). Or something like that.

I'll see if I can get a Shortcut here. Or try my Website: axialflow.com
I'll come back with a edit and the shortcut

https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-aftermarket-performance-modifications-23/rp-short-shifter-installed-first-impressions-51489/

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

most experienced racers recognize that it has nothing to offer with regard to run/lap times

Richard Paul

iTrader: (5)

Not to get into a pissing contest or anything with you but you might be supprised to know that I've 100+ times the racing experience as you without even knowing how much you have. If it rolls, floats or flys I've raced it. If it has an engine I've worked on it.

The only Pro driver on the forum I'm aware of is Luis Schiavo and I think you'll find he has one of my shifters in his car. He wasn't given it either, he paid for it.
(edit) Oh ya, I guess as a past Pro Driver I qualify myself. Forgot about me.

This is a shifter that is not your run of the mill street kit. Just read the threads. Do a search as others might say. I don't use a riser block or spacer, there is no rubber bushing in the stick, it's in the materials, machining and engineering.

Thank You for your interest, Richard

Morgan

uhh...i'll stick to mine thanks. I've heard of a lot of problems with the diff. short throw shifters...i'll just shift faster.

and you and him are not the only pro drivers on the forum...there are a few more

Richard Paul

iTrader: (5)

Hey Morgan how close are you to any of these places?
Gulf Breeze
Davenport
Deerfield Beach
Miami
West Palm Beach
Coconut Grove
Ocala

There are 8 owners in each of those places with my shifters, I'm sure they would all be willing to let you try their's.
The reason I care so much is that skeptics who are converted are the best sales tool. Or on the other hand it costs nothing to try one yourself, there is a 30 day money back deal on the table for you or anyone else. I put my money where my mouth is. On top of that they are warrented for the life of your car.

And check out the DIY thread by Gomez: https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-do-yourself-forum-73/diy-rp-afe-short-shifter-install-53914/

Morgan

I'm very close to ocala....About 45 min. Everywhere else is on the other end of FLA from me.

I'll give you the benifit of the doubt, and if i find the ocala 8 w/it in his, i'll try it.

Richard Paul

iTrader: (5)

Try and PM John Corbett, he is a nice guy I've had PM's with him in the past. That is his screen name also, he works at Ocala Airport. He's a pilot.

I forgot to mention Orlando and Seminole If those are closer. Chezz there are alot of 8's down there. At least alot with my shifters, the only states that have more are Texas and NJ.

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

Look, this is not the For Sale or Vendor area. If it was I wouldn't say a word. However, this is the Competition and Racing area, and that means discussion. I have never claimed to be a professional racer, nor do I have to be one to offer up my own experience and for it to have validity. I have been around the block a few times. I've seen and used my share of short throw shifters, including those that have features like yours.

I'm not saying you don't build a quality product or that people won't like the feel. What I am saying is that in regard to timed performance they generally don't register any measurable improvement in time reduction despite all the hype about throw reduction, etc. The average enthusiast gets it in their mind that these offer some big kind of performance improvement, well they don't. The difference between winning and losing in an RX-8 is not the shifter. I'm not here to intentionally knock your product, but I'm also not here trying to sell anything. I'm just saying what I believe to be true.

For the all out national championship highly modified RX8 racer, ok why not. For the avg. enthusiast, why bother.

That's my experience and opinion. I'm sorry if you don't like it or it doesn't serve your purpose.

clyde

If it will increase the owner's enjoyment of his/her car, why not?

clyde

As an observation, Richard, that kind of statement and the attitude it represents makes me reluctant to consider purchasing any products from you. Whether it's a true statement or not, I find the arrogance pretty distasteful coming from a supporting vendor. The precipitating post did not disparage you, your company or your product, but only questioned the benefit of the product in a very narrow application.

It also kind of reminds of something that happened on another forum a couple years ago. A supporting vendor of that site called Lee Grimes an "assclown" in a discussion about what dampers do. That vendor didn't know who he was talking to either.

takahashi

Stop pissing at his products.
I have tried that before .... remember RP??

and I painfully ate my words after I have test drive Gomez's car even with one of RP's (not quite ready yet) early prototype.

I am not a man with big ego but it is still painful to eat your words and pay up....

Anyhow, at least I am happy shifting.............. :o

dannobre

iTrader: (3)

He's been around the block a lot...some of the old guys up here remember him from years ago. He's just getting older and more senile. (LOL :D)

The shifter is a great product though. It allows a much more precise feel than stock.

Won't make much of a difference to novices like me...but I don't miss as many shifts as I used to.

mlx8

Hey, I've got the kit. Actually I, personally, find it to be a great improvement for track use. With the stock shifter, I found (& I confess it may just be a personal failing) as the transmission gets hot (& it does get a hell of a lot hotter on the track than you will EVER see on the street), that 4-3, less frequent 5-4 downshifts would occasionaly "miss-gate" ....

With the installation of RP's short shifter kit, this tendancy has been eliminated
Forget "faster shifting" arguements. Gate certainty alone makes the kit worth the price of addmission IMO. As always, YMMV

mike0615

Does anyone in the Cali Los Angeles area have one installed? i would like to check it out. is this one of those short shifters that u really need to put allot of force to get it in gear? please reply cuz i'm really interested since i test drove a 2005 s2k and felt how their shifter feels. thanks in advance. by the way, shorter shifters will make big differece on track, i'm not sure about drag strip, but track with corners and stuff will make big difference. seconds difference. seconds on track is allot by the way.

tuj

For fun driving, I think the RP shifter is great. It does not take any more force than stock to shift. However, I notice that I am missing the 1-2 shift at redline somewhat often now. I'm not 100% sure that its the shifter, but the problem started after I installed it. Even if I do the shift very deliberately, letting the revs drop a bit, its still about a 1/6 chance it will grind. This is unfortunate as this shift is important in autocross and drag racing.

I do not think that short shifters on this car decrease the shifting time significantly. They may feel better and more precise, which is a benefit, but the total shift time isn't really affected, IMHO. As a feel piece, I like it, aside from my 1-2 shift problems.

Richard Paul

iTrader: (5)

Give me about a week to get use to the stock shifter in my car and then I'll put a kit into it. Then anytime you want to visit Chatsworth you can try mine.

mike0615

Thats not to far, PM me when i can go check it out. thanks.