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Old Oct 19, 2003 | 08:36 PM
  #1  
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Voodoo Shift *****

Has anyone added a new shift **** for their RX-8?

I have been looking at the various sizes and finishes. I am leaning towards a pearl finish 2" sphere. Has anyone tried the pistol grip style voodoos?

Voodoo Shift *****
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Old Oct 19, 2003 | 08:57 PM
  #2  
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Those are awful, they look like some of the bad shiftknobs from ebay. No offense, but just not my taste.
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Old Oct 19, 2003 | 09:04 PM
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NO WAY!!!

Don't even consider it - they are disgusting.
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Old Oct 19, 2003 | 09:25 PM
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I dont know, but I think they just took door ***** and called them shifters ..... Not my cup of tea but if you like them go for it....
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Old Oct 19, 2003 | 10:14 PM
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I have only seen web photos, never one in person. I have read a few posts that imply that they are nice shift *****...

What would guy recomend as a replacment? Or just keep the stock one (it is stylish, but not super comfortable).
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Old Oct 19, 2003 | 11:32 PM
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voodoo *****

I had one on my Miata, and still have one on the wife's SVT Contour, and I'm ordering one for the RX-8. Wouldn't live without it. And you know you can have it engraved by Joe Portas the Knobmeister.
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Old Oct 19, 2003 | 11:33 PM
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Re: voodoo *****

Originally posted by Dick Carlson
I had one on my Miata, and still have one on the wife's SVT Contour, and I'm ordering one for the RX-8. Wouldn't live without it. And you know you can have it engraved by Joe Portas the Knobmeister.
Which style/color do you think matches the RX-8?
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Old Oct 20, 2003 | 12:08 AM
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Originally posted by IkeWRX
Those are awful, they look like some of the bad shiftknobs from ebay. No offense, but just not my taste.
(ETC!)

You guys are obviously unfamiliar with the legendary Voodoo shift ***** - They're more than just shift *****, you should know...

Seriously, they have a huge following in the Miata world - they were patterned after the classic Ferrari spun aluminum shift ****, and are machined from billet aluminum with threaded collar (no lame set-screws here). I own two of them - a crinkle-black regular Voodoo ****, and a polished aluminum Magnum Voodoo **** (I also have a custom wood shift **** made by one of our local Miata club members). They really do enhance the shift feel of the car - major functional improvement, if lacking the flashiness that impresses the cruising crowd these days (avoiding the rice word). I've thought of getting one for the RX-8, but figure Mazda put so much effort into providing that rotor-shaped shift **** that I feel obligated to stick with it a while longer!

Regards,
Gordon
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Old Oct 20, 2003 | 01:05 AM
  #9  
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Not my cup o tea, but if it works for you then that's all that matters. Personally, I can't use a solid metal shift **** here in Phx, It gets to dang hot. I tried that before with a brand that had thier logo engraved on it and the first time I got in the car to drive somewhare after the car had been sitting out in the sun all day, I felt like that **** guy in Indiana Jones when he brands his hand on the medalion.
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Old Oct 20, 2003 | 10:14 AM
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Nope, no way for me. While I can see the apeal to these replacement *****, one of the things I like best about my 8 is the rotary-shaped shift **** it came with. Plenty of other things to spend money on too.
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Old Oct 20, 2003 | 10:27 AM
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One thing to remember if considering a replacement shift ****: the OEM **** is quite heavy. I suspect that this is to improve shifting feel and/or reduce vibration; replacing it with a lightweight alternative may be detrimental in one of both of those areas.
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Old Oct 20, 2003 | 12:03 PM
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i like the stock **** i dont see myself replacing it unless i get the leather light up one
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Old Oct 20, 2003 | 12:12 PM
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I also like the look and style of the stock shifter. There was a post however of someone having trouble with the finish wearing off. Has anyone else had this problem? I haven't yet and I am at 2500 miles.
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Old Oct 20, 2003 | 12:18 PM
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I think the only people with wear problems are those that like to fondle their **** while they drive.
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Old Oct 20, 2003 | 01:35 PM
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Originally posted by f1 tech
I had one on my S2000, and it rocked! It's comfortable to hold and makes my shifting even easier with a flick of the wrist. I have not tried or seen one on the 8, but I'm sure it's just as good.
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Old Oct 20, 2003 | 04:06 PM
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Originally posted by IkeWRX
Those are awful, they look like some of the bad shiftknobs from ebay. No offense, but just not my taste.
This is a ferrari-style ****, not a pistol-grip clear plastic LED-ridden ebay ****. This coming from Mr. Function-over-form

I had a team voodoo **** in my acura - it helped out shifting feel because the stock **** was very tall, and the thread only ran up about halfway through the ****. In extreme summer/winter temps here it wasn't too bad in that respect.

