"citizennick" (citizennick)
03/03/2015 at 02:29 • Filed to: None
3
23|
"citizennick" (citizennick)
03/03/2015 at 02:29 • Filed to: None | 3
| 23 |
I've installed short shifters on 4 of my cars. Each time it has become more and more time consuming and extensive. But as long as it can be done I won't complain.
Surprisingly I didn't break any trim pieces or plastics tabs. Chalk that up as a small victory.
Defintely worth it though.
TopSirloin
> citizennick
03/03/2015 at 02:54 |
|
Confusing title is confusing.
PS9
> TopSirloin
03/03/2015 at 03:21 |
|
Are: Focus ST is aimed at compact performance enthusiasts
Aren't: ...but the shifter is kinda crap and probably aimed at the majority non-enthusiasts who will buy it because it isn't a corolla/civic.
|
TopSirloin
> PS9
03/03/2015 at 03:29 |
|
And shifter throws are now something that's cross shopped? Still, saying "Focus ST" eliminated 99% of the ambiguity saying "car companies" created.
Kevin Barrett
> citizennick
03/03/2015 at 04:51 |
|
I came here expecting an intelligent and completely unemotional conversation about the state of thew new enthusiast car market. Found a WIP photo thread for a bolt-in interior modification instead. I am disappoint.
|
citizennick
> Kevin Barrett
03/03/2015 at 05:15 |
|
my point was its ridiculous what you have to do to change a shifter these days.
Putting the transmission bracket on involved removing the CAI, air box & battery. So much ugh.
|
citizennick
> TopSirloin
03/03/2015 at 05:16 |
|
I might have drank a few Miller Lites.
p33t - wagons 4 lyfe
> citizennick
03/03/2015 at 06:59 |
|
I don't know if its that the car companies are making it harder on purpose, or if its just that cars are becoming more complex.
Look at just the centre console in you pictures. That alone looks 10x more substantial then what I've got in a similar car thats 15 years older.
Partially the cars companies fault yes, but then again a modern car buyer wouldn't stand something like that being as basic as it used to be.
Steve Zissou
> citizennick
03/03/2015 at 07:14 |
|
Maybe that's what made it more difficult?
|
PS9
> TopSirloin
03/03/2015 at 09:42 |
|
Its not about cross shopping. Short throw shift kits are an enthusiast driven market, and couldn't exist at all if not for the long-throw, easy to engage nature of most shifters, which are made that way so anyone who's interested can jump in the car and have an easy time driving it.
You also cannot assume that every ST buyer is an enthusiast, as they are not the majority anywhere in the market. Non-enthusiasts by performance cars all the time, and as the primary driver of sales, they always get the priority. Remember what happened when enthusiats wanted the new GT3 to come with a manual?
nermal
> citizennick
03/03/2015 at 09:45 |
|
VW short shifters are easy as pie to do! No need to tear your interior apart.
|
citizennick
> Steve Zissou
03/03/2015 at 09:50 |
|
no no no, those came after!
|
citizennick
> nermal
03/03/2015 at 09:51 |
|
agh. Seems like the GTI is better than the ST when it comes to anything aftermarket.
alwaysmiata
> citizennick
03/03/2015 at 09:52 |
|
Just curious what year is your ST? I have a '14 and I have noticed that every other one i see has the brightwork on the parking brake but mine is just crappy rubber.
|
citizennick
> alwaysmiata
03/03/2015 at 09:53 |
|
mine is a '14. I've heard that. What trim package is yours? The ST1 gets that amazing cubbyhole by the e-brake.
|
alwaysmiata
> citizennick
03/03/2015 at 09:59 |
|
I have a fully loaded (seriously every option) ST3... I guess the factory just screwed me or something. Yeah the ST1 has that completely different console
Two Drink Minimum
> PS9
03/03/2015 at 10:11 |
|
Short throw shift kits are an enthusiast driven market, and couldn't exist at all if not for the long-throw, easy to engage nature of most shifters, which are made that way so anyone who's interested can jump in the car and have an easy time driving it.
I swear, the shifter on my old Wrangler TJ had less throw than the one on my Fiat Abarth. It's ridiculous that a car the size of a go-kart shifts like a damn Jeep truck.
|
citizennick
> alwaysmiata
03/03/2015 at 10:19 |
|
yeah, it's weird, some guys have mentioned they got different e-brake handles than others. How do you like your car?
|
alwaysmiata
> citizennick
03/03/2015 at 11:20 |
|
Honestly it's the nicest and probably best car i've ever owned (and the first new car). I have a history of owning wierd/kinda crappy cars so its almost kinda boring to me although it shouldn't be. I can say that it really has changed my view on FWD performance though, it really is amazing on a twisty back road. The ford racing tune and exhaust made it a lot more fun in a juvenile way but has kept me happy with it. I still always have the itch to try something different though. What do you thing of yours (minus the shifter i guess)?
|
citizennick
> alwaysmiata
03/03/2015 at 11:33 |
|
I had spent the last several years in a FWD car and was certain I was going to get something RWD next. But after test driving the ST and the likelihood of moving back to Nebraska from Houston I quickly changed my mind, and I'm glad I did, absolutely love the car.
If you plan on getting wanting more power I would swing for an intercooler, the stock one sucks. Everything I've done has been performance related but the shifter is by far my favorite mod so far. Next is a nice heavy knob to compliment the throws. Just can't decide what I want. I KNOW I want a white knob with a red gate pattern but that it has been a pain to find. WC Lathe Werks make amazing knobs but the heavy ones only come in a metal finish, while the much lighter copolymer can be had in white. Been thinking of getting one anyways and painting it white.
Do you plan on tracking/auto crossing? I've just done a couple auto-x events, but upgrading your pads is a must.
|
alwaysmiata
> citizennick
03/03/2015 at 12:17 |
|
Yeah, I have been thinking about an intercooler for a while I just cant bring myself to pony up the money for one right now especially because I don't tend to keep cars all that long. What all do you have done to the car and how do you like it? I've heard great things about upgrading the shifter too and its also really tempting to splurge on that.
In terms of driving events I have only been to one autox with it and a test and tune night at the local drag strip. I was super impressed with it at the autox though I have heard they cook brakes on a road course. I have a 99 miata that I use for track days and the like so I try not to beat on the ST too much as it's my daily and has to do 75 miles of commuting every day.
|
citizennick
> alwaysmiata
03/03/2015 at 12:24 |
|
I got the Levels intercooler, pretty good price. I know a lot of guys get an affordable generic core on eBay and jimmy rig it.
I believe Boomba has a group buy going on for the shifter on Focusst.org, worth looking into, that's the one I got.
Also, EZ Lip, as corny as it is I love it, $30 and it really adds to the aesthetic looks.
Luckily I'll bre racing a lot of Formula Vee races this year so I don't have the strong desire to upgrade my brakes yet.
|
alwaysmiata
> citizennick
03/03/2015 at 12:35 |
|
I hadn't seen formula vee before, that looks like a ton of fun. I wish I had seen the EZ lip before I ordered my triple R lip (because its pricey for what it is) but I totally have to agree with you on the lip, I honestly think it adds a lot to the look of the car even if it is a fairly pointless guilty pleasure.
Chewbakkah
> citizennick
03/06/2015 at 13:06 |
|
Just like nick, knobs always on the mind.