I have had mine in the car for a few weeks now, part of an early batch. I continue to enjoy the shift feel, and consider it a real improvement over stock.

There is some increase in gear noise if I use my solid aluminium VooDoo knob, but very little if I use the stock knob (all the plastic & leather must absorb the sound).

A very worthwhile upgrade! :)

Hiya mdmaclean,

I just posted a picture of a Razo carbon fiber knob here:

https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-interior-audio-electronics-24/new-shift-knob-57375/

It's right in-between the factory knob and the Voodoo aluminum knob as far as feel. I like it a lot with the RP shifter, and like it better than either the OEM or Voodoo knobs.

Best,
Bill

Can anyone chime in to let me know, because I am still unclear... Even if you have no shifting issues and your tab is working fine, is the distance between 1-2 and 3-4 supposed to be greater than the distance between 3-4 and 5-6? Or should rocking the stick left/right in neutral give you the same distance between the center and the extremes?

:-P

It seems that there is a smaller space between the high gears then the low gears. We did nothing to change this. We only changed the ratio between the pivot and the shift shoe. Naturally there is less space between the gates also. Just that it is proportional, no diference is applied to either gate. So it was this way before, you just didn't notice it.

I'll have some more info on this as soon as I build some more. Then I'll have one for myself to drive every day. Gonna be funny if my own car is on the far side of the tolorence. :D

I don't know what you are worried about if everything is working fine. :confused:

I'm not worried! I am loving this thing. :) I do want to try the other unit to see if it gets better.

On my 8 the 1-3 feels wider apart than 3-5. I think this is primarily because the tab contacts the plate near center of the 5 gate stopping us from reaching the "U.S." far side of the gate. Therefore, it only feels short when actually it is guiding you down the center of the 5-6 gate.

Richard, please correct me if I am wrong here. When the car is in 5th there should be a small distance (very small) between the tab and the plate.

If the tab is tight on the plate or the distance too large (<1/8') you may have difficulty getting into 5th and 6th and possible have reverse issues.

The tolerance of my tranny with the first shifter I received was well over an 1/8" and I had a rattle in reverse as well as occaisional difficulty getting into 5th and 6th (because I went past the gate). With that shifter the distance 1-3 and 3-5 was about equal. The replacement shifter Richard sent me has a longer tab so I ride the plate in 5th and 6th with no issue in reverse. I liked the first one better than stock and the new one is better yet.

Yes, it is. As Richard said, that is normal and hasn't changed.

Perfect.

so has anyone in the UK installed one of these shifters?

It could be the first supplement i do.... Im concerned about doing it though....

Im gonna ask my mazda dealer if they will do the install?

This install takes only a few tools and a few minutes. It is one of the easiest mods I've done. Removing the trim and harness clips is the honestly the hardest part. Anyone that knows how to turn a wrench should be able to complete the install in < 30 minutes.

yeah but is this from the angle of "im a great mechanic"
or
"im a bit of a numpty"

(im clearly in part two there)

Id give it ago, if it was really realllllllly easy tho....

(and there was nothing i could do that really fucked shit up)

I made the DIY so easy, even a Pom could do it! Give it a go..... :)

Check the DIY part of this site for the easy install info.

Cheers,
Gomez.

yeah but if u r an ozzy, maybe all your instructions are backwards or something?

Do it yourself...its a clip, a few screws, four bolts...drop it in....reinstall and good to go!

Takes about ten minutes if you know what you are doing. 30mMinutes if you go slow and are realy careful

I have done it three times now. The hardest part is getting the panel clips to let go....and the way I do it worked three times with no broken clips.

As someone said previously it takes either a bit of stupidity...or big balls to do It.

It was fluke the first time for me :D

Com'on, You wanna be the only guy to ever have a dealer install it?
It'll give you more satasfaction if you do it yourself. Your car will love you more for it. It will be a quality time spent together. ;)

Even if you get in trouble there will be someone on the forum to help you through.

You could get Gomez to do it for you, he did Taka's. It's just a bit of a drive, but it is on the same side of the road. :D

im ordering one from hymee europe this week

Arg self install terror will be building

I assume they are all preoiled etc?

All greased up and ready to go :D You can do it !!!!

Omg Teh Fear!

if you dont try you dont learn, the only hard part for me was getting the first clip loose. after that it is mindless.

beers

A few good people have PDF'ed the DIY so you take print it out and take it out to the car with you for the install. Back in my day we had to do it the hard way ;) .

I also did it quite easily, and although I can do handyman jobs around the house, I am not experienced in car repair.

I have never even changed my oil myself...

Hahahaha! Never heard that before, but I'm LMAO!!

Bill

Short Shifter en route..... more to follow....

All orders that were here as of yesterday have been shipped.
There are now units on the shelf again.
Thank's for all your patronage.

Just placed my order. Can't wait to get the shifter.

Thanks for a great product Richard.