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What: Diesel Geek Sigma 5 Short Shifter

Why: The Jetta shifter throw is about the longest shifter throw I've seen outside of trucks. Trying to shift the stock shifter is like swinging a baseball bat. The DG Short Shifter reduces throw by 30% in both side to side and front to back axes. Most short shift kits reduce one axis but not the other, or it reduces one by a lot and the other hardly at all. The DG shifter does both the same. In addition, it removes the rubber portions of the short shifter, giving the shift a much "notchier" feel.

Most Americans are use to cable shift cars that feel mushy, so they want smooth, mushy shifting. The smoother, the better is the general impression people get. Unfortunately, this leads to a number of problems, first and foremost is, it's much harder to note when you move to the right gear, or how engaged the gear is. Race vehicles and expensive/exotic cars have very notchy shifters - there's a reason for that. It gives you precise shifting feedback. The DG shifter gives that feel - I love it, but most people don't like it. The people who do like it are the ones who have actually been on the track and raced competitively.

What I would do differently: Nothing in so far as the DG kit - however, I would like to get a B&N or some other type of shifter knob that converts the push down for reverse to a pull up for reverse. I've actually accidentally slammed the car into reverse because the knob is a push down type. Pull up would prevent this.

Where:

Diesel Geek