--- title: "Aftermarket Miata Gated Shifter Kit Makes Changing Gears Feel Super" date: "2025-02-13" modified: "2025-02-13" authors: - name: "Byron Hurd" job_title: "Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/byron-hurd" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/aftermarket-miata-gated-shifter-kit-makes-changing-gears-feel-super" categories: - "Mazda News" - "News" - "News by Brand" --- # Aftermarket Miata Gated Shifter Kit Makes Changing Gears Feel Super ![]() *\Minottek\* The 1990 Mazda Miata is known for many things—its light weight, its zingy four-cylinder, and its tight, butter-smooth gearbox, just as examples—but an upscale interior? Not so much. That's not a dig, mind you. I own a red NA of that exact vintage, in fact, shiny black plastic and all. It's... fine? Clean and simple, but spartan even by the standards of 30 years ago. Suffice it to say, the [extravagance]() of a [gated shifter]() simply wasn't a priority for Mazda. And it's a sin made all the easier to forgive thanks to Minottek, which has just [launched its very own gated shifter retrofit kit for the original MX-5](). At $549, it's not exactly cheap, but it's also more than just a pretty piece of billet aluminum in place of your old vinyl shift boot. What you're getting is an entire assembly, including the shifter, the milled gate, a new bushing, and replacement hardware and insulation. Minottek even includes a custom trim piece that fits around the new kit. ![]() ![]() "Each component has been meticulously designed, tested, and manufactured for the very best durability, fit, and finish," the company's product listing says. "The gated shift pattern was finalized following over 20 revisions and development for the kit exceeds 200 hours." Not only was it precisely engineered to fit the original Miata's center console, but Minottek says it built adjustment points into the design to allow the end customer to tweak the fit. The shifter assembly is self-contained and bolts directly to the transmission, eliminating intermediate components that could lead to rattles or misalignment. > [View this post on Instagram]() > [A post shared by Ryan Conforti (@minottek.ryan)]() And since the entire assembly goes in as one unit, installation is quick and easy. [Minottek's documentation]() suggests you'll need no more than an hour or two to complete the job, and it only requires a few simple tools: a socket wrench set, a Phillips screwdriver, and the included hex key. ## Author Byron is an editor at The Drive with a keen eye for infrastructure, sales and regulatory stories. He brings a light, punchy style to all of his content, believing that there's plenty out there to be laughed at—himself included. Born and raised in Maryland but now based just a stone's throw from Detroit, Byron is an auto enthusiast and generalist who enjoys building and tinkering with things of all kinds, from cars, computers and digital cityscapes, to the new garage that will soon house his fleet (a CT4-V Blackwing, a JK Wrangler and an NA Miata). Inspired by an early love of rollercoasters, Byron quickly caught the high-performance driving itch. He's been tracking and auto-crossing his cars since 2007. In his downtime, Byron enjoys reading, playing city builders, and studying the history of the Motor City. ### Author social links [Bluesky]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()