Purchased this knob to put in a Tiptronic B5 Audi S4. I should've known better than to settle for a cheap, eBay-looking piece of gaudy tinsel that claims to be "universal." However, I had been searching the web for days trying to find a suitable replacement and this one seemed halfway decent.
Shipping was good, the package came on the estimated delivery date so no complaints there. But the positives end with that because this product does not work with my shift lever setup. However, I'M NOT RATING IT BASED ON ITS LACK OF FUNCTIONALITY AND USABILITY because I realize now that I should've done more research before buying this. When pressed, the button on the Audi's knob actually PULLS UP a lever, allowing the shifter to move. This Spectre knob only works if the button on your shift knob actually PUSHES DOWN to engage. The Spectre knob's chrome button on the top is only an independent spring-loaded cap, so it wasn't going to be able to reproduce the button action on my car's OEM knob. Like I said, I should've done more research, but hey - the product is advertised as UNIVERSAL.
Soooo, I give this product **TWO STARS** based on the following and on the fact that I just can't find anything good about it
CONS:
- While solid-feeling and weighted ok, the knob finds a way to both look and feel cheap and tacky. It is very "chromed-out." MUCH shinier than it looks in the product pic so beware that it'll probably make your car's interior look worse.
- Claims to be a universal knob, but it's not. However, it's ultimately up to the buyer to figure that out.
- Plastic packaging was scratched, faded and worn. It looked like it had been sitting in the bottom of a box in an abandoned parts warehouse for ten years. Very unprofessional.
- The included grub screws were very poorly made. The threads were coarse and it took about ten minutes just to get two of the screws in. (They do provide a little allen key though...that's nice)
- Despite the fact that this was one feature I never would have used or cared about, in the little package of colored rubber rings (swappable blue, yellow and red) they totally shorted me a blue one! I only got two!
PROS: Let's see...can't really think of anything.
SUMMARY: Two stars is probably somewhat generous, I just feel a little bad about giving a negative review on something that I should've been smart enough to pass on in the first place. Advice for someone considering this product: make sure you look at the setup of your shifter before buying ANY knob claimed to be universal. And remember that you'll ultimately get what you pay for. If you pony up a mere 20 bucks for something that would cost more than $200 to replace at the dealer, you're gonna end up being disappointed...and outta 20 bucks. I DON'T RECOMMEND THIS PRODUCT.
| Manufacturer | Spectre |
|---|---|
| Brand | Spectre |
| Item Weight | 5.6 ounces |
| Package Dimensions | 6 x 4 x 1 inches |
| Item model number | 6418 |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | Yes |
| Manufacturer Part Number | 6418 |
