Is TWM SS really worth the 250 over other mod options? [Archive]

sfalexi

01-04-2008, 11:54 PM

Well, I have a little extra cash this month. I have a Mazdaspeed CAI, and am looking toward putting a little something else into my MS3.

I wouldn't mind better shifting, but it looks to me like the shifter isn't really that 'long' of a throw to begin with. I'll buy the bushings regardless to help it 'click' into place as I'm a person who feels the squishing and doesn't like it.

So I'm wondering is it worth to go with the TWM SS? Is it a noticeably more comfortable throw? I figure if it's moderately more comfortable, since the ENTIRE time you're in the car you're shifting, it'd be worth it.

My alternatives would probably be just the bushings and a motor mount. Just getting a little poll/opinions. Thank you.

Sacrilicious

01-05-2008, 12:02 AM

motor mount + shifter bushings all the way! having a shorter throw is one thing, but smoothing out the clutch engagement is much more rewarding, imo.

808MP5

01-05-2008, 12:16 AM

with motor mounts you'll get a way better perfomance gain. I have all and the motor mounts are the way to go.

Falconx84

01-05-2008, 03:04 AM

motor mount ftw..... get cobb's adjustable sts when it comes out.

meha11

01-05-2008, 11:39 AM

I wouldn't mind better shifting, but it looks to me like the shifter isn't really that 'long' of a throw to begin with. I'll buy the bushings regardless to help it 'click' into place as I'm a person who feels the squishing and doesn't like it.

SS in my experience doesnt make anything smooth, infact it highlights the lumpy shifts because you have just reduced the mechanical leverage of the original shifter.

Personally i wont buy one again, (i have no intention of removing it either) if you think the stock is ok then dont fix whats not broke.
I agree 100% with everyone else, go for the mount and bushings.

redspeed

01-05-2008, 01:23 PM

Motor mount, bro. It will make your ms3 feel solid.

Kosh

01-05-2008, 01:59 PM

I have both and couldn't live without either of them now. Get the mount first. The difference from stock is amazing.

SwampAss

01-06-2008, 01:08 AM

the SS is a mod you will utilize 100% of the time. I love mine.

3.slow

01-06-2008, 01:53 AM

How hard is the motor mount to install?

SwampAss

01-06-2008, 09:55 AM

5 bolts and 10 minutes.

speed3shon

01-06-2008, 03:02 PM

10 minutes if you take your time jacking up the car...

Falconx84

01-06-2008, 08:40 PM

Sacrilicious

01-06-2008, 09:18 PM

808MP5

01-06-2008, 10:56 PM

2 bolts and 5 min

but I didn't jack up the car, I found a ditch in my front yard and straddled it so I could slide under the car... call me lazy, but I didn't have a decent jack/stand or ramps available.

LOL. 2bolts. Where I like see. You must mean 3bolts on the front motor mount.

Anyhow motor mounts > short shifter when it comes to performance gains. Also u use the motor mount 100% of the time and not the other way around. Cuz ur not always holding the shifter or are u?

Falconx84

01-06-2008, 11:57 PM

no, only 2 bolts.... I only removed the bolts that hold the mount in then rocked the motor a little to get the mount out.

don't ask me how I was able to rock the motor with one hand while laying on my back with like 3 inches of clearance, flashlight in my mouth and put the mount and bolt in place. Don't know how I did it, but I did, so it can be done. It probably helped that I installed the TRZ mount which was a lot easier and quicker than the stock mount because its a touch smaller. The stock mount was a bitch to get out and when it did, it almost hit me in the face, lol. That woulda sucked....

Sacrilicious

01-07-2008, 12:07 AM

the TRZ is a lot easier to get in there because of its size. the one that requires removing more bolts is the corksport insert, because it makes the stock mount a lot thicker, so it's hard to cram back in there...=/

MS3Chik

01-07-2008, 05:23 PM

i didnt feel any difference from the motor mount but a big one with the sts..imo

sfalexi

01-07-2008, 05:35 PM

Grrrr!!!!!! Well, after much deliberation, I'm going to scrap the STS idea for a while. I find the shifter pretty comfortable and I'm seeing a lot of people saying it's a little stiffer. Which woould not make it more comfortable, just less movement. And my arm can move fast enough where a STS wouldn't shave off that much shifting time.

So I'm leaning more towards motor mount and bushings only. Thanks all.

Alexi

ihadacivicsi

03-30-2008, 11:43 AM

Where can I get motor mounts? Reccomendations?

