Central or right handside gear stick?
Central or right handside gear stick?
Author
Discussion

corvettedave

Original Poster:

274 posts

180 months

Thursday 2nd August 2012
quotequote all
whats it like to change gear with your right hand?, is it easier to build ultima with gearstick in centre or right handside?

cheers

dave

hedgefinder

3,418 posts

193 months

Thursday 2nd August 2012
quotequote all
much the same as doing other things with your other hand - you get used to it after a while and then it doesnt feel so much different.....

DHGTR

1,196 posts

266 months

Thursday 2nd August 2012
quotequote all
+1

Lots of Europeans do it so how hard can it be ............................................ sorry guys, just a little dig :-)
Yes i have RH change.

738 driver

1,202 posts

216 months

Thursday 2nd August 2012
quotequote all
But is one of the major noise transmitters..........solid gearbox connection to hollow box section ??

Cableshift system is not an expensive alternative (cable and central shift with good actuation)

Food for thought ....

deadscoob

2,265 posts

283 months

Thursday 2nd August 2012
quotequote all
I was thinknig on my first long drive, all it needs to be as refined as my BMW is a centre shift wink

738 driver

1,202 posts

216 months

Thursday 2nd August 2012
quotequote all
Easily distracted Eh ? biglaugh

dal2litrefrogeye

357 posts

200 months

Thursday 2nd August 2012
quotequote all
when I first got mine it did take a bit of gotting used to , but i dont even think about it now , and the ultima is a special car and the right hand gear shift i think adds to the differencess / specialness of it driving

F.C.

3,899 posts

231 months

Friday 3rd August 2012
quotequote all
Centre shift for me, solid rod linkage strikes me as a bit crude and as mentioned more noise transfer.

356Speedster

2,294 posts

254 months

Friday 3rd August 2012
quotequote all
F.C. said:
Centre shift for me, solid rod linkage strikes me as a bit crude and as mentioned more noise transfer.
This. Centre cable change on a G96/50... I wanted the more modern feel / 6 well spaced ratios for my build. Horses for courses, gearboxes probably generates the most discussion on here as everyone has their own personal opinions on them. You're best to weigh up the options and chose what's right for you & you're intended use.... there's no right / wrong answers here if you're sticking with a Porsche 'box.

deadscoob

2,265 posts

283 months

Friday 3rd August 2012
quotequote all
I think some of you must have better ears than me. I can't detect any noise louder than the engine smile

I don't think the rhs gear change is crude, but it is simple. It's more old fashioned, probably slower and there's less choice nowadays, but every other car I've ever owned has a centre gear shift, only cars I've driven with rhs ones are race cars and I think it adds to the experience.

Each to their own.

Storer

5,024 posts

238 months

Friday 3rd August 2012
quotequote all
Being a "man of the soil" I am accustomed to a right hand gear shift as all modern tractors have a right hand shift, either electronic and mounted on the seat armrest or mechanical and in the control console on that side.

For those in the UK the centre change is more intuitive and gives quieter changes. However, the r/h change is easy to use and an added bonus is you can easily check that the car is not in gear before firing her up for the mates/onlookers that want to "hear" her!!!!

Paul

corvettedave

Original Poster:

274 posts

180 months

Friday 3rd August 2012
quotequote all
deadscoob said:
I think some of you must have better ears than me. I can't detect any noise louder than the engine smile

I don't think the rhs gear change is crude, but it is simple. It's more old fashioned, probably slower and there's less choice nowadays, but every other car I've ever owned has a centre gear shift, only cars I've driven with rhs ones are race cars and I think it adds to the experience.

Each to their own.
I think you make a good point about "adds to the experience", your right

thanks everyone else for your comments

cheers

dave

356Speedster

2,294 posts

254 months

Friday 3rd August 2012
quotequote all
Storer said:
However, the r/h change is easy to use and an added bonus is you can easily check that the car is not in gear before firing her up for the mates/onlookers that want to "hear" her!!!!
biggrin I like your thinking!! Gotta prioritise these things, LOL!!

3Dee

3,206 posts

244 months

Friday 3rd August 2012
quotequote all
Storer said:
Being a "man of the soil" I am accustomed to a right hand gear shift as all modern tractors have a right hand shift
scratchchin

SIR!

Are you casting aspertions on our Mistresses? Are you saying that our beloved Ults are 'Agricultural'?

You Boundah! This is not cricket! - HOW VERY DARE YOU! nono


wavey

Stig

11,823 posts

307 months

Friday 3rd August 2012
quotequote all
Having had both, I prefer the centre shift/cable setup with the Getrag.

A well setup G50/linkage is fine (and gives a very positive gearshift feel) and feels more like a race car, but the Getrag/centre shift looks a bit more 'finished' in the cabin and feels more conventional to use.

Cost was a factor too, as the centre shift was more expensive.

Verde

506 posts

211 months

Monday 27th August 2012
quotequote all
Stig,
Which engine/Getrag are you using? I'm sure this is common knowledge for many, but it's not obvious where to find it.
The low point of my Ultima so far is gear shifting (and the fact that the final drive is a bit too long for my taste - 2400 or so when cruising with traffic on Interstates. That's just wasteful with an LS7).
V

Stig said:
Having had both, I prefer the centre shift/cable setup with the Getrag.

A well setup G50/linkage is fine (and gives a very positive gearshift feel) and feels more like a race car, but the Getrag/centre shift looks a bit more 'finished' in the cabin and feels more conventional to use.

Cost was a factor too, as the centre shift was more expensive.