It's faster in the 1/4 mile (mainly due to launch) but a different animal in the twisties.

Also, keep in mind that each gear in the 6MT is higher than the autostick.

For instance, 3rd gear in the 6MT is 1.723 versus 1.486 in the auto.

Multiplied over 311 turns, that slight advantage in ramp-up coupled with the coupe's lighter weight, ability to throttle-brake versus shedding speed with the brake pedal -- it all adds up.

Having played with the autostick in the SRT, I'm shocked at how long it takes to shift. You must bump the lever at least two seconds before wou wish to change gears. When turns are coming at you at the frequency they are in the Dragon, those two seconds of throttle braking can mean the difference between a "panic stab" of the brakes (killing momentum) or simply trail-braking while the gears slow your car's momentum in a controlled fashion. Not to mention, the computer will NEVER take over and shift your car out of the gear you need it to be in with the 6MT.

I recall a certain graphite coupe (no names) that rode with us on Saturday morning last year at the Fall Dragon. His brakes were smoldering at the end of the run when we made a rest stop. Mine weren't breaking a sweat, and I was able to stay tucked behind Steve's '32 on all but the straightest of roads, and I had a passenger + full tank of gas.

Your seat time in the R171 has spoiled you, that transmission is a sweetheart and shifts *exactly* when you want it to. The Crossfire's transmission is much more pre-meditated. Remember also that the SRT's transmission is programmed more aggressively, as is the BCM.

The Limited can stay competitive with the SRT in those technical roads, until the roads straighten out. Hellbender revealed the discrepancy rather quickly. But even with it staying 'competitive', the SRT is still able to get the better of it over the course of eleven miles.

If both Limiteds had identical mods, and the same driver ran each car back-to-back on the Dragon with no traffic, the Limited with 6MT would be significantly faster.

Otherwise, there are simply too many variables and all comparisons between the two machines are worthless, wasted air.