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Kartboy Short Throw Shift Lever
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27 3148
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Recommended By Average Price Average Rating
96% of reviewers $92.58 9.5
4260KB-001-1997_1_.jpg


Description: This component replaces the stock shift lever in 1997-2004 model year Subaru Impreza vehicles, including the WRX, Outback Sport, Legacy and Forester. Overall shift throw is decreased by 40%, providing a noticable difference and a solid feel. Constructed of CNC'd and TIG welded 4130 Cr-Mo steel. Installs with simple mechanic's tools in under 30 minutes. Made in USA.


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Review Date: Thu September 25, 2003 Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: $120.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: high quality, low cost, easy install, fun to drive, great product
Cons: have to cut metal housing around shifter or it will rub in 1st gear

Took about 10 minutes to install, fun to drive, it's the greatest bang for the buck hands down
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scooby blue
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Registered: December 2002
Location: SoCal
Posts: 22
Review Date: Mon September 29, 2003 Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: $50.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Ease of install, short throws, good quality
Cons: Slightly more vibration, bit notchier

Very simple install on my MY00 RS. Just need a good mallet and heavy whack!
Throws feel great, nice and short. A bit notchier than stock, but I find the gates easier to find now. Very well made and fits stock knob.
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GR8-WRX
Registered User

Registered: June 2003
Location: Antioch, CA
Posts: 520
Review Date: Mon October 6, 2003 Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: $99.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Easy to install, excellent fit and finish
Cons: none

Easy to install, excellent fit and finish, great customer service from vendor. This shifter works perfectly and makes a big difference in shifting feel. Fits the stock knob (OEM thread pattern) without mods. Only took about 15 minutes to install.

A steal for the price compared to the OEM STi shifter!

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2003 Subaru Impreza WRX sedan
2001 Honda CR-V SE
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Subie4me

Registered User

Registered: April 2003
Location: WooHi, CA
Posts: 28
Review Date: Wed October 8, 2003 Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: $95.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Sturdy, Well designed, and decent cost
Cons: Installation took a little coaxing

One of the first mods I did on my 02 WRX. Reduced the throws between the gates significantly. Has a notchy feel to it, some slight vibration, but always puts a smile on my face when I shift.
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Review Date: Sat October 11, 2003 Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: $85.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Short throws
Cons: None

I replaced the bushings with Kartboys when I installed, between the two it made this car SO much more fun to drive. The new bushings are absolutely key!
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Wingless Wonder

Staff Member

Registered: December 2002
Location: Sacramento CA
Posts: 9524
Review Date: Tue October 28, 2003 Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: $125.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: quality, fit, cost
Cons: a little \\\'notchy\\\'

Good shifter for the money. The notchiness is there but doesn\'t really hamper driving even during drag strip use. On the road it\'s fine, but recommend harder engine and tranny mounts to limit drivetrain movement.

Effort when shifting is higher than OEM, but the feel is worth it. This is a by-product of the shorter throw of the shifter, which all short shifters share.

I should also mention that the harder bushings increase NVH (noise) transmitted from the drivetrain, although it is mainly a slight \'buzzing\' sound that I don\'t find objectionable.
I got the Kartboy shifter/bushings combo, hence the higher paid price. It\'s still cheaper than the SPT (STi) shifter and linkage. Most people I speak with say the bushings makes the more noticeable difference of the two, but I think the shifter made the most improvement. I think it\'s best to change both.

EDIT: Other members have pointed out that it isn\'t necessary to grind or notch the one corner of the factory reinforcement plate when installing this shifter. All that is necessary to eliminate contact issues is to flip the plate over and re-install it. This offsets the plate opening.

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0==WW==0
"…axles of evil…" - george w. bush

"Is that you in that beautiful car? Geez, what a waste of machinery." - unknown teenager to Terry 'Toad' Fields, "American Graffiti" (1973)
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Defiantguy
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Registered: May 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 138
Review Date: Sun December 7, 2003 Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: $90.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: short shifts, shorter shifter height
Cons: sloppyness while in gear

Very good shifter. A vast improvement over the stock RS shifter which was ok but left something to be desired. Very clean and a little rougher but no complaints on my part. Coupled with the kartboy bushings its very solid, except when in gear, its still a little sloppy, but that is more the linkage than the shifter itself. Might take a little to get in w/o a rubber hammer(and make sure its straight when you are hammering it in or you'll never get it to pop in).
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Review Date: Tue April 13, 2004 Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: $105.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Short, great quality
Cons: none

Nice short shifter. Easy to install. Price paid was with kartboy bushings. Combined with shifter bushings is a good mod to make. Chop another inch off of the threaded end and have even a shorter shifter!!!
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MO REX

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Registered: December 2003
Location: St. Louis MO
Posts: 1243
Review Date: Thu July 1, 2004 Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: None indicated | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: cheap, easy install, good throw and better feel with bushing
Cons: none

Good mod just make sure you buy the bushing.
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DarkAngel
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Registered: June 2003
Location: SF Bay
Posts: 593
Review Date: Tue July 6, 2004 Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: $100.00 | Rating: 8 

 
Pros: low cost, nice throws
Cons: had to shave the metal around to prevent it from rubbing during shifts

