I assume that most of you boys have driven a large number of cars...So here is my question who makes the best MT?If there is even a specific model narrow it down to that...I'd love to try some of those transmissions.

Thanks

 

Miata, RX-7, S2000 come immediately to mind for RWD.

Honda builds the best FWD manual shifters, nobody else comes close.

 

I love my integra transmission (94 integra ls) no problems with it 182,000 miles on it and it is just as tight as ever. i also loved the legend 6 speed. very nice. havent driven many exotics so i don't know about them but i hear the spyker shifts as smooth as silk.

 

Honda - specifically S2000.

 

^X1

 

 

Miata by far. And it's carried over from year to year since it's introduction.

 

I LOVE the RX8 shifter.

so....Miata, S2K, RX8..and Corvet...I mean tractor.

 

I love the ones in 01+ Volkswagens.

Honda's are also really nice.

Volvo's are orgasmic as well as BMW's...

 

out of all the cars i have owned, the bmws with getrag transmissions seem to be my favorite.

 

I agree. I love the shifter in my six speed Accord.

The absolute best manual shifter I have driven as of late has been a Hurst equipped Shelby GT. Installed as part of the Shelby GT package at his shop in Vegas. Shortens throws by about 40% and feels like a rifle bolt. Might seem somewhat stiff at first, but shifts marvelously.

Terry

 

What do you mean by best? Feel or power capability.

Tremec makes nice transmissions.

 

My MS6 Shifts beautifully.

 

Funny, I have driven every car mentioned in this thread but for some reason none of the gearboxes stand out in my head.

Guess I dont really pay attention to it when test driving. Although, i did like the throws in the S2k.

 

I have a Getrag 6 speed, the V160, in my Supra and I love it. It has a reputation of holding 1000whp so it's also very rugged. I don't have enough personal experience with the Miata or S2000 or some of the BMW or Porsche sticks to know how they compare.

 

The 6 speed in my former TSX felt very good. It was a little vague at first but after everything broke-in, I found it pretty crisp and intuitive to operate. It was very consistent and was as trustworthy as the air in my tires. I'd say that it is among the best FWD transmissions out there.

On the opposite end is the 6 speed in my '07 TL-S. I've grown to dislike it unfortunately... It feels notchy and cheap, and it never goes into gear the same way twice--it is not unlike a box of chocolates, except most of the time you're biting into one of the nasty green or mint ones. Additionally, third gear is extremely balky, and no Acura-approved repair has corrected it. I know I can choose to put GM fluid in the gearbox and people have had a lot of success with that, but that isn't the point. I should feel thankful though--the gearbox in my car feels 400% better than a pre-owned 2006 TL I test drove. Yikes!

Fortunately though the sheer thrust of the TL-S is enough to make me forgive the contraption gearbox.

 

What do you guys think of the 95-99 Mitsubishi Eclipse manual trans?

That was the vehicle (98 GS) I learned how to drive stick on and it was so easy to get into first. I didn't even stall it out when I was learning. I've only driven two other vehicles with manual transmission since so I can't make a good comparison, but was the best so far.

 

997 carrera s ftw. i had a chance to compare the stock manual gearbox and the short-shift throw which is an add-on option. i preferred the stock. smooth and responsive. i did like the manual transmission on my 1987 rx-7 also.

 

tremec and getrag make good manuals...aisin (maker of the miata and rx-8tranny) does pretty well too

 

I really think that the best trans I have ever owned was back in 1994 in Alfa Romeo 164s. High speed rev match like no other car. No rubbery shifting just there when you wanted and you knew what gear you were in.

 

porsche and honda

man, both are precise, short and perfect. Like a smooth bolt action on a nice rifle.

 

Is the gear selection in the S2k cable or linkage actuated? I have never driven an S2k.

Terry

 

^^ Dude....do yourself a favor.

 

I tried a few times. I really did. But I'm one of those freakishly tall chinese guys (6'5") with size thirteen feet and I COULDN'T fit! I keep on hearing how wonderful they are, and would LOVE to drive one.

Terry

 

Every Honda I've driven (CL, TL, TSX, S2000) I have loved.

 

Honda and Mazda, without question. No other companies seem to get the right balance of throws, feel, and intuitiveness.

Even the Boxster I was driving around in for the last few weeks did not feel nearly as good as the shifter in my TSX or my gf's Miata. If had long throws and felt very unsatisfying when placed into gear. It lacked a heftiness that every Honda and Mazda transmission that I have ever driven always has.

 

Have you guys that are throwing out Porsche ever driven one? I've driven my buddies 996 TT a bunch of times and the throws aren't very precise and are relatively long for a sports car.

 

997s and 987s(cayman and boxster) are really good, 996 and 986(first gen. boxster) were not near as good, with that said I still think a S2k is better feeling with the miata being a close second.

