howardm50

If you've been interested in a shorter throw shifter for your 996; I just installed a GT3/997 shift console in my 2004 996 C4S. Love it.

The range of shifters I found:

- Porsche factory shifter short throw (shortest 35% shorter than 996, also $500!)
- B&M shifter (shortest, 35% shorter than 996, $285 +/-)
- 997/GT3 (shorter than 996 by 15%, plus billet aluminum bushings vs. the base model plastic, $300)
- 997 base model (shorter than 996 by 15%, $200 +/-)
- 996 base model (what I have)

I use my car as a daily driver with sporty weekend drives through the twistie's and hills; I wanted a quicker/shorter throw but I didn't want micro race specs to make my in-town driving a pain.

The GT3/997 is a full console (not just a lever and ball joint thingy like the B&M); fits just fine in the 996.

The feel of the shifter is really much more "precise" and the shorter throw is just what I was after. Quicker but not to quick/tight. Drops into gear really nice. Also, being I live in Denver, where we have a winter, I didn't want to have a picky/fussy shifter when cold!

I'm not sure if it's perceived or real; or if the shifter is just new ... but the overall feel is so much more enjoyable. Shifting into gears felt a little soft in my hand; now if feels solid, stable and precise. And the shorter throw allows me to not have to move my whole arm to shift but gives enough leverage to allow city type moves like three point turns and navigating parking lots with ease. I also like that there are no critical parts made of plastic/resin.

Cost was about $300 for the part plus an hour to install. I had my P dealer do the install for me; also bought the part from him as his cost was a few bucks less than I've seen online.

Happy with the upgrade and recommend if anyone is in the market for a shifter change.

Cheers,
Howard in Denver

jeneric996

I have the 997 base shifter in my 996 and like it. I noticed the upgrade makes the shifting more precise.

I am curious if there is a big difference between the 997 based and the 997/GT3.

BTW, I used to have the Porsche OEM short shifter and removed it. It was too stiff, especially when cold.

howardm50

Same here; not sure if the aluminum vs. plastic bushings make a difference in the feel; I'd imagine not.

I had heard this about the Porsche factory and B&M and other really "short" shifters; as a daily driver I thought I'd avoid that issue.

Dennis C

Thanks for that review. I've been considering that upgrade as well. Which dealer do you use? I'm actually headed down the hill this morning to drop my C4S off at Prestige Porsche to have a little work done.

I'm actually curious about the upgraded shifter too - do you happen to have the part number of the shifter you had installed?

knfeparty

are you reusing the 996 shift **** or does the alcantera 997 **** and boot replace it?

V225

Nice that it worked out for you. I got the 997 short shifter, and the shifting action became unbearably difficult. I literally had to shove the shifter into each gear, and as a result my shift times went up greatly. Now I'm back to the stock 996 one and love it.

peavynation

We have some discrepancies here which seem greater than just personal preferences: "unbearably difficult" vs "quicker but not too quick/tight".

Are we talking the same hardware in both cases? What exactly did the OP change? The entire console all the way from the front dash console to the rear seat area, or just the inner portion of the console in and around the shifter along with all the shifter mech?

RallyJon

If it's any help, here's a comparison of all three shifter consoles from Suncoast. The GT3 appears to have the lower pivot point of the stock 997 shifter, not the higher pivot (shorter throw) of the 997 short shifter.

So Varun's comments are not incompatible with Howard's.

Sneaky Pete

Looks pretty similar to the B&M..no?

V225

Like Jon says, I think that more than the length of the shaft, it is this pivot location that makes the most difference in shift action difficulty.

I know that people have used the 997 ssk and have been happy with it, so I don't really know what's up. I'm confident that the shifting action in my car would have been out of the range of "comfortable" for most people. I tried putting heavy/tall shift ***** on, but even with those, the action was more difficult than before. It's amazing how much difference this pivot point seems to make.

SH || NC

My posts on the subject....

• 997 2010 GT3 Shifter: link
• Shifter collection part number info post: link

I ran the B&M in my C4S and loved it on the street and track.

The B&M in the GT3 didn't work for me; too notchy, and I surmised it was due to the different transmission. Note: the stock 996 GT3 shifter is the same shifter as in every other 996.

I am now running the 997 2010 GT3 shifter in the GT3 and love it for street the track. Smooth, a little shorter, with no notchiness

HTH

peavynation

Interesting. Seems like all the shifters have various similarities that cross between them, but all still have differences too.

So when a "full console" is spoken of, does that mean what is pictured in RallyJon's post? I'd be willing to try the '10 997 GT3 console, but only after I get my trans rebuilt; 2nd gear syncro on its way out.

OP, what actual hardware did you get for the money? Maybe I'll do this mod when I do the trans swap.

SH || NC

Full console refers to yes, what is pictured in RJ's and my post. The black console with the shifting mechanism.

The B&M SSK is only the metal bearings and the shift lever. (link)

howardm50

Here's the part number for the 997 GT3 shifter I had installed: 997-424-010-00




The GT3 shifter is not as "short" as the OEM "short shift" replacement; I've heard the OEM short shift is sometimes difficult, especially in cold temps. If I was racing the car, I could see going for a really short shift mechanism like the B&M or OEM short shifter, but for a daily driver I just wanted a bit quicker shift -- the 997 GT3 and 997 stock shifters have the same "throw" length, just the GT3 comes with billet aluminum linkages, whereas the 997 stock has some plastic components.

The 997 GT3 part number referenced above is the shift lever and mechanism and also the inner console that holds the shifter itself (it's not a replacement for the outer "center console").

Hope that helps ... a previous poster that mentioned his short shifter being difficult was referring to the Porsche Short Shifter -- which is very tight and (I think) too picky for daily use.

After another couple of weeks of driving I continue to enjoy the quicker and more precise/firm feel to the shifting -- I think a great upgrade for the $$.

I also rechecked the final price -- $302 for the part and $200 labor from my P* dealer. I could have probably done the install myself, but for $200 I figured why bother! You can also find this part around for $250 depending on where you look!

Howard

peavynation

Thanks Howard, exactly the info I was looking for!! I think I'll take the plunge on that when I do my trans swap.
Stock cables and linkages used? I guess the hardest part of the install is taking apart that center console to get to the shifter console. Cool, can't wait to get my own.