Shifters Which One Do You Perfer and Why?

[Shubee2 (DSK)]

Shifters  Which One Do You Perfer and Why? With All the Shifters out there these Days Which Shifter Do You Perfer? I Know Gene Berg Is Going to Come Up Alot But There Are Others that Are Just As Good and Look Better What Is Your Input and Share Pictures If You Have Any  This Relates to All Shifter's both New And Old  Share your Driving Experience on Why You Like a certain Shifter.

[Steve D.]

I'll kick this off with a curveball-

EMPI hurst copy- this stupid little shifter can be had for under $50, and just plain kicks ass.  I thought I would hate the spring loaded gate in it, but every car I have driven with one just feels natural, even hammering through the gears.  That said, my car lives outside so it has a Berg locker.

[Zach Gomulka]

I was really surprised the first time I got my GTV driving and had a run through the gears with the E-Z-R, very natural, solid, and precise. Not too fancy looking, very simple design, reverse lockout, sturdy...

Berg is very nice, but I hate the design of the new handles, not to mention the price! And Ive personally never met anyone who could get the locker to function correctly.

[2manytoys]

The Berg in my 56 rag is perfect.

The original Hurst in the Notch is perfect.

the copy Hurst in the ghia,...pretty darn nice.

If I have to choose, i would pick the original Hurst. soft shifting, positive in gear feel, quiet and comfy grip.
Berg is better with linelock though in my setup,..although, linelock will be on the steering wheel next time.

[Shubee2 (DSK)]

I Have Never Liked the Feel Of A Tee Handle on a  Shifter The Ball on a Hurst has always been More Comfortible to  I like the Looks of the Original Deano Shifter  But I Perfer An Original Hurst ...

[Steve D.]

Ive personally never met anyone who could get the locker to function correctly.

Me either.  It works alright, but not as good as a normal Berg- price of piece of mind?

[ESH]

...Me either...

Same here, never used to be able to grab second, then that switched to third after some careful adjustment and after some further adjustment none of them so it's now fitted to the inside of a cardboard box somewhere upstairs in the garage.

The standard Bergs are great though in my experience. 

[nicolas]

i was really impressed with the hurst shifter when i got it. very nice and solid. i also have a EZR shifter in the square, but that allways pops out in reverse... so that needs adjustment, but it is OK for a nearstock car. AND i have a CSP shifter, not mentioned yet, but i think it is very good and a quite nice design as well...

[louisb]

Shubee, check out the CSP shifters. Nice design and you can get them with a ball handle.

--louis

[javabug]

I have a Hurst in my car, and have driven others' cars with Hurst sifters.  My car has a crunchy gearbox, but it is still enjoyable to drive with the Hurst.

I've never driven a Berg, would like to try one but would probably stick with my Hursts in the long run.

[empicolector]

i've got a locking berg shifter in the ghia he is perfect
but I ve found an EMPI eliminator to change

[Gunter]

Shubee, check out the CSP shifters. Nice design and you can get them with a ball handle.

--louis

Hey Shubee
Louis is right
thanks also Nicolas on the comments
Shubee, the CIP1 container with our parts should be arriving shortly
so contact steve@cip1.com for CSP parts (with my regards)
and those shifters have  been added onto the order
thanks all

Gunter

[Dirk / DFL]

I think a CSP shifter is first in quality, and they are stylish too!

[Zach Gomulka]

Ive never tried the CSP, they look too modern for an old car.

[Lids]

I have only used an EZR shifter, just got myself a berg one for the new year.

[empicolector]

I think a CSP shifter is first in quality, and they are stylish too!

I want to get one for my buse they look great

[speedwell]

EZR shifter with T handle from empi elimantor shifter 
very cool to drive 

[pupjoint]

...Me either...

Same here, never used to be able to grab second, then that switched to third after some careful adjustment and after some further adjustment none of them so it's now fitted to the inside of a cardboard box somewhere upstairs in the garage.

