Hello all,

New FF poster and a new Honda Fit Sport 2011 owner here...

I have one quick question: I've noticed that while in neutral the tension of the stick shifter isn’t the same when pushed and pulled left and right. My shifter seems to require more force to push the stick to the right than to pull it to the left -- for instance when shifting into 5th I'm always a little bit nervous that I'm going to miss the gear because of the extra force required. It makes me second guess if I’m in the right gear or not.

I don’t remember experiencing this problem with my last MT car (It's been a long time - about 8-9 years since I've had a MT car). It doesn't require an excessive amount of force to shift into 5th... but just enough to make you second guess yourself. Is that normal?

 

When you push right you're coming up against the reverse gear shift gate. The resistance helps keep you out of there.

Welcome to the freakworld! Don't be shy and don't let anyone chase you away.

 

i get the same feeling. not THAT much of a difference.

 

It'll feel more normal after about 8 to 10,000 miles. It's still better than the MT on an 05 GT cruiser, you have to haul hard left and hold it for about a second before you can get into reverse, it's like trying to put it into first, but the first gear from hell.

 

It's a good thing as long as you remember to to push to the right when red lined in 4th shifting to 5th.... Hitting 3rd instead is one thing I hope I never do again.

 

True that ahha.

To the OP's concern though, you get used to it though....at least I did. I kind of had the same issue you currently have, but over time you get a feel for it and it doesn't bother you anymore (i.e., the force you use is just enough to put it into 5th). Also, I'd say for most people that pulling towards you is easier than pushing away from you in that same position...so it might be partially due to that too.

 

I point my thumb down on the right side of the shift ball when I shift these days... I can shift more safely and faster using mostly wrist motion to get'er done.

 

I've done that before... Talk about embarrassing and scarey.

On another note. The more you shift to fifth the less tense it becomes. Or i've just gotten used to it. I shift with a normal grip and it works fine. The shifter was really stiff when I first got the car but after about 500 miles or so it started to loosen up.

 

MUUUUAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! I'm scary...

ok... well... My Integra, my wife's Civic & the fit all have had that 5th gear shifting feeling.

Welcome
~SB