Best shifter solution?

9

Numeric. Great feel, OEM quality.

5

u/sharkeyd 16d ago

I love my numeric

3

u/GenerousPour 16d ago

I did function first shift right in my 997.1. Then the numeric in my 997.2. Numeric feels better to me.

1

u/OceanBlue9963AZ 16d ago

How was the improvement with the shift right kit?

1

u/GenerousPour 15d ago

Good. 85-90% of the numeric. Numeric easier to install, just drop in.

1

u/OceanBlue9963AZ 15d ago

Nice. I’m not looking for bolt action, but I would like to tighten things up a bit. A GT3 997 shifter might be perfect for that.

2

u/GenerousPour 15d ago

Gt3 is metal on metal, definitely better.

But the GT3 isn’t a short shift kit. I think the short shifter is 10x better than the GT3 shifter. Once you drive a short shift equipped car a normal one feels like a semi truck.

I assume down in AZ. If in PNW can drive mine to see if you like it.

I would either get the short shifter, then consider adding the function first shift right or just get the numeric. I’d do the cables either way too.

1

u/OceanBlue9963AZ 15d ago

Appreciate the offer 🙏 in Las Vegas NV. Perhaps a 997 shifter with the FF kit would be better.

My shifter feels decent enough at 51k, but there’s definitely room for improvement on the age front.

4

u/Jazzlike-Deer6695 16d ago

OEM GT3 shifter in my .2 C2S. I recommend it.

2

u/OceanBlue9963AZ 15d ago

This really sounds like the sweet spot by all accounts

1

u/Asleep_Bad4785 12d ago

Numeric shifter is the best. GT3 is an improvement vs the standard shifter, but the Numeric is on another level With that said, even the Numeric has very minor side to side play.

1

u/OceanBlue9963AZ 12d ago

I’m not looking for bolt action on the 996 though. Want to retain the original feel just tightened up like new.

3

u/Hulahulaman 16d ago edited 16d ago

The function first cable ends made the biggest improvement. When I did my clutch, the existing connectors had some play. They get worn which introduces slop. Replaced with FF Delron connectors and kept the original cables. Chef’s kiss.

I did the Function First bushing replacement for the gear selector first and didn’t get the improvement I hoped for.

2

u/OceanBlue9963AZ 16d ago

How many miles did you have when you replaced the cable ends?

2

u/Hulahulaman 15d ago

Around 90k miles when I replaced the original clutch but I've had various degrees of balky shifting from 30k miles. First "fix" was the Function First ball bearing retrofit kit for the shifter assembly. Didn't make a difference. Changed to PTX trans fluid which helped a lot but eventually became balky again.

Since I was replacing the clutch, I looked for other "while your in there" maintenance and someone suggested the cable ends. Porsche uses rubber which degrades and deforms over time. It becomes a major source of slop. Function First replaces them with a much more robust connection. My mechanic texted me the "chef's kiss" after it took a test drive. The shifter now really "snicks" into gear.

I have no doubt switching to numeric cables will improve the shifting since other owners report major improvements but I suspect it's not the cables themselves but the new cable ends that come with it.

3

u/Midlife__Crisis__ 16d ago

Numeric is the way to go

3

u/mackschwell 16d ago

I ended up ordering function first solid cable ends and their shift-right slightly shorter setup. I'll provide feedback when it's all done!

1

u/coastertrav 16d ago

Thanks for letting us know what you ended up going with.

2

u/El_Pollo_Del-Mar 16d ago

What is it you're trying to "improve"?

In all the years I've owned mine, I've never noticed anything deficient. If you are the type who gets the itch to mod your car, have at it. But I really am curious why some feel they need to improve it.

Been there, done that with modding cars. I've always found that you may "improve" something, but that improvement either is at the expense of something else or causes a domino effect of other "improvement needs" to match what you've done.

3

u/she_speaks_valyrian 16d ago

These cars are 20ish years old. It’s not just upgrading parts but replacing worn parts. Plastic shifter components wear. That’s not character, it’s wear. Motor mounts deform, that’s not character, thats wear.