The standard Bergs are great though in my experience. 

had my Berg locker for many years now....never had a prob shifting

[Harry/FDK]

The Berg is great, but the Hurst/Empi copy is just as good for me.

[Frank LUX]

I have a Gene Berg Finger Grip 40% Shifter and a Gene Berg Finger Grip 60% Shifter and absolutly love both of them!!!

Super Smooth and Quick Shifting!!!

And I recently bought a super Early Berg Shifter aswell...

Frank

[Shubee2 (DSK)]

Shubee, check out the CSP shifters. Nice design and you can get them with a ball handle.

--louis

Hey Shubee
Louis is right
thanks also Nicolas on the comments
Shubee, the CIP1 container with our parts should be arriving shortly
so contact steve@cip1.com for CSP parts (with my regards)
and those shifters have  been added onto the order
thanks all

Gunter

LOL Gunter I Want A CSP Shifter with # EBI logo on it LOL

[louisb]

Has anyone ever been able to modify a non-Berg shifter to work with a Berg 5 speed? I eventually plan to have a Berg 5 for the '67. Just wondering what the handle options are.

Thanks,

--louis

[Donny B.]

Has anyone ever been able to modify a non-Berg shifter to work with a Berg 5 speed?

Yes.

[Zach Gomulka]

Ive seen stock shifters and Hurst shifters modified for a Berg 5. I plan to do the same someday when my GTV gets a 5 box

[qubek]

Here in Poland, the concept of modifying Bugs or any non-stock parts did not exist before mid-1990’s. So I suppose I’m more objective and I don’t ad value to parts because of “nostalgia”.
Berg – I got a little tired reading “only Berg”, “Berg will be your last shifter”, “others are crap” etc. Well – it is a very good shifter. It works smoothly and feels very solid. In this area – it is the best. I like the looks very much too (this is subjective of course). But its handle is designed for aliens. Certainly not for human hands. The price is ridiculous IMO and can only be justified by it’s (and the brand’s) fame, not technical advantages.
Scat – very good shifter, fast and solid, price is decent. I would recommend it, but I don’t like the way it looks.
Empi (Hurst copy) – mixed feelings. Really good shifter and the best when compared to its price. But the trigger cable brakes to often. I don’t like to buy things that can brake at any time.
Flat 4 (Empi Eliminator copy) – nice shape, the most handy IMO, but the mechanism preventing you from engaging reverse instead of second is primitive. This probably can be adjusted, but why bother when there are other, better shifters? I wouldn’t trust it if I was racing or rallying a Bug, when you have to downshift from time to time and you have to be sure that you will engage the right gear.
Short shift set – (the one used to modify the original shifter) – costs nothing and works really great if your shifting mechanism is OK ( the bushing in the tunnel etc). Best value for the money.

I never tried any of the old stuff.

[Neil Davies]

My favourite was an Empi/Mr Bug T-handle that I had in my Ghia. It was shaped like an early Berg (just a copy I think) with the finger grips, but shifted beautifully. Unfortunately only available in LHD, but cheap at £35 show price! Still cheap at £65 shop price though.
My brother put a Scat in his car and although I've got used to it now, I wouldn't buy one. In my race car I used a stock early shifter (with the cranked shaft) on a quickshift plate and it was great.

[benssp]

I've tried many shifters in my bug, Empi/hurst trigger was ok till the cable broke, scat was nice but too short for everyday use, I now run a Berg

[Donny B.]

Nothing but Berg for me! I've got a locking Berg-5 in the car a new 40% shifter with the signature handle on a shelf in my VW room.  I also have a spare 40% 4 speed shifter in the cabinet in my garage.  The handles may not be the coolest, but the function is the best.

[louisb]

Louis does the Jedi mind trick on Donny B. "You want to sell Louis that spare 40% throw shifter for cheap." 

--louis

[beetletom]

gpt an empi trigger shift
going to replace it with a shiftomatic from monkiboy
hope they are as good as the empi!