The M5R2 is not the smoothest shifting manual trans, but it is nowhere near as bad as some people make it out to be. I think the biggest thing is that the bushings in the stock shifter wear out, so most people are thinking that is just how it shifts, but with a rebuilt shifter, or better yet a B&M, in daily driving there is no perceptible difference between the M5R2 and a T5 in terms of smoothness. The downsides to it are that it likes to wear out synchros, and even with good synchros, speed shifting will cause it to grind into second, but the trans is pretty indestructible so it grinding a bit isn't going to hurt anything. Upsides are better gearing than a T5, direct bolt-in swap, and harking back to that indestructible thing, it is much MUCH stronger than a T5, and at a fraction of the price. I definitely reccomend it, you won't regret it.