Betelgeuse

03-30-2008, 01:06 PM

Personally I'd go with the STS before the mount. The mount IS a nice upgrade but with the added stress it most likely puts on the tranny mount, I'd hold off until they release a kit with all 3 mounts or at least a tranny mount upgrade. That's just me though. I know there are tons of people with the trz with no issues so nothing's a surety.

At first I thought the stock throw was good enough but after playing around with a car that had a short shifter, I'm not so sure about that. It's all personal preference, but considering how short the gears are in this car, a corresponding shorter throw will be a plus imo.

BTW for anyone interesed: TWM is having a March sale on the Mazdaspeed 3 SS so it's worth checking out asap (only 2 days to go). I'm ordering mine today.

stevekt

03-31-2008, 12:28 AM

I'm going to go with inserts and bushings. It's a fairly inexpensive combo that should give noticeable improvements over stock. I'm not ready to swap out major components such as shifters and mounts.

mrlilguy157

03-31-2008, 12:31 AM

go motor mount and then pull out your shifter, cut it down 1.5", and get the threads welded back on the actual shaft.

its what I got, and I love it.

SiiK23

03-31-2008, 07:54 AM

i have the B&M short Throw Shifter and i love it, not to mention its only $100..food for thought

Falconx84

03-31-2008, 06:37 PM

i have the B&M short Throw Shifter and i love it, not to mention its only $100..food for thought

not for the MS3 .... the 6spd's odd placement of reverse is where the added cost/engineering is

Ghoust

04-02-2008, 07:00 AM

go motor mount and then pull out your shifter, cut it down 1.5", and get the threads welded back on the actual shaft.

its what I got, and I love it.

I was thinking about doing this guys. What are the potential pros and cons to doing this?

Sacrilicious

04-02-2008, 07:15 AM

I was thinking about doing this guys. What are the potential pros and cons to doing this?

well, you would need to have the ability to cut/weld the shifter, and if you screw up, there's no more "going back to stock"...:D if it works, though, you essentially got a reasonable STS for free...=d

buttdart

04-12-2008, 10:29 AM

you would not have to weld the threads back onto the post. cut the shaft then just re-thread it. you can 'rent' a re-threader from an auto parts store. did this 'mod' in my old car and it's amazing.

mazdaspeed32007

04-12-2008, 06:35 PM

when i took off my shifter to put in the bushings i was thinking of cutting mine but when i saw the spring for reverse i didnt think it was possible. maybe ill take another look but how did you work around all of the other components in the shifter? like did you just chop below the spring and re-weld or above or...?? post some pics....i def did this in my cough cough honda cough cough and wanted to do it to my BAS ASS MS3!!! WOOOOOO! psssst. hondas suck. lol.

blacksheepms3

04-29-2008, 11:04 PM

imo cutting the stock shifter is a bad idea, you're not reducing the throw, your only reducing the height of the shifter, the main premise of twm ss is the leverage point is changed as well so that the throw is reduced. you can see it in their website, they have an animation under the FAQ.

anyway, my gf is buying me one, she said I barely use anything she gave me so buying me an ss would ensure i have something she gave that i use everyday...hehehe works out for my and for her. So question, would i really essentially need a weighted shift knob to facilitate a better shifting experience? people with ss and weighted (300-600grams) shift knob please chime in.

4thStroke

04-29-2008, 11:39 PM

blacksheepms3, by cutting the stock shifter, you are still shortening the throw. When you swing a bat, which part of the bat is traveling the furthest? The end is, and the closer you move towards the handle, the less distance the bat is traveling. Its exagerated, but it works.

I see what you are saying though, a STS should be more about shortening the overall throw of the shifter while still mainaining stockish heigh.

ericrapp

04-30-2008, 07:55 PM

Not for nothing but did anyone check out engenear's How To on shifter bushing mod, free and easy. I like the cheap motor mounts before SS. Clutch engagement and smoothing any wheelspin that might accidentally occur are effective performance mods, and the shifter is a bit more personal preference. no offense just imo

dgraf

04-30-2008, 08:27 PM

I say buy the shifter. I would say it's relatively cheap when compared to other sts. The shifter in my bug cost me 500 bucks. I think 250 bucks isn't too much to debate over. It also depends what you guys focus all of your money on, its either your girlfriend or your car. I say car. Your car will never order you around.

mazdaspeed32007

04-30-2008, 10:33 PM

when i get bored with my car i put on a new exhaust....when i get bored with my g/f i try to stick it in her exhaust. one opens right up and excepts it....the other tightens right up and stops having sex with me for a month. you guess which one is which.

car-1 g/f-0

blacksheepms3

05-01-2008, 12:11 AM