[wkooiman]

Wow 6 pages...

I've had 3 top loaders, 2 T5s, a TKO, and a Viper 6-speed.

The top loaders definitely felt different. They shifted butter smooth, and the shifter just feels different. The T5s and the Viper 6-speed also shifted butter smooth, but the shifter is different. Maybe the fulcrum is lower, so you feel more like the shifter is sliding rather than tilting.

Having said that, I prefer a 5-speed. I drove from Miami to Houston last year, and I've made several trips to Orlando. An extra gear would be nice.

BTW, the TKO was in a 428 Mustang, and it did not shift smoothly. It was tight and very difficult to shift quickly. That was a long time ago - well before I knew about the shifting upgrades.