What is the true thrill of driving a manual car? It is, without a doubt, the pure ecstasy of manipulating the gears with your own hands. The S2000’s transmission, in particular, is captivating with its short stroke that clicks into place with just a flick of the wrist. It’s no exaggeration to call it the heart of the driving feel.
That is exactly why the operational feel and grip of a shift knob are so crucial—they can fundamentally change the joy of driving.
And yet, for some reason, I have three different S2000 shift knobs sitting around. You might think, “One shift knob is plenty, isn’t it?” I think so too, in my head. But each one has a distinct personality and reason to exist, and I simply cannot narrow it down to just one.
Today, I’m going to introduce these three shift knobs that I swap out depending on my mood, evaluating them based on weight, shape, and practicality in the harsh four seasons of Japan!
Entry No.1: The “OEM (Oval)” That Gently Embraces Any Season
First up is the origin and the ultimate standard: the S2000’s stock OEM shift knob. Its shape is a hand-fitting “oval.” The biggest feature is the leather-like material wrapped around the sides of the metal base.
Its greatest advantage is its overwhelming kindness: “Spring, summer, fall, or winter, it never rejects the palm of my hand.” Anyone who uses a full-metal shift knob knows this pain all too well. In winter, it turns into a block of ice that nearly gives you frostbite barehanded. Conversely, in mid-summer, it transforms into a scorching iron ball hot enough to fry an egg.
However, thanks to the side material, this OEM knob takes my shift work with a cool face even in the harshest seasons. It truly is an all-weather all-rounder.
Weighing them, this one is by far the heaviest of the three. The heavier a shift knob is, the more it uses its own weight and centrifugal force to suck the gear in with a satisfying “clunk.” If you prefer definitive, solid shifting, this weight is a massive weapon.
But for my personal taste, I prefer a slightly lighter feel, snapping through gears using just my wrist. That brings us to the next knob.
Entry No.2: The Pure Sports Dream “Type S OEM (Sphere)”
“Isn’t there something slightly lighter with a racier feel?” While searching for that, I bought this “S2000 Type S” OEM shift knob.
The shape is a beautiful “sphere.” The surface features yellow stitching, and just having it there multiplies the sports car vibe of the cockpit several times over.
The weight is significantly reduced compared to the standard OEM. This “lightness” is exactly the feeling I was looking for. Rather than pushing it in with weight, it’s the sensation of clicking the gears together with the driver’s direct force. For years, I’ve loved and used this Type S knob as my main choice.
But this guy has a fatal flaw you can’t ignore. Yes, it’s extremely vulnerable to the “violence of the seasons” I mentioned earlier. Because the surface is mostly metal, you want to scream “It’s too damn cold!” in the winter, and it gets hot enough to burn you in the summer. Because of this, when the harsh seasons hit, I quietly remove this Type S knob and swap it back to the “gentle standard OEM”—a routine I repeat endlessly.
Entry No.3: Number One in Operability!? The “21-Yen” Yahoo Auctions Supernova
And finally, this is it. A mysterious shift knob I won on Yahoo Auctions for the ridiculous price of “21 yen”—where the shipping costs were overwhelmingly more expensive.
“A 21-yen knob? You get what you pay for,” anyone laughing needs to correct that assumption right now. Truth be told, out of these three shift knobs, this one is unquestionably the easiest to operate.
The shape is a vertically long “cylinder.” This actually makes perfect sense. While sphere and oval types are operated with fingertips or part of the palm, this long shape allows you to “firmly grip it with your entire palm.” As a result, you can shift surely without applying unnecessary force.
Furthermore, it perfectly possesses the “lightness” inherited from the Type S that I idealize. Even though it was only 21 yen, in terms of operability, it delivered a flawless performance that surpasses the genuine Honda parts. There is a truth here that cannot be measured by price or brand alone.
I bought this quite a while ago, but while writing this article, I checked Yahoo Auctions and saw it being listed by probably the exact same seller.
The reason I was able to win it for 21 yen is that it started at 1 yen with no reserve price set. If you’re lucky, you can win it for just 1 yen.
The downside is that it has no shift pattern engraved on it, so it will not pass the Japanese vehicle inspection (Shaken) as-is.
Conclusion: A Shift Knob is a Mirror Reflecting the Driver’s Mood
Having looked at these three shift knobs, they truly all have their pros and cons.
- OEM (Oval): All-weather and always gentle, but a bit too heavy for me.
- Type S (Sphere): The feel and look are top-notch, but touching it in summer or winter is risking your life.
- Yahoo Auctions Find (Cylindrical): Despite being 21 yen, the operability is supreme, but it lacks a premium cockpit feel and won’t pass inspection as-is.
That is exactly why I employ the luxurious practice of “swapping them out depending on the mood and season.” Just like changing your shoes or watch depending on how you feel that day, I change my shift knob.
For a manual car, the shift knob is the most intimate point of contact where the driver and the machine converse. Not compromising here and choosing the optimal part based on the day’s mood—that is my style of car life!
Finally (The Punchline)
I’ve passionately spoken about the charm of these three shift knobs, but I want you to think about this calmly.
A 42-year-old dude, grinning and muttering “Which knob should I use today~” while spinning and swapping shift knobs in the garage before heading out.
Moreover, we aren’t talking about tens of thousands of yen titanium custom parts. The fact is, the one whose operability I like the most is the “21-yen Yahoo Auctions find.” Is the cost-performance ratio for my obsessions just too high, or does my right hand simply have a 21-yen level of sensation?
I don’t know the answer, but today, once again, I’ll firmly grip that 21-yen knob and go make the VTEC roar. Got it?!
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