But since the stock **** in the 8 has a good feel already, I don't know if I'd spring for one.
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Old Oct 20, 2003 | 09:06 PM
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Originally posted by Gord96BRG
(ETC!)

You guys are obviously unfamiliar with the legendary Voodoo shift ***** - They're more than just shift *****, you should know...

Seriously, they have a huge following in the Miata world - they were patterned after the classic Ferrari spun aluminum shift ****, and are machined from billet aluminum with threaded collar (no lame set-screws here).
.
.
.
I can attest to the amount of thought that went into the Voodoo ****. As I recall its development stemmed from a lengthy thread on the CompuServe "Miata-ville" SIG, which I frequented back in the day. (This was a few years before Al Gore invented the Internet).

Aluminum was chosen for its light weight, which results in a lower moment of inertia (quicker shifts), and also reduced thermal mass (so it doesn't burn through your palm on a hot day). Titanium would have similar properties. The sphere also serves to lower overall height, resulting in a shorter throw (quicker shifts). I sense a pattern...

My idea of a copper **** was shelved because of the thermal issue.

Somewhere I have the 5 1/2" floppies which I used to download the message threads to my C64 at a blazing 300baud. Serious! Funny, there seemed just as much good information available then as there is now with high-speed internet. Maybe that represents some kind of universal constant

Anyway, I never got over my copper jones and put off my purchase; ended up cancelling CompuServe at some point (it did cost $6 per hour!). Nice to know the legend survived. It must have been 12 or 13 years by now. I still have the Miata too, but I think it's going to be swapped for an 8 pretty soon. Maybe this time around I'll use some VooDoo. The pearl aluminum looks fine.
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Old Oct 21, 2003 | 01:32 AM
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Aluminum was chosen for its light weight, which results in a lower moment of inertia (quicker shifts), and also reduced thermal mass (so it doesn't burn through your palm on a hot day). Titanium would have similar properties.
Voodoo Bob does offer a Titanium Voodoo ****, but it is a little pricey. but it is pretty nice. i am still debating on ordering the Ti **** or the regular polished/chrome piece.

santino
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Old Oct 22, 2003 | 07:21 PM
  #19  
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Well, I took the plunge and ordered a 2" pearl shift ****. I will post again about it once it comes.
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Old Oct 22, 2003 | 07:42 PM
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voodoo

I'd like to see that pearl **** installed. Almost went that route myself but have ordered the smooth black instead with the thought of getting it engraved.
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Old Oct 22, 2003 | 07:49 PM
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Hey,

If you're interested in some Titanium shift ***** or similarities, check out:

obbnmotorworks.com

Look around :D

Last edited by christi88gxl; Oct 22, 2003 at 07:51 PM.
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Old Oct 22, 2003 | 07:58 PM
  #22  
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knobbers

Trouble is, many of those look like beer tap handles, golf clubs, or marital aids. Where do I put the batteries?
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Old Oct 22, 2003 | 08:28 PM
  #23  
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Read POS for 'company cars' on Carlson's sig line. (Speaking of thread drift... ;-)
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Old Oct 22, 2003 | 08:45 PM
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Speaking of that sig. what year Lotus Elite, I don't suppose you have any digital photos of it?

And to stay on topic, I'll take a Momo ****, or my current Prodrive ****. The Voodoo **** just looks cheap and cheesy to me, maybe they are great ***** but I'm not impressed by the pics.

Last edited by IkeWRX; Oct 22, 2003 at 08:50 PM.
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Old Oct 22, 2003 | 09:32 PM
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And to stay on topic, I'll take a Momo ****, or my current Prodrive ****. The Voodoo **** just looks cheap and cheesy to me, maybe they are great ***** but I'm not impressed by the pics.
I still don't get what can even look cheap about the voodoo *****. They're so simple. Maybe if you have a black spun one with an 8-ball engraved on it, but this does not look cheap to me:



Especially when compared to this, for $70 and from what I can tell is a set-screw universal ****:



The momo ***** I see are similarly brand-name over-priced and are set-screw mounted. I'd rather have something that threads directly in.
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