 

Why do most of the manual trannys have long throws?

I always had a need to put a short shift kit in every car and its a worlds of difference. Why cant they do that for every car out there? It even makes it easier to shift in general.

 

The RX-8 has the best shifter and clutch combination of any car I've driven. I don't remember driving a friend's Miata in the mid-90s; I was probably thinking of her more than the car at the time.
The TSX had a great shifter, but the clutch didn't engage as nicely as that on the RX-8. I've found Honda clutches, including that on my Integra, to be fairly quick and "grabby."

 

Speaking of Honda clutches--I came to appreciate the one in my TSX. It didn't engage next to the floor (my preference), but it was progressive and forgiving.

The clutch in my TL-S is very "grabby" and not progressive at all. At first it really bugged me, but now that I've gotten used to it, I think I like it better than my TSX

 

with you not at you...

 

Honda, VW, BMW - its so close its a 3 way tie.

 

Honda - new Civic Si, S2000

Nissan - my pathfinder, and the 94 300z I drove once probably had the EASIEST sticks to ever drive. Very good for begginers me thinks.

Volvo - drove an s60r...the CDV valve SUCKS...same goes to bmw....perfrom the the mod to bypass it and they are great.

 

First let's start with the worst; the 2002+ WRX of course. Long throw notchy dogcrap on that ancient gearbox design. Add a short shifter to magnify its faults if you like.

OK, with that out of the way.....

S2000 is very good, Miata very good but notchy.

My current 968 is excellently direct yet with a long throw. The shift knob on this thing weighs more than a pound, to give linkage momentum all the way back to that transaxle.

E30 M3 is pretty darn good, the slight BMW rubbery feel melts away as you get used to it.

Yet at the end of the day, NOTHING even comes close to the shifter I had in my '67 Camaro SS.

4-speed Muncie M-21 trans with a Hurst shifter. Lightning. ABSOLUTE LIGHTNING. I could snap that gear lever faster than I could jam the clutch in and out. Absolute perfection. Zero notchiness, Miata-short type throws, great heft and weight, and it would shift as fast as you could row it.

20 years on, nothing has beaten it.

 

I haven't been able to drive an S2000 yet.... I don't know why but I need to soon.

The transmission in my 95 Integra was nice, it was pretty smooth (especially with GM Synchromesh in it) but had long throws. Over time old transmissions tend to lose their tight tolerances and shifts get pretty sloppy but my car's felt pretty good for having 160,000 miles on it. Clutch is light and very easy to operate, I can takeoff smoothly almost every single time without even thinking about it. So easy to learn on, it was my first MT car, the car I learned to drive stick on and I could rev-match, heeltoe and double clutch easily.

My Camaro is a different story. The Borg-Warner/Tremec T56 is ok. It would probably work great with Synchromesh in it. Got a factory Hurst shifter in it, and the clutch is kinda easy. Once it gets warmed up the throws feel slick and tight but are quite notchy.

MR2 Turbo, same as my Integra but it just lacked the satisfying shift feel. A low mileage JDM tranny felt great though, very positive shifts, and didn't shake around like a bobble head at idle.

03 Mini Cooper S - throws felt great but were kinda long. Very smooth, no matter what the gear. Clutch feel is good.

05-07 Legacy GT, same transmission as the 02 WRX I think but with a reinforced case. I would agree with the post above me. It was notchy as hell and felt very rubbery but had a positive shift feel, I knew when I was in gear every time I made a shift, but then again it only had about 10,000 miles on it. Clutch is very grabby, almost annoying. Reverse is a bitch.

2002 NSX was the best I've tried so far. Shift gates are very narrow, throws are very short to begin with, and has a great feel to each shift. The shifter itself is pretty long, but still the throws are the shortest out of all the cars I've ever tried. Plus, I like having the shift knob closer to the steering wheel.

From my experience, I would not recommend trying out a brand new car, because the clutch and tranny aren't broken in yet and usually will feel like crap.

 

I feel your pain...

Over 6'4" here too.

 

Some of you are saying Honda?!?!?

That's because only Honda attempts to make FWD "sporty" near luxury cars. In the class they compare too their transmissions suck. Everyone else makes RWD sports sedans.

The 6MT in my TL is junk. Notchy as hell, and it's "normal" for the TL. Not to mention the tinker toy of a clutch it has.

BMW, Porsche & GM schools Honda in making manual transmissions.

Shifting A BMW it almost feels like it has magnets that suck the shifter to where your shifting it. Shifting a Honda 6MT on a TL you wonder if it'll actually make it into 3rd gear.


Have some of you ever owned or driven a newer BMW, Porsche, Corvette? I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say "NO".

 

They make some smooth shifting trannys that can handle a lot of power.

 

LOL

Def not Mitsubishi