I think it has pretty incredible shift feel for a stock car. The STi has so much slop in it from the factory, its completely depressing.

I didn't even know there was such a thing as a cable operated manual transmission. Do you know of any cars specifically that had this? I know they use push pull cables in automatics sometimes...

I wanna read up on how a cable op transmission works.

Transverse FWD ecoboxes. A friend's Saturn SL once popped a cable from the linkage to the transmission, could only get into first gear for about a month til she finally got the part.

You will get notchiness with a good direct mech link transmission. If you aren't feeling anything in the shifting process you won't feel anything any other time either.

So yes, IMO, it does need to be notchy when cold to feel direct. Every good MT I've ever driven is notchy when cold.. current press isn't just views it as noteworthy (good or bad) because it's not normal, but neither is an excellent shifter. :shrug:

And yes, coming out of gear IS a problem. Notchiness when cold is NOT.

Many modern FWD cars and, I believe, many AWD cars as well.

Most cars now. Hondas used to use rods, then changed to cables I believe. My Eclipse had cables too.

Forgive my newbiness, but I actually kinda thought RWD cars typically had neither? I thought cables and rods were for FWD cars where the transmission was up front and needed a "remote" way to shift it... and RWD cars typically had a shifter more or less IN the transmission itself (mounted below you)?

Depends on the transmission and the driving position. The T-56 in the 4th generation Firebird/Camaro was long enough that the shifter bolted to the transmission casing itself. Subaru transmissions tend to be further forward due to the engine having to be in front of the front axles. So they have a linkage. The BRZ/FR-S has a very rear-ward seating position and a smaller transmission, so there is a linkage as well. But both the Subaru transmissions and the one in the BRZ/FR-S have the shifter connected directly to the transmission itself with only a support on the body.

Ah OK... I think I get it :)

This is an old cutaway pic from a 2004 RX-8. I think you guys have mentioned it having the same or similar transmission? Maybe it illustrates the idea?

http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/4674/gearshift.jpg

We're going in circles. Let me drive the car and we'll talk again. :happy0180:

BRZ shifter is just fine, very slick and light to operate.
But then my other car is an '05 Corvette which has a rock crusher box and won't even go into 1st gear about 1/3 of the time on first try from stop, lol.
The BRZ shifter is slick and fast, but feels a bit fragile, so I have learned to work it gently.
Only thing I don't like about it is the centering force on it. It is so weak/light that when I try to downshift quickly from 5th to 4th, it doesn't center itself quick enough to find 4th a few times. Actually have to think and help nudge the shifter to center itself as it goes from 5th to 4th.
There is no real notchiness, unless you are trying to downshift into 1st gear, which I never do.

Are there any RWD cars from Japan with a cable linkage? I've owned 2 in the past and both were mechanical.

All this talk about a notchy shifter just makes me want to go drive my car.

Coming from a german saloon that had a sloppy 6MT even with a short shifter, the BRZ is a godsend. That car was made to not feel sporty because it's a luxury car....I wanna feel every mechanical thing I possibly can in a sporty/sports car like the BRZ. Seriously, drive the car and you'll get it. It's not something that makes you think there's a problem with the trans but rather something that lets you remember you bought a sports car and not an econobox/luxury sedan.

Good find.