I'm not sure what particular model mine is then if it's not considered a base. I do know that the dealer said it had the "Italian" package, with the red "Crossfire" on the rims and the orange/black interior. What would that be considered?

As for the shifting, there's no other way I can think to describe it, but that first to second shift seems like the car is kicking it out of first. I'll start to pull towards second, and it spits it into neutral. And then I'll put it into third. Does starting in second do any kind of wear/damage to the clutch or tranny?