Gated shifter: Why?

Today it is virtually impossible to put the gearbox in Reverse when going forward. I have tried it (on rental cars I should confess) and not suceeded.
Maybe it was easier on those early gearboxes, hence the lockout lid?

I think the gate is there, as many has said, for the tradition, look and feel.

Btw, Simon, I am unsure why you feel the modern V12 are not "proper"?

 

Are you suggesting Enzo started the 'gate',it has been shown otherwise here.

Enzo era.....curves and chrome,no cats,no computers,no abs,paddleshifts or other driver aids,etc,etc.

 

I disagree - if you drive it like you're supposed to, it's very fast and positive with less chance for a missed shift than a regular trans, but from what I've seen most are afraid of them and shift like a granny - precisely because they drive it like a regular shifter and aren't forceful with it. Drive it like you stole it and it all comes alive.

The gates on mine are cut at a slight angle on the end so there's no zig zag on cross gate shifts, just a quick diagonal. See the link, you just have to be forceful and the car responds. I'm using 2nd through 5th on this track, there's not really an appreciable difference between the strait shifts and the diagonals in shift speeds that I can tell.

https://youtu.be/_Jslt7Ogwg4

 

Nice laps, Pete.

 

Agreed ^^^ They shift awesome IMO. I've missed gears on my previous C6 Z06 but never in the F355.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAW5pOggjrg

 

Oh I like that! Had a nice drive today and once we are all warmed up it's happy time in the gate.... all... day... long!

Finally watched the last part of the vid! Is your car OK?

 

Yeah, oil line let go and it looked a lot worse than it was - damage was minimal. I lucked out being right at pit entrance and they were waiting with extinguishers.

 

+1

 

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Solid shifting! Are you using the original shift gate?

 

I just went out and examined it and it looks like there has been some grinding done to it. The angle isn't great so you can't see the factory angle in the 5th gear gate. The 2nd gear gate looks like it's been ground thinner and some on the edge of the 4th gear gate. Hill makes a 'slick shift' unit and they have very noticeable angles, the stock ones are more subtle.

First time I drove the car it wasn't pretty, but after a thousand miles or so I figured it out. It's a lot smoother and more fun when your stop babying it and start banging it. Same goes for street driving, just get after it and you realize the beauty of the gated shifter.

https://youtu.be/acpYaCgwcos
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Just out of curiosity, how would it feel and work if the gate was removed?

 

Wouldn't work worth a damn. You can really grind things...