A short-throw shifter is designed to make shifting gears in a manual transmission faster and more precise for performance driving. While often an aftermarket part you buy and install yourself, some automakers offer these as optional equipment or dealer-installed accessories.
A shifter’s “throw,” as it’s often called, is how far the shifter moves between gears. Shortening that throw means there’s less distance to cover and you can change gears faster. Factory shifters are often a little mushy and tall, which makes shifting easy and tolerable in all driving conditions but also sloppy in performance driving. Most enthusiasts want a solid, precise feel for confidence when shifting fast, which is where the short-throw shifter has its advantages.
What you’ll have to consider is that these shifters typically require more effort to change gears. In the case of the 2009 WRX, it’s also a $295 option. When you go for a test drive, see if your local dealership has any WRX models on the lot with and without the shifter.
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