What would you do? Eurocode Short Shifter or APR Stage 2?

[rulaxin12]

I'm currently in a 2013 s4, have had APR stage 1 for about 10k miles so far. I enjoyed how it made my car faster in high rpms while keeping the smoothness and daily driveability.

I've also heard nothing but great things about the EC SS, but after reading countless reviews, they seem to be a bit finicky. People having issues with minor adjustments etc.


I've read numerous reviews about stage 2, and numerous reviews on the EC SS. I'm just torn on what to do next......

What mod would you go with next?

Thanks!

[tgsweat]

Is this even a real question? lol stage 2

[AudiS4TW]

The ECU flash will make your car faster. The short-throw shifter would not. You'll also lose the buttery smooth shifting of the OEM shifter if you change it to the Meisterwerk one.


Sent from my iPhone

[gendry]

Lame poll.

MOAH POWAH or not MOAH POWAH? Hmmmm, I vote MOAH POWAH. Shocking.

[John@Roc-Euro]

Flip a coin, and do the other one in a couple months.

Power is always the answer, but given that the shifter is one of 4 contact points you have with your car, then its worth considering. The EC shifter is a work of art (http://roc-euro.com/shop-by-vehicle/audi/a4-s4-rs4/a4-s4-b8/meisterwerk-adjustable-short-throw-shifter-eurocode.html) and presents a plethora of adjustment while being one heck of a mechanical piece.

Of course, if you're not sure, you could always go stage 2 and grab one of our remaining Short Shift kits for $89. (http://roc-euro.com/shop-by-vehicle/audi/a4-s4-rs4/a4-s4-b8/short-shifter-b8-a4-a5-s4-s5-q5.html)

Can't go wrong any way you cut it.

[up]

[cfritos]

Flip a coin, and do the other one in a couple months.

Power is always the answer, but given that the shifter is one of 4 contact points you have with your car, then its worth considering. The EC shifter is a work of art (http://roc-euro.com/shop-by-vehicle/audi/a4-s4-rs4/a4-s4-b8/meisterwerk-adjustable-short-throw-shifter-eurocode.html) and presents a plethora of adjustment while being one heck of a mechanical piece.

Of course, if you're not sure, you could always go stage 2 and grab one of our remaining Short Shift kits for $89. (http://roc-euro.com/shop-by-vehicle/audi/a4-s4-rs4/a4-s4-b8/short-shifter-b8-a4-a5-s4-s5-q5.html)

Can't go wrong any way you cut it.

[up]

the roc euro short shifter is amazing btw ;) espicially for the price. the shifts are so short and crisp.

[dangerous_dave7]

They're not even remotely close to the same price range, so I think it's kind of a silly comparison/question. That said, I love my short shifter, but love my stage 2 tune more.

[dangerous_dave7]

The ECU flash will make your car faster. The short-throw shifter would not. You'll also lose the buttery smooth shifting of the OEM shifter if you change it to the Meisterwerk one.



Huh? Mine shifts very smooth- absolutely no issues there.

[brooklyn86]

The ECU flash will make your car faster. The short-throw shifter would not. You'll also lose the buttery smooth shifting of the OEM shifter if you change it to the Meisterwerk one.
Sent from my iPhone

Define faster.

The short shifter would enable you to shift faster, reducing the idling time between shifts (i.e. making the car faster).

I think it depends on what you value. If you truly value the shifting experience, then get the SS now and Stage 2 later. If you value straight-line performance more, than get Stage 2 first.

I got my SS first (@ 5k) because I didn't want to deal with TD1 issues so early. Now at 35k+, I have both and love both. I actually prefer the notchy, more precise feel of Eurocode's shifter over OEM because it inspires more confidence at least to me. Again, this is a preference thing.

[MrFunk]

Both.
I didn't think the SS would transform the joy of driving the car even more - but it has. Obviously more TQ is great also...
I highly recommend just biting the bullet and doing both now. Will feel like an altogether different car.

[rulaxin12]

THanks for the replies so far....

I can see everyone's points, but more power doesn't necessarily mean better driving experience. Sure more power is great, but let's be honest, stock is fast, stg 1 is faster and stg 2 is ridiculously fast.

I'm trying to weigh, is ridiculously fast a priority from a dd perspective, or tighter shifting experience?

[helix139]

The ECU flash will make your car faster. The short-throw shifter would not. You'll also lose the buttery smooth shifting of the OEM shifter if you change it to the Meisterwerk one.


