Convince me: Vintage Speed classic vs Empi shifter for 59

[toxicavenger70]

[j-dub]

[toxicavenger70]

[Dauz]

I've sold two Berg shifters cuz I couldn't imagine ever replacing my Bug-tech. That is, until I go vertigate.


https://www.bug-tech.de/

[Chickensoup]

[txoval]

$200-300 for a nice custom shifter is understandable. My custom Berg was $270.

But $500-700? SOB better shift on voice command

[Chickensoup]

[toxicavenger70]

[Dauz]

[nextgen]

Guys I think if we had a graph it would show stock shifter at the bottom, then the better shifters like the old Hurst.

The Berg would be the shifter to match or beat. Which some guys they can confirm some better then Berg.

The amount better, said to be not dramatic. More like " I like the way the other shifter looks.

Then we get into Price, any thing is not cheap, but some are sky-high.

As for the Bug Tech - I love the way it looks, but in price, we are talking in the Stratosphere!

Any one would like to stand by how much better it is then the Berg? I don't think they are giving away samples we can test drive for a while.
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[evanfrucht]

[txoval]

It would be interesting to compare the Bug-Tech version with the CRC version.

I have been tempted in the past to buy the CRC shifter, but they never answer my emails...

[nextgen]

Evanfrucht I an not saying you are wrong when you said

"I feel like the people who use a Berg shifter already think everything from Berg is the best no matter what, hence that's why it seems like the one to compare too Rolling Eyes It's also been around for longer".

The point is up to the date we found the Berg and bought it. We were happy due to the fact it was so much better then what was available to that point..

Happy enough not to try something that may is as good or a bit better then the Berg, due the fact the other contenders are so expensive and no one is offering a test drive.
_________________
email: [email protected]
The TYPE IV UPRIGHT CONVERSION MANUAL
BEETLE MAGNETIC DEFLECTOR SHIELDS
LETS TALK DUBS https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=joe+cali+ghia https://letstalkdubs.libsyn.com/ep-200-joe-cali-ty...qI3xJTCzjs

[74 Thing]

[Dauz]

By crc are you guys referring to https://www.coolrydescustoms.com/crc-ss-shifters.html ?

[H2OSB]

I stated this before, but I repeat the B-T is the best shifter I've used in a Beetle. That is MY opinion only. I also thought my Berg Ball knob shiter was awesome...and I know a few people who think they're very overrated. I used stock, modified stock, a couple different types of EMPI shifter, real restored Hurst, Berg and Bug-Tech. Oh, and B-T with a weighted knob.

No stock shifters feel good to me. Too vague. The Hurst felt exactly the same as the EMPI copy(please, no offense intended to the Hurst guys). The Berg was slow, but precise. Full disclosure, the B-T was notchy, but quite acceptable until I replaced the stock teardrop knob with a heavy weighted ball knob. Then it became a dream.

I wasn't really looking for a weighted knob when I bought it. I just wanted a ball. It was meant for JDM applications, and I had to retap the threads in the knob for the shifter(both are 12mm but the shifter is 1.25 and the knob was 1.50...or vise versa). The knob was far heavier than I expected, but what a pleasure it was once installed.

There are a few out there I haven't tried, like the VS, CRC, the Wolfpack B-T copy, and the CSP. All are potentially great but I don't see a reason to change. If I were wanting a stock looking shifter, I'd probably go for the VS. Their stuff is well made.

Couple things to note, for my situation. One, I totally agree the B-T is very expensive. Fortunately for me, it was more or less free in a round about way. That said, the Berg was more expensive since I opted for the ball knob, however, it looks fantastic IMO. The B-T has a boy-racer look to it I don't care for, but looks are totally secondary to function IMO so I can live with it. I may try to come up with a leather like gater for it eventually just to cover to mechanical parts. Also, finally, I worry sometimes when I recommend the B-T because I believe shifter feel is toally subjective, and what I like may be horrible to others. I was recently PMd by another member asking if I still held the same opinion of the B-T, and obviously I do. I think he will buy one based upon my opinion, and I just hope he likes it as much as I do.

H20SB
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[txoval]

Yes

[58ragman]

empi shifters SUCK period.i have one sitting brand new need it pay ship and its yours total Chinese JUNK.

Vintage speed is superior period.in all avenues including price.U pay for what you get.what you think a 59 dollar shifter is the same just as GOOD as a vintage.Put the pipe down and wake up.
Berg SHIFTERS ALSO SUCK had two and sold them and were bought quick

[Dauz]

Don't get me wrong. The Berg shifters are awesome. That's what I'd be using if my VW was only street driven.

[pupjoint]

i have had Berg shifters since the 90s. hated the T handle. and i was using the 12" which wasnt suitable for my height and build.

i tried the ball berg , but the ball size was too big for my hand to grip. prefer the ball size on the Hurst which is about 50mm.

i never liked the early versions of the VS because it was still the push down to reverse.

when VS came out with the Subaru style pull up reverse, i ordered the 14" and told them to make a 50mm ball for me.

for street driving, i like them better than Berg.

also got one for my Berg 5