The only problem I had is that when you put it onto 1st gear the bar connected to the shifter would rub on the metal plates around the shifter. All we had to do is shave some off and it worked fine.
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my2003wrx

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Registered: September 2003
Location: Stuck At Work
Posts: 3006
Review Date: Wed July 7, 2004 Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: None indicated | Rating: 0 

 
Pros:
Cons:

This shifter installs in a breeze, 20 min tops. Most of the time is spent trying to pop the new shifter in place, but after that, it\'s smooth sailing. Shifts feel great and noticeably shorter. Couple this with the STi piston shift knob and it\'s great.
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dRu18
Registered User

Registered: November 2002
Location: Davis, Burlingame, Cupertino
Posts: 321
Review Date: Wed July 7, 2004 Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: $100.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: shorter knotchier feel
Cons:

great even without the bushings. i had it on my wrx and definitely made it feel more sporty with a momo know as well
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ish

Staff Member

Registered: March 2002
Location: Oakland, CA
Posts: 8917
Review Date: Thu July 8, 2004 Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: $50.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: cheap, works well
Cons: none

works great, a ton better than stock. shorter throws and a really easy install. really allows for faster shifting

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-Ryan
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stg2lgcy00

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Registered: September 2003
Location: Newark CA (510)
Posts: 3251
Review Date: Fri July 9, 2004 Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: $90.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Shorter throws, more fun shifting
Cons: None

I have this shifter plus the KB bushings on my 99 RS. Very easy install took me 10 min, makes the car more fun to drive I\'d definetly reccomend getting it.
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killaho

UTR Member

Registered: November 2002
Location: hard hittin streets of los gatos
Posts: 6517
Review Date: Fri July 9, 2004 Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: None indicated | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: short throws
Cons: 1st gear hits the metal plate under the consol unless you fab it.

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-j-

Registered User

Registered: March 2004
Location: Sactown
Posts: 1876
Review Date: Mon July 12, 2004 Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: None indicated | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Easy intall/nice feel
Cons: fit

Modification of the base area of the shifter was necessary for it to clear first gear. Other than trimming that area, the item is a well built piece.

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Salamat!
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j*bishop
Registered User

Registered: April 2004
Location: west of teh mississippi
Posts: 384
Review Date: Mon September 6, 2004 Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: $75.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Shorter throw. Easy install.
Cons: May hit metal post in 1st gear.

Installed on an 04 wrx wagon in about 15 min.
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j*bishop
Registered User

Registered: April 2004
Location: west of teh mississippi
Posts: 384
Review Date: Wed November 3, 2004 Would you recommend the product? No | Price you paid?: $75.00 | Rating: 0 

 
Pros: easy install
Cons: none

trust me you\'re gonna love it!
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Jumpman23

VIP Member

Registered: June 2004
Location: Fremont/Las Vegas
Posts: 2347
Review Date: Thu December 9, 2004 Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: $100.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: shorter throw, less vibration, faster shifts
Cons: had to dremel the plate around the shifter

Must buy ! well worth the money. better than the stock shifter!
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RWDEATR
Registered User

Registered: December 2004
Posts: 10
Review Date: Thu January 20, 2005 Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: None indicated | Rating: 0 

 
Pros: n/a
Cons: n/a

will this short throw shifter fit on an 05 sti?
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VIBEELEVEN

VIP Member

Registered: October 2004
Location: Napa
Posts: 4908
Review Date: Tue February 15, 2005 Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: None indicated | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Easy install more confident shifts
Cons:

This is defenitely one of the first upgrades to get, along with the boshings it will make a dramatic improvement in shift throw-feel. I highly recommend it.
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silver satin
Registered User

Registered: November 2002
Posts: 3235
Review Date: Fri July 8, 2005 Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: $100.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Shifter felt much better
Cons: need two people

I bought the Agency Power short shifter for my STI it is the exact same as the KartBoy but cost a little less. On the STI it is easier with two people but can be done by yourself. Shorted up throw by about 30% or more felt the way it should have come from the factory.
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Dice
Registered User

Registered: December 2004
Location: New York
Posts: 758
Review Date: Sat August 13, 2005 Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: $60.00 | Rating: 8 

 
Pros: Very nice, engagement, much shorter than stock for faster shifts
Cons: Ive heared it hits in 1st but mine doesnt do it

I just bought it used today off of a guy on nasioc...i put it in right when i got home. very easy install. feels great so far. i bought it used but it still looks brand new and its just a lever so theres no wear on the thing. i recommend it. ver nice product kartboy. i cant wait to get my rear shifter bushings in, then it should make everything perfect!
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ej20boost

Registered User

Registered: February 2004
Location: Mie ken, Yokaichi Japan
Posts: 499
Review Date: Sat September 17, 2005 Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: None indicated | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: easy to install and its notchy
Cons: chipped my dash trim(a/c gauges) when installing it. DAMN IT!

the price is for shifter and exhaust hangers. YOU NEED A BIG MALLET AND NOT NO BABY ONE.... i learned the hard way. i dont really care about the noise when shifting(not really noticeable).... i kinda like it. great product..... not cutting of the metal bracket like most short throw shifter.
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bsbretly

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Registered: October 2004
Location: around
Posts: 374