I heard an interesting comment from a Mazda sales consultant. He had said that the Mazda Miata has the best shifter/gearbox (for feel, shortness, definition) of any car in the whole world. I knew that this was true in in the nineties. But since the S2000 came out, much of the media and press has praised that the S2000 is the new standard for the shifter by which all sports car should be measured. Is this true? Have anyone compared the Mazda Miata (esp the MazdaSpeed) with the S2000? Just a curiosity.

 

I came from a 1.8i MX5 to the S2000. My view is that while the MX5 change is pretty slick, it's still not as short nor as smooth as the rifle-bolt change in the S.

That's not to denigrate the MX5 at all - I loved mine and in some (limited) ways it was more fun to drive than the S. Certainly a lot more forgiving and you could afford to take more liberties with it - especially in the wet.

 

I had a 10th Anniversary Edition Miata with the 6-speed tranny and I'd have to say it's a close 2nd to the S2000. It had a bit more throw than the S2000, but not much. One thing about the Miata that I liked better is the shifter was shorter, whereas the S2000's shifter sticks up higher. Coming from the Miata, I kinda feel like the S has a truck shifter. I think it needs to be a few inches shorter. The Miata's tranny was pretty smooth. I'd have to say it's a tie in the smoothness department.

Kris

 

The S2000 rules in this area! I have driven race cars with longer. less precise throws.

 

I feel that the S2000 shifter is superior to the Miata's as well. With the stock knob on, it's the perfect height. I heard some comments about wanting to make it even shorter...that's good if you're the type that wants to sport that "gangsta lean" when driving. But during actual driving events, where keeping both hands on the wheel is paramount, you want the shifter to be right where it is. I had to take my Voodoo off because it made the shifter too short.

 

i had a 1990 and a 2001 miata, the shifter is nice and the gearbox nad shifter setup is superior in my new S...the mazdaspeed shifter is better than a stock one and i liked that as well...but so far the s is #1 in my book, and the gearbox exchange is even better with the honda.

 

I thought both shifters from the Miata and the S2000 were sourced from Aisin. On a side note, the Pontiac Solstice will also get an Aisin product.

I had a Miata and I think the S2000's shifter gets my nod.

 

The horizontal and vertical movement are 23mm
and 40mm respectively on the S2000 according to the reviewers.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Uncle Fester
I feel that the S2000 shifter is superior to the Miata's as well.

 

s2k all the way (i never drove a miata) my vote still goes to the s2k! hehe