Looking for some opinions on the best short throw shifter. My 09ss will be parked for the winter and I'm looking to get a little shopping cart together . I see there are three companies that I know of that make them and they're all about the same price...any opinions?
Hurst/B&M/TWM?

 

I've heard good things about TWM. Haven't heard or found much on Hurst and B&M though. I've seen quite a few ppl w/ B&M though.

 

B&M shifter is no longer made as it was discontiued.

We have sold over 500 Hurst Shifters without any problems. I ran a Hurst Shifter in our Cobalt for 1.5 years before selling the car with the Shifter still installed in the car.

If you are interested in a Hurst, shoot me a PM, I'll make you a deal, and I'll ship it to you for FREE via UPS 2 Day Air or UPS Overnight shipping if you are interested.

 

The bets by far is the TWM with all the goodies you can get.

Second Best by my opinion is the ARK. I just installed it. I love it.

Third is Hurst.

The later two are my opinion, but its only from personal experience.

 

Hurst has always been a good shifter, and they've been around for along time. Parents got me one for Xmas, but it's still sitting in their closet. coughbastardscough

 

You will love it Just take your time when installing it, adjust the cables and you will be golden

-Karo

 

how big of a difference is it than the factory short throw? and what comes with the tmw

 

Our short shifter for the Cobalt SS/SC and SS/TC received awesome feedback over the time, specially from people who switched from another brand to a TWM.

Our short shifter includes everything you need for the installation, the shifter itself (TIG welded), the RL mechanism with every delrin bushings required for the smoothest operation as possible, and an aluminum shift knob with the engraved shift pattern. You can also add aluminum base bushings and a weighted stainless steel version of the shift knob at an extra cost.

Let me know if you have any other question!

Frank
TWM Performance

 

TWM is the best

 

Im geting a TWM FASHO

 

Someone needs to make a nice delrin knob, not a short throw shifter. Stock throw is perfectly fine.

Warren

 

TWM FTW...even though i have a 2.2l, i can say that this shifter is legit

 

Bump .. this thread has nice info

 

twm with aluminum base bushings. the shrow isnt much shorter but the overall shift feels a lot better.

 

I have the B&M in my RL and I like it, although it has a hard time shifting into 5th...not sure if it's an adjustment or the shifter...

TWM, do you guys have Delrin shift knobs for our shifters? I like your shifters, but I would much rather have a delrin shift knob...If you do - I may consider selling the B&M and picking up a TWM

 

So what exactly are the benefits of these short throw shifters compared to the stock short throw. I was pretty impressed that the car came stock with a short throw and it works quite well compared to my 5 speed Wrangler which has a lot of free space to move between shifts.

Sounds like going into Reverse might be smoother with these aftermarkets but how much shorter can the shifts really get to make it worth it?

 

not this again....

anyways i had a hurst for a month and on the highay shifting into 4th and took a **** on me and spun around in my hand. not the first story like that.

i bought a B&M and its still as tight as the day i installed it.

 

I can not say anything (good or bad) about the Hurst or B&M as I never used either one but I do have the TWM STS w/weighted knob (mirror finish) and I absolutely love it!!! Shifts are very direct and firm, looks 100% better then stock and feels good to the touch.

 

and its only 150 bucks more than the rest of the shifters on the market...go for it!

 

So the other shifters on the market are 50 bucks? .....ok.

I also have the TWM shifter and I can say it is great. I haven't tried any other brands, but I am very satisfied with the TWM, and for the quality you get I think the price is fair.

 

I heard B&M is owned by Hurst, and that they are pretty much the same thing now

 

Definately the TWM sts with weighted knob and the upgraded bushings.... it is the only way to go...

Look at it this way... you are only going to do this once - spend the money and do it right the first time...

The TWM sts ranks in the top 3 performance mods I have done for my car... And yes, I consider this a true performance mod based on the driving enhancement you get out of it....

 

Of all the mods you can do to a car. This will be the most used one of all. You are not always getting on it and enjoying your tune, but you are always shifting. I love my TWM with weighted knob. I have no troubles with 2-3 NLS when I frequently missed on stock knob. However, I think the knob shines best on normal driving, when shifts are effortless and buttery

 

Ok so is it just me or do other ppl have trouble shifting into first and reverse with their stock shifter. Like it doesnt line up correctly or something and it is really notchy.

 

1st gear stiffness is mostly due to the tranny, but the weighted shifter helps getting it in gear.
Reverse is due to a poor design of reverse lockout. Most companies use a solenoid on the tranny, but cobalts have a plastic tab that slides over a plastic tab. at 8k miles, my stock knob was severely worn on the lockout tab, where the TWM knobis stainless and will not wear. However, I do have trouble getting into reverse with my TWM sometimes, but most of the time it is my tranny locking me out
Hope that helps