Sent from my iPhone

Buttery smooth? More like sloppy and vague.

That said, the OP's is a tough question. Stage 2 gives you a shit eating grin every time you mash the happy pedal. the EC short shifter you feel every time you shift. It's crisp, precise, and customizable to exactly how you like it.

IMO you can't go wrong either way, so get both!

[MrFunk]

Stage 2 is not ridiculous fast... and you get used to it like anything else.
The SS is a very very upgrade. The best SS I've used in any car... It absolutely improves the driving experience. If you are happy with the power of stage 1 then there's no NEED to go stage 2... go with the SS...

[YelloJello]

SS all the way. Compare how my times you shift gears compared to pushing towards redline every day.

[Jgm22]

whats the general cost to install a short throw shifter?

[Okan509]

SS.

[infinkc]

id go apr as its on sale right now for the pulley. Then wait for turkey day and eurocode will probably have a sale on the ss.

I have their ss, and my honest opinion, i could have done without it. I bought my s4 used and i honestly thought there was a ss in the car already. I went and bought the eurocode ss and it does take away the slop and reduce the shifting more, but worth the upgrade over stock is mixed for me. The biggest benefit for me from the shifter was lowering the knob height down slightly.

[Schadenfreude]

The ECU flash will make your car faster. The short-throw shifter would not. You'll also lose the buttery smooth shifting of the OEM shifter if you change it to the Meisterwerk one.


Sent from my iPhone

I thought you were being sarcastic at first about the buttery smooth stock shifter. The stock shifter is absolutely atrocious. Vague, long throw and felt like it was deflecting when shifting. I can't comment compared to the Meisterwerk as I have the Roc Euro but I can say I absolutely love my RE SS. Shifting is much shorter and more positive and install could not have been any easier. I loved not having to pull the console apart. I have not noticed any notchiness with the SS but I did take a lot of time making sure everything lined up the way I wanted. I had a '11 STi before my S4 and that shifter was short and positive. When I first drove my B8 I was shocked at how poor the shifter felt. I think I did my RE SS at 6k miles. You can't beat it for the price

[mmmkam]

SS all the way. Compare how my times you shift gears compared to pushing towards redline every day.

6:1 ratio every day! ;)

[AudiS4TW]

I thought you were being sarcastic at first about the buttery smooth stock shifter. The stock shifter is absolutely atrocious. Vague, long throw and felt like it was deflecting when shifting. I can't comment compared to the Meisterwerk as I have the Roc Euro but I can say I absolutely love my RE SS. Shifting is much shorter and more positive and install could not have been any easier. I loved not having to pull the console apart. I have not noticed any notchiness with the SS but I did take a lot of time making sure everything lined up the way I wanted. I had a '11 STi before my S4 and that shifter was short and positive. When I first drove my B8 I was shocked at how poor the shifter felt. I think I did my RE SS at 6k miles. You can't beat it for the price

I have the Meisterwerk short-throw shifter and it feels slightly more gated and precise than the stock one. I just warn people who upgrade to the SS without the expectation that the shifting would be different. I still stand by what I said about the the shifting in the OEM being smoother with little to no resistance. Yes, the throw is longer but in reality it isn't all that bad.


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[b8audis4]

I would much rather do the short shifter.

[AudiS4TW]

Define faster.

The short shifter would enable you to shift faster, reducing the idling time between shifts (i.e. making the car faster).

I think it depends on what you value. If you truly value the shifting experience, then get the SS now and Stage 2 later. If you value straight-line performance more, than get Stage 2 first.

I got my SS first (@ 5k) because I didn't want to deal with TD1 issues so early. Now at 35k+, I have both and love both. I actually prefer the notchy, more precise feel of Eurocode's shifter over OEM because it inspires more confidence at least to me. Again, this is a preference thing.

I can guarantee you that a car with OEM shifter and an ECU tune would be faster than a car with SS and stock ECU. :)

For the record, I love my Eurocode Meisterwerk SS. But you have to consider some people don't like the nothiness and gated feeling of the SS. When I said "buttery smooth", I was referring to the actual transfer between gears, at least for the B8.5. There is no resistance in this process with the OEM shifter, and this might be something that some people might miss when they make the transition to a SS.


Sent from my iPhone

[gendry]

Define faster.

