I went on a test drive of the xB yesterday and I was amazed by its interior space.
I know that everyone says they have a lot of space, and I looked in one and thought that it was pretty good for a small car, but it is huge!!!!

Now on to the problem, I wanted to drive a manual xB and they had one, good. BUT the gears seemed really hard to get into. Several times I could not find first, and the first time I drove it I couldn't get into second.

to furthur aggrivate this situation it had the short shifter and I was reaching to the floor it seemed to get to the shifter.

I am used to driving the miata mentioned in my sig, and its tranny is much better than the xB that I drove.

Is this a problem with all xB's? Is it just the short shifter? Is it just me having been spoiled on the Miata?

Thanks

It is the short shifter. I am really unhappy with it now after having had it for a good 3 months. I just drove 2 other xB's with stock shifter and there is an extreme difference in feel. It's like you don't even have to pull/push, it does it on it's own. It is considerably smoother than the short shifter.

I think my next mod will be that new, 3" lower short shifter sold by TWM. Hopefully it is not the same feel so I will try both istalling it in the stock base, and then the one that came with the TRD and hopefully I will find the smoother feel of stock.

This is depressing. I just got my xB and although it's fine, I don't LIKE the feel of the shifter, so I was going to get the short shifter to clean it up a bit, but it sounds like a bad idea.

You will notice that the short shifter is better when you first buy it, but in my case, over the time I have rode it, it started to wear down and the shifts became harder and clunkier. At first it is great, hopefully the new one will give that same feeling cuz it was a lot better than stock at the time

i had the same feeling on my TRD quickshifter...u have to kinda pressure it to put in gears...
problem is the shift knob it came with is way to light....just like a pingpong ball...

you can buy a weighted (around 300-400grams) shiftknob to get rid of the problem

has anyone got the new shifter fromTWM yet? I am looking into gettin that shifter too, but I am a little skecthy about it . 8)

I think my next mod will be that new, 3" lower short shifter sold by TWM. Hopefully it is not the same feel so I will try both istalling it in the stock base, and then the one that came with the TRD and hopefully I will find the smoother feel of stock.

keep us updated, dude.

my stock xb has problems shifting. i think the xb shifting design just sucks period. It's hard to stick it into gear sometimes and its not smooth. thats pretty weak...

Is everyone having these problems with the Manual xB's?!?!?! And if so will they fix it under the warranty??? :shock:

I hope so cause my Manual xB will be here soon! :?

Hmmmm.....

Well at least I am not alone.
I am going to go back to the dealer later and test drive a manual xA on friday; I wonder if it is a problem only with the xB.

If a heavier shifter would help I found the perfect one. A chrome Skull with glowing eyes :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

Can anyone esle describe their problem more in depth to see if it is all the same problem? For me it seemed that first and second was further over than I could get at with " normal" force.

I read on some review somewhere that someone else was having trouble with the shifter catching on the synchro, or before it got in gear.

Could this be a possible petition?

That stinks. I ordered manual too. Didn't drive one though. They only had an automatic.

I actually just filled out a full report for JD Power on this subject as well.

First of all, there are very few cars with better transmissions than a miata. The Aisin unit that is in there is one of the best ever made. Second only to my S2000 8)

I have tried many things with the xB shifter. As mentioned above, one thing that does help is a heavier shift knob. Im using one from Greddy right now thats working pretty well butthe tranny is still notchy. 3rd gear always clicks and sometimes reverse is never to be found.

I have about 6,500 on the clock and am going to change the tranny fluid soon to see if that helps any. Also going to _____ at the dealer as well and see if there is anything they can do.

On a side note, I have driven a couple of xAs and this problem seems to only be with the xB. None of the xAs i drove showed any of these problems.

if just hit 12k and i honestly think the tranny has gooten a bit smoother over time (or maybee im just hyper used to it i dunno) Im curious how the tranny fluid change goes for you since i would like to do that myself (i think the manual said 20k or 25k for that switch). Please post up your process/results docofmind.

Oh and which greddy shift knob are you using?

thanks

wow, this is not good news.. as i am awaiting a rs1.0 and ordered the TRD shifting kit, anyone can give more opinions on this - as i need to know to cancel it or not..

hmmm well i have had the short shifter for almost ten thousand miles and i certainly like it better than stock. on the other hand, i havent driven a stock xb 5spd since then so i couldnt tell you if that would make me miss the old unit or not. but as for me i like the sport shifter and im eager to see how the new short throw every one is talking about works.

okay i am confused. is there a difference between

TRD Qick Shifter Kit and a short shifter?

Here we go...

TWM is making a short shifter for the xB, and TRD has a short shifter kit out for god knows how long now.

I've had the TRD unit in my car for nearly 4000 miles--I love it to death, most certainly better than the stock mushy feeling shifter with them long ___ throws. It's notchier than stock--because the throws are shorter, naturally. I admit, the shift knob could use some work, but hell, it was free so I can't complain.

Believe me, the transmission as well as the shifter break in over time, and things start going a lot more smooth.