Solo2Protege
Member
- :
- Mz3|Mz6W|Protege LX
The other day i answered a post on the Mazda3 forums that ARK Performance was looking for a 5sp Mazda3 to test fit their new Short Shifter and give them feedback.
I went to the shop yesterday night after work to have it installed. Ted and the guys were great, very professional.
The STS is of the utmost highest quality. All CNC machined to perfection. All radius' were matched and lined up perfectly, tolerances where very tight and the overall build and construction of the part was immpecable. I was highly impressed.
While i was there i looked at their other STShifters and exhaust systems. Everything they make was excellent quality, i was blown away with the CNC work on some of the parts. Their exhaust systems are no different. Very nice welds and in some cases nearly invisible. Seamless mufflers, SS or titanium....everything they made just screamed from the top of it's lungs of the highest quality, i can't say enough on how impressed i was with their parts.
It took us about an hour, i say us, but i just mainly sat back and watched. They took pics all along the way, so once they get a chance to email those to me i'll post them up. They made every effort to take care of my car, use the proper tools and had pre-printed instructions on how to remove the shifter/center console parts before i had gotten there.
First Impressions:
When you first put this part in your hands, you'll have a hard time putting it down, i spent most of the time just looking at it...lol This particular part had a silver shaft and anodized red parts attached. I don't know if that was just for the prototype or if that is the final production. Too bad it's never seen, cause it looks super sweet. Looks like a part you'd see on an Indy car or a NASCAR.
Installation was simple and straight forward, mind you a heck of a lot more complicated than the 1st gen Protege, thats for sure.
The physical differences are that it sits about 2 to 2.5" lower than stock and does not have a bend in the shaft like the stock part does. The only hurdle here is that you'll have to modify the boot, as it's much too bunched up now. The threads match that of the stock shifter, so the stock shift knob fits right back on. Although ARK has some nice billet CNC shift knobs.
Shift throw is drastically reduced, maybe a total throw of about 4.5", very similar to the Kartboy in my Protege. It feels very smooth, just as smooth as stock, but has that performance "snap" to it. It's much tighter now, no side to side play, no slop, just solid shifting. Totally enhances the driving experience.
On my 40+ mile trip home, i had all kinds of different driving to test it out. City, Freeway (open and congested) and my fun little twistys on the backroads. It performed very well under all conditions. Shifting is now more wrist than arm. I am thuroughly pleased with the service and the product.
Since i've had the STS in my Protege for quite a while now, this felt much more natural. It makes shifting that much more enjoyable. Hell i was shifting all over the place, even when i didn't need to
snap! snap! snap! .... wOOt!
I want to express my gratitude for the great experience i had and for ARK Performance providing me with the shifter free of charge for using my car was very nice indeed. ARK Performance is definetely a step above, wait make that, a whole stairway above the rest and i highly recommed you look them up. They have plans for other parts for the Mazda3 and are seriuosly contemplating a cat-back exhaust system, of which i will be the first in line for one of those puppies.
So in summary, SHIFTER GOOD!
Thank you ARK Performance!
www.arkspeedracing.com
I went to the shop yesterday night after work to have it installed. Ted and the guys were great, very professional.
The STS is of the utmost highest quality. All CNC machined to perfection. All radius' were matched and lined up perfectly, tolerances where very tight and the overall build and construction of the part was immpecable. I was highly impressed.
While i was there i looked at their other STShifters and exhaust systems. Everything they make was excellent quality, i was blown away with the CNC work on some of the parts. Their exhaust systems are no different. Very nice welds and in some cases nearly invisible. Seamless mufflers, SS or titanium....everything they made just screamed from the top of it's lungs of the highest quality, i can't say enough on how impressed i was with their parts.
It took us about an hour, i say us, but i just mainly sat back and watched. They took pics all along the way, so once they get a chance to email those to me i'll post them up. They made every effort to take care of my car, use the proper tools and had pre-printed instructions on how to remove the shifter/center console parts before i had gotten there.
First Impressions:
When you first put this part in your hands, you'll have a hard time putting it down, i spent most of the time just looking at it...lol This particular part had a silver shaft and anodized red parts attached. I don't know if that was just for the prototype or if that is the final production. Too bad it's never seen, cause it looks super sweet. Looks like a part you'd see on an Indy car or a NASCAR.
Installation was simple and straight forward, mind you a heck of a lot more complicated than the 1st gen Protege, thats for sure.
The physical differences are that it sits about 2 to 2.5" lower than stock and does not have a bend in the shaft like the stock part does. The only hurdle here is that you'll have to modify the boot, as it's much too bunched up now. The threads match that of the stock shifter, so the stock shift knob fits right back on. Although ARK has some nice billet CNC shift knobs.
Shift throw is drastically reduced, maybe a total throw of about 4.5", very similar to the Kartboy in my Protege. It feels very smooth, just as smooth as stock, but has that performance "snap" to it. It's much tighter now, no side to side play, no slop, just solid shifting. Totally enhances the driving experience.
On my 40+ mile trip home, i had all kinds of different driving to test it out. City, Freeway (open and congested) and my fun little twistys on the backroads. It performed very well under all conditions. Shifting is now more wrist than arm. I am thuroughly pleased with the service and the product.
Since i've had the STS in my Protege for quite a while now, this felt much more natural. It makes shifting that much more enjoyable. Hell i was shifting all over the place, even when i didn't need to
snap! snap! snap! .... wOOt!I want to express my gratitude for the great experience i had and for ARK Performance providing me with the shifter free of charge for using my car was very nice indeed. ARK Performance is definetely a step above, wait make that, a whole stairway above the rest and i highly recommed you look them up. They have plans for other parts for the Mazda3 and are seriuosly contemplating a cat-back exhaust system, of which i will be the first in line for one of those puppies.
So in summary, SHIFTER GOOD!
Thank you ARK Performance!
www.arkspeedracing.com