Moving a greater physical distance in the same amount of time.

[gendry]

+1. The stock shifter is very easy to shift and I find it is very easy to place it in the right gear. While the throw is long and the shifter has a little give if you really slam it: if someone has a hard time finding the right gear or shifting quick in this car, I gotta wonder what is wrong with that person's shifting.

This isn't a rag on the SS, which I am sure is an awesome upgrade.


I can guarantee you that a car with OEM shifter and an ECU tune would be faster than a car with SS and stock ECU. :)

For the record, I love my Eurocode Meisterwerk SS. But you have to consider some people don't like the nothiness and gated feeling of the SS. When I said "buttery smooth", I was referring to the actual transfer between gears, at least for the B8.5. There is no resistance in this process with the OEM shifter, and this might be something that some people might miss when they make the transition to a SS.
Sent from my iPhone

[xuandatou]

You can't go wrong either way and you will get them both eventually. Doesn't really matter which comes first.

[MrFunk]

You can't go wrong either way and you will get them both eventually. Doesn't really matter which comes first.

So wise!! That CA weather giving you brains!!! [:D]

[xuandatou]

So wise!! That CA weather giving you brains!!! [:D]

Haha, miss MN so damn bad.

[S4$Bill]

the roc euro short shifter is amazing btw ;) espicially for the price. the shifts are so short and crisp.

John just put one in my car yesterday afternoon. Love it!

[u2nelson]

The ECU flash will make your car faster. The short-throw shifter would not. You'll also lose the buttery smooth shifting of the OEM shifter if you change it to the Meisterwerk one.


Sent from my iPhone

Say what? Its mechanical butter. 15,000 miles on mine now with no issues, can't say enough good things about it. I actually like red lights now.

[GeoJoe]

The OEM shifter fells like a fat waitress at Chilis you picked up late one night. The SS is like a virgin tight Chivette.

Go SS and keep your warranty intact for now. I've got a dozen track days on OEM tune and still smoke most of the cars in my group.

[rulaxin12]

Thanks everyone for your insight! I ended up getting stage 2 upgrade. Just got my car back today from the dealer!

[EHesh14]

Thanks everyone for your insight! I ended up getting stage 2 upgrade. Just got my car back today from the dealer!


Great decision!

[GeoJoe]

Thanks everyone for your insight! I ended up getting stage 2 upgrade. Just got my car back today from the dealer!

An Audi dealer installed your tune?

[rulaxin12]

Yes my dealer does aftermarket stuff! They do Audi Porsche Kia vw. I pay a lot more in labor but I'm told my factory warranty is still okay because they did the installs. Essentially if the aftermarket part does not cause any issues they will flash to stock and put apr back on for any service or recalls etc.

[csaudis4]

Need an option for "both". Shifter is like $350? If you can install it yourself, why not squeeze out some money and do the shifter in addition to the stg 2? If you rarely go over 5k rpm, might as well just do the shifter. A friend of mine happen to grab a 2012 S4 not long ago. When I started test driving his car, I realized how lame the OEM shifter was and how I should have appreciated the short shifter more than I do every day. It's crisp and shorrrrrrt. Combined with recently installed 034 trans mount, this is the best MT experience I have ever had so far.

[Vogz]

Flip a coin, and do the other one in a couple months.

Power is always the answer, but given that the shifter is one of 4 contact points you have with your car, then its worth considering. The EC shifter is a work of art (http://roc-euro.com/shop-by-vehicle/audi/a4-s4-rs4/a4-s4-b8/meisterwerk-adjustable-short-throw-shifter-eurocode.html) and presents a plethora of adjustment while being one heck of a mechanical piece.

Of course, if you're not sure, you could always go stage 2 and grab one of our remaining Short Shift kits for $89. (http://roc-euro.com/shop-by-vehicle/audi/a4-s4-rs4/a4-s4-b8/short-shifter-b8-a4-a5-s4-s5-q5.html)

Can't go wrong any way you cut it.

[up]


Installed the Stratmosphere (Roc Euro) SS when my car was 3 days old. Been fantastic ever since. ;)

[Sundowner]

Yes my dealer does aftermarket stuff! They do Audi Porsche Kia vw. I pay a lot more in labor but I'm told my factory warranty is still okay because they did the installs. Essentially if the aftermarket part does not cause any issues they will flash to stock and put apr back on for any service or recalls etc.

who is your dealer?