You guys are saying I should just grab my knob and twist it off, right

...ouch.
Seriously, as a test I tried unscrewing the one on my current contour. I could not get it to turn at all.
Big jim, my current car does have plastic one but the car I want to buy has the sport package which includes leather covered shift knob and steering wheel.
Thanks carboy...~$30 sounds good...now I just need to get the car.