My better half has tried to drive Lola twice, both times the gears were a real stumbling block, she's a good driver (had to say that ) but as we all know the psychedelic soup stirring to find gears is so different from front engined motors, thus her confidence was knocked as she can't find them all, I have no problem being male and godlike, so I was wondering if one of these might improve matters for her. http://www.coolairvw.co.uk/Item/Shop_by_Product~Levers_-P-_Pedal_Products~Gear_Shifter_-P-_Linkage~Gear_Shifters/AC711010/Quick_Shift_Kit.html Has anybody fitted one of these and if so did it improve things ?
if your box is like stirring porridge this won't help. You need to take her to a deserted industrial and get shot of her let her practice at her own leisure. She has to pretend like she's pulling you off but that if she slips or makes a mistake your brain will explode out of your ears. She'll get the hang of it pretty quickly. If you try and 'find' the gears where they are supposed to be you'll never get it, if you 'feel' for where they actually are its simples. Remember the first time you drove your van? Was it a bit like making love to a beautiful woman? It was for me. You have to take it gently at first, get into the rhythm. Once you've mastered this you know you can start to go harder and faster, but you still must take care, as one slip and you'll get the wrong one
A sloppy bush (or two) can lead to stirring problems. The quick-shift kits are, generally, sh*te (and made from chinese goat hair).
From my experience the standard shifter is fine and suited to a relaxed drive. Try looking up a good palming method, Mrs OP has a tendency to try and hold the gearstick in a way that looks like a spider perched on a bar stool. A well palmed knob should be the answer to the problem
If you change gear like you were taught to when you learned to drive its easier ie back of your hand facing you for 1 and 2 and then palm facing for 3 and 4. Reverse is palm on top!
I had one on my bus and it shortend the amount of movement between the gears and did what it was supposed too They wont help if you have knackerd bushes in the shift rod tube and a worn gear lever ball and pin
I had one on my van when I bought it( although I didn't know it at the time). It was poo, my shifting was much better once it had been taken out and everything tightened up.
When I bought my van a few years ago, the gear change was pants so I bought one of these quick shift things and replaced the bushes along the gear linkage and it was loads better. Now one of the best gear changes I had in an old bus.
