I've often wondered the same thing - Would a Ferrari style shift base work for this gearbox, with it's extremely short throws? If so, I know I'd prefer it over the present setup. There have been several times when I would have loved to had the split second visual confirmation as to which gear I'm in, given the high rpms available in the top gears. Good luck on your research and keep us posted.

 

With this how fast can you go through the gears? I always wondered this when looking at a ferrari's shifter. I like to just slide the shifter up and to the right or whatever with this i think it would be a pain in the ass to shift fast.

 

a few other thoughts on this - the gear changing doesn't exactly go in one particular extended H pattern on the S, so that might be an issue. The Ferrari's typically 'click' into the gear - ooooooh, I love that.

Anyways, might want to try to start out with some cardboard mockups (no joke) - its cheap/relatively free and easy to work with. Just snap off the center console and start hacking away. That's what I'd do.

 

Schatten,

Yep, thats the plan. We will use some calipers to measure everything then draw it up in Solidworks or CAD, print it and make a cardboard cutout to test fit and modify. If everything goes well we will CNC it. Should be able to start on Saturday.

 

oh my god I want one...

 

Just a thought...before actually driving a car that had a gated shifter (if only for an afternoon), I thought shifting aggressively would be a pain in the ass but after the first several shifts, I didn't even look at the gate (as one shouldn't anyway) so I suspect that situation wouldn't change in the S2000. You shift as you normally would because a clean shift is going to be a clean shift, whether it follow a gated path or slipped into position sans a gate. I realize having this mod would assist someone to verify which gear one is in prior to downshifting but doesn't the tach reading verify this? There's a lot of difference between 75mph in 5th and 75th in 3rd.
Just a thought or two but I love this idea as long as the finished product doesn't look to "borrowed." I think aftermarket products generally "ripped" from another marquee can look tacky. Not quite like a Civic with BMW gills but you know what I mean.

 

I'd definitely be up for one if a gated shifter like the Ferrari's are offered for our cars. Then I'd have to go with a ball knob just like Ferrari.

 

IMHO the worst idea Ferrari ever had.

 

I felt a bit restricted when I went in my friend's dad's 550 and tried out the shifter.

 

one other thought, even if it isn't totally gated, you could do something to the extent of an aluminum base plate and it will be notched in the 123456 &r positions, and not necessarily L O N G cut all the way to the gear engagement.