I've recently bought a 96 Maxima SE. I have not performed any mods yet but I would like to obtain a short shifter. Any info would be helpful. Let me know who makes the best shifter and which is the best value.

 

There are four that I know of:
1. Stillen - this unit maintains the stock height, but shortens the throw. I think Stillen wants about $200 for theirs.

2. SMC - shortens stick height and throw. Stick height is adjustable prior to installation, but is fixed thereafter. There was a group deal on the SMC on Peelboy's site. It may still be on. I think they had a price of $100.

3. Pacesetter - similar to SMC in design and function. Available through Summit Racing for approximately $110

4. Courtesy - similar to SMC and Pacesetter but not adjustable. Price is around $85


I personally purchased the Pacesetter STS because I wanted to lower the stick height and throw. I could not find the SMC unit anywhere and I didn't get much feedback on Courtesy's unit.

How's the Pacesetter? Looks nice in the box. I set aside an entire afternoon for the install and gave up after 2 hours trying to get the &*$%ing stock **** off. I plan to try again using some channel lock pliers.

Good Luck

 

I believe the SMC Group buy ended last month.

 

the short throw is worth the money! totally..
i hated the stock truck-like throws..

i have the pacesetter and i love it.. adjustable!

 

Hey Bud, Check out the B&M STS. Lifetime warrenty. Very slick.
Got mine at Autozone for about $170, but I saw a group deal last night for $125!

Very much so worth the money. Not too hard to install, either. Get a buddy to lend a hand though.
Oh, and dont lube up the pivot point. I did or rather the guy helping me did without my asking. Dont know if it changed much, but the way it came was smooth as a baby's bottom.
Anyways, here is the link for the GD:
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=297161
im not sure if the GD is still active, but it gives you another option.
Good luck. Oh and this shifter really doesnt hit the cat heat shield, unless you tap vertically or shift really fast into reverse. Even then, it just makes a little noise. I was worried about the noise at first, but after reading what they were, it doesnt bother me.
Good luck.

 

Oh, the stock *** is epoxied on there. Or at least my 96 SE's was. I used a ban saw to cut it in half.
Piece of shat... =)

 

B&M STS is pretty good. I just purchased recently. At first feels a bit notchy and stiff, like you have to fight to get in gear. But as time goes it breaks in.

 

want one cheap? talk to 'matty'.he's sellin his slightly used pacesetter sts for 30$.It's already cut down an inch and a half.woulda bought it,but i bought the pacesetter off someone else.

 

Saw a few on eBay for around $40 as well. Some said they were Nismo shifters, but more than likely not. Dunno how good they are though. For the price, it may be worth trying ...

 

don't bother with the ebay ones, they will most likely break off in your hand. I bought the pacesetter because it was cheap($70 if you search the internet), adjustable and made of steel.

 

ebay STS work just as good but not adjustable....so i did some slicing and dicing on that BIA.....

 

i got the B&M, its got a nice and crisp ****. Throws are much shorter. i got it for $129 plus shipping

 

I really like mine a lot. However, I got to try plurco's stock shifter that he said he cut 3". It definitely is a lot smoother going back to it after a STS. I'm thinking about trying it with mine.

 

my car is going to be used to develop the TWM Performance short shifter, so far, several members of the www.npclub.com have it on their SpecV and they all love it. I will let you all know what it feels like once its installed.

P.S. npclub.com is mostly a french speaking boards but feel free to post any question or comment in english you will get answers, we're pretty much all bilingual.

 

show off! ha ha ha

 

why show off? were you talkin to me? hehe i am just letting you guys know that there will be a new STS available for the 4th gen max soon. i didnt mean to say im better than anyone because MY car will be used, but TWM performance is like 15 minutes from where i live plus I mailed em and they said they'd call me in a few weeks, and npclub member Pat@SCP was the one who tested it for the Sentra SE-R SpecV and he loves it, so I think it would be good if you guys know about it. When the time comes, i'm gonna post lots of pictures and maybe videos of the distance between pos#1 and #2 etc. as well as some feedbacks

 

Klinker, if they let you have any input on the design of the shifter, ask them to put more of a bend in the shifter so that it doesn't sit so damn close to the dash in 1st,3rd and 5th

 

i just fuuckin chopped my stocker 2 inches, it worked for me, i hate the clunky, crunch, rough feeling sts' have

 

Hahaha! This is an old a$$ thread

for future readers, get a Cosmo STS off eBay. Who cares if it looks nice?! You can't even see it! Don't pay for just a name. Pay for results.