Looking for short shift adapter comparisons

[FiSTerMr]

Hi all.
Looking for advice on the best ss adapter to get.

The four I have in mind:
-Woosh at $70. The lowest price of whats available.
-VUDU. UK made I think. Looks solid, my friend got that one. He bought it "just because".
-FSwerks. Looks like the others. Some have noted that they needed tofile it down to fit correctly.
-Boomba. Not sure if I can buy just the plate separately.

TIA

2017 Magnetic FiST w/Recaros

 

[Spork1569]

I had the woosh short shift first gen(no longer sold) as well as the boomba(which I think is sold seperately) and I definitely like the feel and weight of the boomba out of the two I have had. The boomba is quite a bit heavier and while it is only set to 20 percent reduction, I think the feel more than makes up for it because of the difference in weight compared to my woosh which was set at 25% reduction.

Definitely recommend doing the bushings(both inside console and engine bay) too if you haven't done them, really tightens up the shifts and really completes the feel alongside the plate and transmission oil change if you've done that too.

If you're going for shortest throw possible I think mountune holds that title with 30%(?) throw on their plate. 15/25 seems to be standard for all other manufacturers except for boomba at 20%.

All in all any plate makes a discernable difference and the other little transmission mods help complete the package. But even without all that the plate is definitely one of the better and more noticible mods I've done.


Edit: found the link to the plate alone straight from them
http://www.boombaracing.com/ford-fiesta-st-transmission-adapter-plate/

 

[FiSTerMr]

I had the woosh short shift first gen(no longer sold) as well as the boomba(which I think is sold seperately) and I definitely like the feel and weight of the boomba out of the two I have had. The boomba is quite a bit heavier and while it is only set to 20 percent reduction, I think the feel more than makes up for it because of the difference in weight compared to my woosh which was set at 25% reduction.

Definitely recommend doing the bushings(both inside console and engine bay) too if you haven't done them, really tightens up the shifts and really completes the feel alongside the plate and transmission oil change if you've done that too.

If you're going for shortest throw possible I think mountune holds that title with 30%(?) throw on their plate. 15/25 seems to be standard for all other manufacturers except for boomba at 20%.

All in all any plate makes a discernable difference and the other little transmission mods help complete the package. But even without all that the plate is definitely one of the better and more noticible mods I've done.


Edit: found the link to the plate alone straight from them
http://www.boombaracing.com/ford-fiesta-st-transmission-adapter-plate/

Thanks for the reply!
I was reading up on the bushings not being that noticeable. The plate looks like the biggest bang for the buck.

I didn't realize heavier is better, interesting. Makes sense though. Too bad the boomba is only 20% max, I'm not necessarily looking for the most extreme difference, but it would be nice to have that option.

The Vudu looks hefty, I wonder how it compares weight-wise to the Boomba.

2017 Magnetic FiST w/Recaros

 

[D1JL]

Comparisons are difficult because unless you tried all the items you are comparing it is hard to tell the difference.
In addition everyone, with few exceptions, will tell you that the one that they have is the best.
This is because most will never want to admit they made a wrong decision.

I have the both the Mountune adaptor and bushings also the Boomba arm.
I find the combination to work very well (see I did it too).

 

[FiSTerMr]

....I have the both the Mountune adaptor and bushings also the Boomba arm.
I find the combination to work very well (see I did it too).

Haha, yes you did!
I like mountune in terms of quality, just don't like that they require pulling the ball out of the stock arm in their design. I like the idea of going back to stock quickly and easily, should I feel the desire.
I am very finicky with modding, hence being 98.5% stock.

Thanks for the reply, btw!



2017 Magnetic FiST w/Recaros

 

[Spork1569]

Thanks for the reply!
I was reading up on the bushings not being that noticeable. The plate looks like the biggest bang for the buck.

I didn't realize heavier is better, interesting. Makes sense though. Too bad the boomba is only 20% max, I'm not necessarily looking for the most extreme difference, but it would be nice to have that option.

The Vudu looks hefty, I wonder how it compares weight-wise to the Boomba.

2017 Magnetic FiST w/Recaros

I would check to see if they post the weight online anywhere. I'm pretty sure the boomba is exactly 1lb(16 ounces). Like I said though either one would probably improve the shifting regardless and install is a breeze, I was able to do the plate alone with only removing the intake tube.

 

[slowcord]

I am currently running the boomba lever set to 10% and love it, no need to do anything else IMO. I did try boomba's adapter and wasnt impressed, i thought it made the car feel notchy. Also i think the bushings dont make a difference at all, my car felt the same after.

 

[FiSTerMr]

I would check to see if they post the weight online anywhere. I'm pretty sure the boomba is exactly 1lb(16 ounces). Like I said though either one would probably improve the shifting regardless and install is a breeze, I was able to do the plate alone with only removing the intake tube.

Good idea. The vudu is popular overseas, I'm sure I can get some weight info on it somewhere via the interwebs.

It does look like an easy install. Some people remove the the battery tray as well for better access, I will do that only as a last resort.

2017 Magnetic FiST w/Recaros

 

[FiSTerMr]

I am currently running the boomba lever set to 10% and love it, no need to do anything else IMO. I did try boomba's adapter and wasnt impressed, i thought it made the car feel notchy. Also i think the bushings dont make a difference at all, my car felt the same after.

