This is from a few years past but here's a review of the Crossfire from Grassroots Motorsports magazine; a rag focused on Auto-X, club racing and other sporty-car activities. It's taken the tire industry a few years to finally offer DOT "R" compound tires in Crossfire friendly sizes but now that the race rubber is available we're starting to see Crossfires proving competitive on the track. So much for that talk about it not being a "real sports car".

http://www.grmotorsports.com/backiss...crossfires.php

I never did buy that bull anyway. Maybe it was just to exotic looking to be taken seriously...

Cheers,
Slim

 

That was an enjoyable article, nice to see an auto-journalist isn't writing from a spec sheet for once. Amazing how much those prices have dropped since the article was written. At the very end he compares an SRT6 to an M3... is that a legit comparison? I would love to say yes but my gut is telling me otherwise. Anyways nice find!

P.S. I read an article on Car and Driver.com that was a comparison test between a Porsche, an Xfire, and one other car. The Xfire actually won! I believe it to be accessible by searching their website!

 

The third car in the Car & Driver Comparo was the Nissan 350Z Nismo S-Spec. The Porsche was a Boxster S, neither of those cars can be taken as anything other than TRUE bonafide Sports Cars. Given the Crossfire has an AutoMagic transmission, really speaks HUGE volumes about how good the car really is. They even LIKED the Autostick in the Crossfire. That's a first...

 

What a great review, and quite accurate as well. The guys at the Miata forum just rave about this magazine (I agree with those raves and have been reading GRM for a couple of years) so it would be interesting to get their take on this article. I just replaced my Miata with the Crossfire and, even though they are very different cars, I couldn't be happier with my decision. And I love the Miata - it's a truly great car!

 

Notice the right front bumper sticker ?

 

HDDP,

It must be such a rush racing the Xfire. I get a good thrill running mountain roads here in Colorado, going into turns with the yellow suggested speed signs saying, for example, 30 MPH and doubling them or more with the car holding on and sticking like glue. This is a new experience to me as I've never owned a car like this (lots of 4WD pickup trucks on dirt roads, though). I think I'd like to try Autocross and I've joined the SCCA (see my sig for my number). What do you suggest I do to prepare myself prior to showing up at an Autocross event and not looking like a fool? I know this would be a big list of things and I've bought a few books on the subject of solo racing and time trials but I know nothing replaces seat time. I guess I'm looking for a few pieces of sage advice from the Forum Racing Moderator.

Thank you,
Dave

 

I think the first thing you should do is go to YOUTUBE a find some videos of AutoX events and watch what you can... Then I would go to an AutoX event in your area to see the whole process in person as a spectator and meet / talk to some of the other people who are competing and let them know you are planning on joining the group... You'll find that most everyone who participates in these types of events are very friendly and are very willing to share information... Remember, everyone started as a novice at some point and you'll find that most amateur racers are a very friendly and helpful group of people who are willing to help the newcomers... It's a close knit community that share a common passion...

Once you have a feel for the environment and the process, you won't be intimidated by just showing-up blindly at an event that you are going to compete in... You already know some of the people and regional officials, you'll know the process of tech inspection, registration, etc and then you'll be able to concentrate on your task at hand... WINNING.

Good luck and welcome to the club.

 

[quote=ColoradoXFire]HDDP,

"What do you suggest I do to prepare myself prior to showing up at an Autocross event and not looking like a fool? I know this would be a big list of things and I've bought a few books on the subject of solo racing and time trials but I know nothing replaces seat time..."

(1) Start hanging out at the local auto-X events. Most of the folks around here are really pretty friendly and supportive. We're pretty lucky in Cincy, Both the Cincinnati Sports Car Club and the SCCA stage events so there is an auto-x around here just about every other weekend.

(2) Buy your own helmet. There are "loaner" helmets at the events but they are kind of like rental shoes at a bowling alley...they tend to get pretty funky.

(3) Jump in and go for it. Start slow and smooth, concentrate on clearing the cones and leave the ESP/Traction Control "ON". Drive as fast and as smooth as you can and try to avoid triggering the "Electronic Nannies". Believe me, you'll know when it kicks in. it can be a pretty good teaching tool for a novice.

(4) Once you start getting consistent times, turn off the ESP/TC system and start pushing it a little harder. Remember, lurid tailslides and howling tires my be amusing but are seldom the FAST way around a track !

(5) Once you've begun getting the hang of it, OOOps you're hooked ! You now have a serious new money and time sucking hobby ! Soon You'll be shopping for lighter wheels, R compound DOT rated tires, trying various brake pad compounds, different shocks and jounce rebound settings, tinkering with "collision bolts" for more aggressive toe /camber settings, buying driving shoes, suit, high tech jack, pyrometer, G-meter, data logger, in-car camera and mount and on and on and on...

Welcome to the wonderful world of Grassroots Motor Sports. The tire, shock and brake pad vendors are happy to see you !

Seriously, jump in and have some fun. With a little effort and luck you'll actually become a better DRIVER !

Slim

 

HDDP, Slim, thanks for the advice. I'm looking forward to checking this sport out. I'll keep you posted with the haps...