Normally when you say Black Forest, I think “Gummy Bears”. However there is this company “Black Forest Industries” that make really fancy shift knobs and boots for Euro whips. Anyway, my Mother texted me while we we’re away for Christmas and said that she had forgotten a gift for me. I thanked her but didn’t think much of it as Christmas isn’t about us anymore now that we have our little girl.
In addition, we were in a winter paradise on Lake Champlain. A house way up on a bluff over looking the water...a little wood fire place...couple of cups of coffee...our dogs...and our little girl. There was one point where all 5 of us were either asleep or reading in front of the fire place. So needless to say I was distracted. It was the nicest Christmas that I can remember since my own childhood.
The day after we got back, we stopped at my parents to help out with a few things, and my mom handed me my gift which is, you guessed it...the shift knob pictured above. I said “Fuck, mom! This is tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight!” I try hard not to curse around my mother she as she is just about the sweetest most sensitive person you will ever meet, but it just came out, haha.
She says, “Oh yeah! I got that for you when you first bought the Volkswagen. I wanted one too, but not for that kind of money!”
Funny how we will do more for the ones we love than for ourselves. I’ve wanted a pair of Bose noise canceling headphones since they debuted 15 odd years ago. My wife had expressed interest in them as well, and even though we “weren’t exchanging gifts this year...” I got her a pair thinking, “as much as I like these, I’d never go $300 on a pair of headphones for myself.”
...Guess what she got me...
Needless to say. I’ve ordered a BFI knob and boot for my mother’s GTI. Black w red alcantara, and a black alcantara boot with red stitching. Her birthday is in March. I’m going to sneak attack install it the night before.
I installed mine yesterday. I started my career in car stereo. I can rip out the plastic panels in any car in no time flat without breaking anything all the while making sounds that would make you cringe if it were your car. I’m not just tooting my own horn here, I’m really good at it.
So naturally I broke every clip on the shifter trim. That trim is only available as part of the manual shifter and boot assembly from VW for $150. So right now it’s held in with sticky tack until the new one arrives. I also destroyed my factory knob separating it from the boot so at least I will have a “back to stock” option”