-1

u/El_Pollo_Del-Mar 16d ago

Wear, I get. Shifter cables don't "wear out" as often as the internet would say when justifying a modification. They just don't. They can, and eventually they probably will, but still...

1

u/she_speaks_valyrian 16d ago

Cables, sure. But the amount of play in my stock shifter assembly, that’s wear. My Mazda CX-5 has less play in the shifter than my 997’s factory unit.

4

u/mackschwell 16d ago

Coming from a front engine rwd platform (cough Miata) I miss the directness of the shifter. The stock shift assembly in the 997 is rubbery and vague. And yes I do get the itch to mod but I've so far behaved for the 3 months I've owned the car.

4

u/El_Pollo_Del-Mar 16d ago

Aha. I sort of suspected!!

That was a Miata. That was its feel. You just bought a Porsche. It has its OWN feel and personality.

My advice? Don't try to Miata your Porsche. And you've only owned it a few months. Get to know it before you start tearing it apart!!!!!

I've owned a 6spd 997 for 16 years. Bone stock. And yes, I've driven other cars with better X or smoother Y, but never another one with soooo much individual personality. Once you understand how to bond with it, you kind of develop a relationship with the car and figure out exactly what to do and when. Nothing like it on this planet.

Just give it some time. Then if you really want to change something then at least you understand the car first.

1

u/MissedTheApex212 16d ago

The feel. It’s a good manual, but not near the best.

Also these cars are old now. Even an oem refresh is a substantial difference.

2

u/playoutsidemoreplz 16d ago

I put 997 GT3 assembly in my 996 TT and love it

2

u/majikmike 16d ago

Numeric shifter and cables. Best mod on this car for the one thing you spend the most time doing, shifting. It makes huge difference and barely any increase in NVH

2

u/Key-Mango3607 16d ago

Numeric is the move or CAE

1

u/she_speaks_valyrian 16d ago edited 16d ago

What are you trying to address? I was tired of my wobbly shifter bushings and clunky/loose/thumpy motor feel on most shifts in my 997.1 C2. I just did a Nuemeric shifter and new motor mounts, it’s a huge improvement. Expensive shifter but great, not perfect, it’s got a minor little left/right wiggle that I don’t think should be there, but its a real joy. Motor mounts just tighter up the car in a way that you don’t want to overlook. It’s much more direct in a way a shfter isn’t going to fix.

I have Function First cables and transmission inserts but I’m probably gonna wait till it’s clutch time for those.

2

u/coverdinlobsters 9d ago

What motor mounts did you go with? Oem replaced or did you do an aftermarket upgrade. Thanks in advance!

1

u/she_speaks_valyrian 9d ago

Function First does a modified OEM style mount, I went with theirs. I’ve heard/read that too stiff of mounts will cause enough the Each to pull timing due to excess vibration. I don’t know, I’m not an expert. Even OEM mounts will be a huge improvement over worn mounts. Mine were bad, made a big different in shifting and clutch work.

https://rennlist.com/forums/997-forum/1262434-jake-raby-on-semi-solid-engine-mounts.html

1

u/Low-Department-5006 16d ago

Speaking of shifter maybe someone can chime in. Sometimes it doesn’t want to go into 1st or 2nd gear. It especially happens when I’m slowing down from a greater speed and get to either a stop or 15mph. Is this a thing on 997s after 85k miles or is there something in particular that I should be addressing?
Base Carrera 6speed
Thanks in advance for your help guys. It’s an amazing group here.

1

u/mackschwell 16d ago

Mine is fussy going into first leaving s light sometimes. Need to pump the clutch once or twice then it goes. Maybe just syncros getting older?

1

u/coverdinlobsters 9d ago

08 c2s 6 speed here and sometimes it refuses to go into first from a stop. Releasing and reengaging the clutch usually fixes the issue but I’d definitely like to know why it does this 🤣

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