I have the Berg kit installed on mine.  All it truly is a 1 inch thick piece
of machined aluminum that goes inside the car, under the gear shift.  It can
do no mechanical harm.

I am pleased with it.  Although pricey, I feel that the distance between say
2nd and 3rd gear is GREATLY reduced.  I can shift while sitting comfortably
now, instead of reaching across the car!!

You can DIY in about an hour.  I would buy the shifter rebuild stuff from
vanagain.com while you have it all apart, and for about $20, makes sense to
fix it before it breaks!

Adam Puzerewski
81 westy
74 beetle
86 cabrio
Vanagon Partsmobiles
----- Original Message -----
From: "Chris Mundy" <cwmundy@OPTUSNET.COM.AU>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, October 29, 2000 1:25 AM
Subject: [VANAGON] Short Shifter for 5 speed 89 Caravelle GL ( Vanagon) OZ

> Hi,
>
> Years ago when I had a 72 Fastback, I had a short shifter as it was good
> thing for 19 year olds to waste money on at the time. Now I have a
> Caravelle, my wife has difficulties (due to a motor accident) sometimes
> changing gears. She's 5'4" which causes her to reach a bit for the
> gearstick.
>
> I find from the list that Short shifters are still being made by Gene
Berg.
>
> I would be interested in comments from the group on the pros and cons and
it
> being beneficial to our situation.
>
> Mechanical...
>
> Do they cause any damage to the gearboxes as the throw is much quicker?
> Does it put additional stress on the synchros?
>
> Usability...
> What do other's female partners feel the benefits are?
> Is there a gear stick extension to assist?
>
> Any comments would be appreciated.
>
>
> With Thanks,
>
>
> Chris
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Christopher W. Mundy
> 89 VW Caravelle GL
> The VW "Enterprise"
> Canberra Australia
> Ph: 61 2 62419343 AEST
> Wk: 61 2 62446749 AEST
> E-Mail: cwmundy@optusnet.com.au
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~