Just speaking about short throws in general the total difference. My brother's WRX has a short throw and comparing it to my 944's patern is disgusting. Yes his is notchy and a little tough, but definetly worth the added speed and the more firm feel in the gear. Mine you can wiggle it around in the gear.

Some people like the buttery feel(which is my porsche) others prefer the notchy firm feeling, personal preference!

 

By buttery they ment smooth coming in and out of gear. Not loose like a fwd vehicle. A shifter in a rwd (lateral transmission) vehicle should never feel like that. Your 996 needs new shifter bushings, it shouldn't feel like that either. A shifter should be smooth but firm, there should be zero play when in gear, but it should not be hard to shift and or find gears. Short shifters suck, plain and simple. Your giving up great engineering for a shorter throw. A shorter throw that takes longer because you have to apply 50 foot pounds to get it in to second gear, sorry I'll pass.

 

^^ I agree with this but just for the BM replica I had. The new RE-A is real light to use, not much different than stock while providing a better feel and slight reduction in throw distance. I LOVE IT!!

 

You keep making me want to install mine and test it out! Darn these winter months

 

I had a B&M and I agree that is was unsatifactory. I replaced it with the MazdaTrix unit and I'm very happy with it.

The stock shifter is ok too... but like someone who drives a Miata already mentioned... if feels like a truck in comparison so I appreciate the slightly reduced throws of the MazdaTrix unit.

They actually make short throw kits for the Miata too... I can't imagine why you'd actually need one.