If you want to add some extra personality to your interior, the shift knob is a great place to start. While we've also reviewed other interior mods for the WRX and WRX STI, there are enough great options for them to deserve their own article. The shifter is quite obvious in the center of the car's console, sticking up to let everyone know you've got a manual transmission, just begging to be customized.
In addition to making your car's interior your own, aftermarket shift knobs are often have more weight than the stock one. A weighted shift knob can help make it easier to shift between gears. The extra weight helps the shifter to fall into the next gear easier, giving you more confidence as you shift and improving the driving experience.
If you're looking for a new gear shift knob for your WRX or WRX STI, then look no further. These options are all designed to work with your Subie, preserving reverse lockout function and all. We've compiled a list of our favorites.
Weight: 175g
Material: Aluminum
Billetworkz is based out of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and they specialize in making some of the highest quality shift knobs on the market. They're made out of solid aluminum, polished, and custom anodized. The 6-speed gear shift pattern markers are engraved and won't wear.
It's available in blue, red, and purple finishes. No two individual shift knobs from Billetworks are exactly the same since each one is custom made. An excellent choice to add some style to your WRX's interior with its unique patterns, its premium feel, and excellent quality.
Weight: 500g
Material: Aluminum
Another great aluminum shift knob from Billetworkz. If you prefer some extra weight, this one is weighted at 500 grams, or 17.6 ounces, one of the heaviest options available. It's available in red, black and white finishes.
If you prefer a more subtle look or some extra weight, this is an excellent choice. Billetworks has some of the best shift knobs on the market.
Weight: 400g
Material: Stainless Steel
This weighted shift knob from DC Sports is a great choice for the WRX, with its included 12x1.25mm fitting. The solid 400g weight makes shifting smooth and engaging. It has a very cool looking grey finish, with no markings other than the subtle DC Sports logo. It has no gear shift pattern markings.
This shift knob is available in a ball as well as a shaft style. If you want a quality and simple looking weighted shift knob, this is a great choice. It's also much more affordable than some other options.
Weight: 270g
Material: Delrin with brass core
Boomba Racing's delrin shift knobs are a great choice if you want a weighted shift knob, but you don't want to burn your hand on hot metal in the summer heat.
The inner brass core adds extra weight to help with more precise shifting, but the outside of the shift knob is made from delrin, a kind of plastic, to keep it from absorbing too much heat from the sun, or from getting too cold in the winter.
Weight: 175g
Material: Aluminium
Billetworkz offers a variety of other designs, such as this cosmic space piston shift knob. This version has an extended length when compared to the stock one, and like all Billetworkz shift knobs, each comes with a slightly different pattern on its surface, making it one of a kind.
It's made from machined aluminum with a scratch-resistant anodized finish. The Billetworkz Cosmis Space Piston shift knob is available in blue, purple, and red.
Weight: 138g
Material: Carbon fiber
Mishimoto is a well known for their wide variety of aftermarket car parts, for everything from intercoolers and intakes, to exhaust systems and shift knobs. If you prefer a lighter shift knob, this one is great. Its carbon fiber finish goes great with the WRX's carbon fiber trim on the dash.
Weight: 363g
Material: Aluminium
Mishimoto's weighted aluminum shift knob for the WRX gives a drastically different look and feel from the stock one. Its extended length helps with quicker shifting since you'll have to move your hand a smaller distance from the steering wheel.
This shift knob from Mishimoto is available in black and silver polished finishes. It's made from steel for the added weight, 12.8 oz in total. If you're looking to upgrade your shift knob, this one will not only look great but make your shifts easier with its extended length and extra weight to help the shifter slide into gear.
Weight: 417g
Material: Stainless Steel
NRG Innovations is mostly known for their racing steering wheels and related parts such as steering wheel quick releases. However, they offer some other products such as shift knobs.
This shift knob is similar in design to the last one we discussed from Mishimoto, but with a burnt stainless steel finish. Slightly heavier, this one comes in at 417 grams (14.7 ounces). This one's also a great choice if you want some extended length, but you want a more flashy finish or a slightly weighted shift knob.
Weight: 363g
Material: Stainless steel
From one of the biggest names in the Subaru aftermarket, Perrin's stainless steel shift knob is an excellent and high-quality choice. Weighing in at 363g (12.8 oz), this shift knob gives some extra weight over the stock shift knob, helping the shifter to fall into gear with ease. It has a 1-inch adjustable screw, so you can fine-tune the height to your own preference. It comes in either a ball or tapered design.
Weight: 200g
Material: Leather, plastic, and aluminum
If you just want something a little different, then this knob is just like the stock one that comes in the WRX, but with a red face instead of grey. Subaru's shift knob feels great in the hand, and the leather looks great too. The red on this shift knob matches all of the red stitching perfectly, adding just a little more "pop" to your interior.
Weight: 200g
Material: Leather and aluminum
If you have a regular WRX and not a WRX STI, one small thing you're missing out on is the shift knob from the STI. Subaru's OEM STI shift knob has a higher weight, at 200 grams, more than the one from the WRX.
If you're looking for a weighted shift knob, then this one may be just enough heavier for your tastes if the heavier ones are too much for you. The perforated leather gives the knob a high quality look and feel that's a level above the stock shift knob from the WRX.
Weight: 200g
Material: Aluminium
If you want to add a more JDM feel to your interior, then this shift knob from DEWHEL is a great choice. It looks great in any Japanese car, especially the WRX. Its 6-speed pattern markers written in kanji is subtle but looks great.
The red inlay looks great with the red stiching of the interior. The weight is about the same as the stock shift knob. This is a great affordable option if you want to change up the look of your interior.
Conclusion
There's no single best choice, since it comes down to your own tastes, but these are all great options depending on your personal preference. Whether you want a weighted shift knob or something lighter, or whether you want something that stands out or something more subtle, we think you'll find it in our list.
Frequently Asked Questions
What thread pitch does the WRX use?
All shift knobs for manual transmission Subarus , use a 12mm x 1.25mm thread pitch, including the WRX and WRX STI.
What does a weighted shift knob do?
Weighted shift knobs are heavier than normal shift knobs. The extra weight helps with easier and smoother shifting between gears.
Are weighted shift knobs bad for your car?
Weighted shift knobs won't hurt your car's transmission. The extra weight is simply pushing downward and not placing any extra force on the shifter's selector fork on the transmission.
Is a heavier shift knob better?
This is largely up to the individual driver's preference. A weighted shift knob can make shifting between gears smoother, but not everyone will prefer the heaviest shift knob available.
Why are some shift knobs so expensive?
Shift knobs can be expensive depending on the material used. Weighted shift knobs are often made from solid aluminum, which is quite costly.