I've driven a lot of different MT cars but I've yet to find one that has a better shifter. Is there a MT street-production car that shifts better in any price range? Even in the supercar/exotic category? If so, please name that car.

 

The Mazda RX-8 has very nice shift quality -- it's not quite as mechanical feeling, but it doesn't grind in 2nd either. In my experience nothing is as sweet as these two (maybe it's because they don't have to handle any torque, ha).

 

Jeep Wrangler. Like butter!

 

my friend's rx8 had trouble going into second anywhere above 6.5k rpm. it was like the fork would get stuck and it wouldnt allow him to put it into 2nd unless he forced it in.. Mazda had warrantied it and replaced his entire tranny.. i heard that wasn't the first time it happened either

 

I didn't know that was a common problem. My experience with RX-8s is at two zoom-zoom live events and a test drive, during all of which it shifted flawlessly (even at redline).

What's funny is my 2005 S will grind second at low revs, but it's butter in all gears once you're above about 4k.

 

haha, my 02 seems fine to me i love the smoothness of shifting with the car and after driving my friend's RX8 (after the new tranny) it wasn't bad at all. however, driving my other friend's S4 was like trying to drive a truck.. man that is one long shifter

 

AP2's tranny (carbon synchro's) = best manual in teh universe.

 

Mid 90s MR2 had a great shifter. Prob the best until the S2000 came out.

 

People rave about the shifter in the Miata, but most still call it the second-best manual in the world.

 

I've driven an NSX, and it had a pretty nice feel while shifting.