By "lever", you mean the interior part? You didn't like the adapter, was it installed alone or in conjunction with the lever?

I'm with you on the bushings, I don't think it makes much diff. Only perhaps if you are swapping high mileage stock ones, will it be noticeable.
When I had my wrx, I changed the stock rubber shifter bushing (underneath the car in an awd set up) to the Cobb aluminum one, and it didn't feel any different.

As for %: I would think I would want the lowest setting, but after a quick ride in my friend's fist @ 25% on the Vudu, it felt fantastic without being overly notchy.

2017 Magnetic FiST w/Recaros

 

[slowcord]

By "lever", you mean the interior part? You didn't like the adapter, was it installed alone or in conjunction with the lever?

I'm with you on the bushings, I don't think it makes much diff. Only perhaps if you are swapping high mileage stock ones, will it be noticeable.
When I had my wrx, I changed the stock rubber shifter bushing (underneath the car in an awd set up) to the Cobb aluminum one, and it didn't feel any different.

As for %: I would think I would want the lowest setting, but after a quick ride in my friend's fist @ 25% on the Vudu, it felt fantastic without being overly notchy.

2017 Magnetic FiST w/Recaros

I do mean the actual short shifter lever. I did the adapter first since i wanted to save a few bucks but took it off shortly after, then picked up the lever during a BF sale.

 

[FiSTerMr]

I do mean the actual short shifter lever. I did the adapter first since i wanted to save a few bucks but took it off shortly after, then picked up the lever during a BF sale.

Ahh, thanks!

2017 Magnetic FiST w/Recaros

 

[ron@whoosh]

I've sold a few hundred of the VUDU and have them in stock here in the USA, still today
Our short shifter is very similar

The exact weight of the VUDU is 6.2 oz
the whoosh is 6.0 oz
I weighed them just now...

 

[FiSTerMr]

I've sold a few hundred of the VUDU and have them in stock here in the USA, still today
Our short shifter is very similar

The exact weight of the VUDU is 6.2 oz
the whoosh is 6.0 oz
I weighed them just now...

Thanks! I am leaning towards yours, as they seem almost identical, except for the price [emoji106]

The original VUDU had an extra clamping bolt, but they have since revised it. That is too bad, as I bet the original was heavier and in fact sturdier because of that extra bolt.

There is a company called AIRTEC (I'm sure you know of them) that makes one in the original VUDU design, but looks like it's not sold in the US, and would be double in price just to get it over here from the UK.

2017 Magnetic FiST w/Recaros

 

[FiSTerMr]

After much research and deliberation, I decided to go with the Boomba.
I had my buddy with his VUDU, strap a 400 gram weight to it, and he reported to me that it made a noticeable difference in shift feel. He said that shifts felt more positive and smoother overall.
He has since decided to epoxy the added weight onto the VUDU permanently.

I took advantage of a memorial day 10% off with free shipping over $100 spent (needed some detailing stuff as well) at rallysport direct. At $76.50 tax free, it was hard to argue.

I wanted to thank you @ron@whoosh for weighing both of your adapters for me, it was very helpful. I will definitely be buying from you in the near future!

I will report back after I install it and give my thoughts.

Thanks to everyone who contributed! [emoji1307]

2017 Magnetic FiST w/Recaros

 

[DangerMouse]

Just to chime in here. Weight is a very personal preference. I feel with this car heavy shift knobs make it worse. I had a raceseng knob and it was awful. Beautiful knob but ruined the feel. Best thing is if you don't like it, it's super easy to change!

 

[FiSTerMr]

Just to chime in here. Weight is a very personal preference. I feel with this car heavy shift knobs make it worse. I had a raceseng knob and it was awful. Beautiful knob but ruined the feel. Best thing is if you don't like it, it's super easy to change!

This is true, there is a segment of the driving enthusiast community that actually buys lighter shift knobs. I am not a hater of notchy transmissions, but I tend to lean towards something smoother, which is why I'm not a huge fan of short shift kits in general.

I was always in the belief that if you need a heavier knob to make up for the reduced leverage , you could end up doing damage by using too much force to get it in gear.

I was pleasantly surprised with my friend's short shift adapter on his FiST and thought I would give it a shot.

2017 Magnetic FiST w/Recaros

 

[Stupidbutt]

I went with Boomba

 

[FiSTerMr]

I went with Boomba

That's just the Boomba adapter, correct?

2017 Magnetic FiST w/Recaros

 

[FiSTerMr]

....I had a raceseng knob and it was awful. Beautiful knob but ruined the feel.

Follow up question: you had the raceseng knob on a stock shift assembly, no adapters, etc?

I would think a heavy knob on a stock shift assembly (no short shifter mods), would in fact ruin the feel; but on a short shift modded FiST, it would bring the shift feel back to where it feels stock-like.



2017 Magnetic FiST w/Recaros

 

[Stupidbutt]

That's just the Boomba adapter, correct?

It is the short shifter and bushings.
Ford Fiesta ST Transmission Adapter Plate
Fiesta ST Aluminum Shifter Base Bushings