How a Simple Shift Knob Mod Nearly Ruined and Then Revived My Love for the GR86

After spending what felt like forever lurking in GR86 forums, reading build threads, mod reviews, and general banter, one simple mod kept popping up over and over again: a weighted shift knob. A lot of owners swore by it. The claims were consistent… smoother shifts, especially between 1st and 2nd, and again from 4th to 5th. The only trade-off was a slight loss in shift “feel.” Still, I was intrigued.

So I started digging.

Problem was, most of the popular weighted knobs were either too heavy for my taste or just didn’t match the GR86’s interior vibe. I wanted something that felt premium, something that would elevate the driving experience without looking like it belonged in a clapped out civic. After a ton of research, I landed on the GS2 from Black Forest Industries. It’s a shift knob designed for European cars, wrapped in gorgeous black Alcantara. It wasn’t made for the GR86 or BRZ, so it wasn’t going to be plug-and-play. But I didn’t mind. A little tinkering sounded like a fun side project, and the quality was just too good to pass up.

It wasn’t cheap. These are knobs meant for everything from VW Golfs to Porsche GT3s, and the craftsmanship reflects that. But I’ve always believed that if you’re going to do something, do it right or not at all. So I pulled the trigger and ordered it.

A month later, it arrived.

With a bit of DIY effort and some trial and error, I got it installed exactly how I wanted. The result was beautiful. The knob looked right at home in my cabin, matching the Alcantara accents perfectly. Even better, it worked! Shifts were noticeably smoother. Engagement felt quicker, more effortless. I almost felt like a better driver with it on—daily driving just flowed.

By the way, to my knowledge, I might be the first to install a BFI GS2 on a GR86 or BRZ. I couldn’t find a single example online. So unless someone proves me wrong, I’m claiming the title.

But here’s where things got interesting.

A few months passed. The novelty wore off. I caught myself not enjoying drives as much. I started chasing the high again, falling down the rabbit hole of more mods, more tweaks. Maybe it was the suspension? Maybe the brakes? Maybe… I’d just outgrown the car (lol)? I almost sold my GR86 after a year of ownership.

And then today, on a whim, I reinstalled the stock shift knob.

I swear to you: it was like flipping a switch. If the car had come with the BFI knob and someone handed me the stock one as an “aftermarket upgrade,” I’d pay hundreds to get that feel back. It was that good. Crisp, mechanical, just the right weight and texture. My hand buzzed with the engine and transmission and I was laughing out loud driving the car on the back roads. It’s as if the GR team at Toyota know what they are doing…

If you’re running an aftermarket shift knob and still have your stock one lying around, do yourself a favor. Put it back on. Just for a drive. You might rediscover something you didn’t even realize you’d lost.

Sometimes, the best mod is the one you take off.