I picked up my '04 graphite about two weeks ago. It's a six speed and I have forgotten how much fun it is to drive a stick. It was a great day today and I enjoyed a nice hour long drive shifting all the way. Anyway, back to your regularly scheduled programs...

 

Evan, Your red roadster is going to be lonely. Everyone with auto should try a stick.
Keep shifting my friend.

 

Totally agree!

Hey Evan, were you out scouting trails for the GTG?

 

Only way to go Evan, stay with us on the dark side..........
(except that stinken 1st gear)

 

One of each, only way to go!

 

Evan, when we first started talking at the spring dragon '09, I wondered why a guy who likes performance and being in control of his car would want an automatic.

When I rode with you at the Dragon, I figured it out. You have too many electronics going on, between the GPS, radar detector, cell phone, etc you don't have enough hands to shift as well LOL

Glad you got a nice 6 speed graphite coupe, next time I see you, we can have a nice graphite photo shoot (leave that red roadster at home LOL)

 

Hey John, where's the pics of the new XFire?

 

It was a leisurely ride yesterday in the lowlands. Snow is in the mountains already which means magnesium chloride and sand on the roads. I have some very nice roads that I have in mind that will be awe inspiring and test out your steering.

 

LOL! Yes, usually when I hit the Dragon hard, I will put all the gadgets away (except for my MP3 player and the radar detector) so that they won't fly everywhere.

 

Soon enough, Terry

It is raining here at the moment and she is tucked in the garage with no plate on her. Can you believe the BMV here is closed every Monday, must be nice to have a three day weekend, every weekend

 

It's nice to see the XF fanatics loading up on second and thirds. At least there will be a fair number of them well treated and preserved into the future.

 

Roadster with a stick

"the way it should be"


Nuff said

 

Hey Mods: This thread should be closed - or at least hidden from my view automatically.

 

Crossfire with a stick -- it's like hot apple pie and vanilla ice cream - the way things are supposed to be!!!

 

How about the "Shelf Road" between Cripple Creek and Canon City? That thing ought to be on TV!!

 

Awesome road, but not paved! I did find a "twistier" route between Cripple Creek and Cañon City. A bit longer, but well worth it (and paved). Plus we could have dinner at Merlino's (Welcome | Belvedere Restaurant) after the nice drive.

Actually, this is the route that I had in mind:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...,2.113495&z=10

The section between Victor and Cripple Creek is a blast if there are no slow cars (or Harley's) in the way.

 

I drove a stick XF for the first time at the Fall Dragon - I got to tell you guys, not getting it. I think it was 1st gear that was throwing me off. I should say that I have almost always driven a stick & that is what I learned to drive on, but my 1984 Volvo 240 had a better first gear! After that it was fine. Short throw, tight gear box - the way any sports car should be! I used to have an RX-7 that I thought had a useless 1st gear, but this was something else. Honestly, I thought you guys were all overreacting all this time. I stand corrected!! I think I will stick with my shap shift for now, but do you guys have any advice to make that launch feel less weird? I almost felt like I was double clutching to get rolling.

 

Practice, practice, practice! For those of you who have been on the forums for a while, you will remember that I did start out with an '06 red coupe with a six speed. Hence why I picked up the six speed this go around...

 

I think the 6 spd is sweet, the harder you drive it the smoother it is.....keep the revs up between shifts . ANY clunkiness is due only to not having the revs UP!

 

Kim, it's really not that big of a deal, and Crossfire owners aren't the only ones with a short 1st. gear.
https://www.crossfireforum.org/forum...irst-gear.html
Can any automatic owners chime in and give us what an approximate MPH at red line (in 1st. gear) is?