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Re: British Car Magazine Article and Shifting

To: alpines@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: British Car Magazine Article and Shifting
From: hughes <hughes@scides.canberra.edu.au>
Date: Thu, 06 Mar 2003 09:46:35 +1100
Jay,

Your right, they're wrong.  Maybe there was something wrong with the shift
mechanism on that particular car.  But even though mine jumps out of third on
the over-run, you could never call it vague.  They should drive a BMC front
drive car....

Vic

Jay_Laifman@countrywide.com wrote:

> The latest (and last) issue of British Car Magazine has an article
> comparing one guy's Alpine to his Tiger.  The Alpine is a Series IV with a
> single downdraft Weber, noted at 80 hp.  The writers complained about the
> lack of power (too bad they didn't ask for mine).  But, stock is stock -
> or at least close to stock is close to stock.
>
> Anyway, the primary reason I'm writing is about the shifting.  I'm still
> baffled by this.  They said that the shifting was vague.  I've driven lots
> of cars over the years, MGs, Triumphs, Porsches, Austin Healeys, Jaguars,
> Alfa Romeos - though admittedly no Lotus or Fiat.  I've always felt the
> Alpine box was actually quite nice.  The gate was well defined.  The side
> to side width was short.  The movement in and out of gears was smooth and
> fast.  I'll admit that forward-back throw is longer than a Miata, but
> certainly shorter than a Austin Healey, and similar to all the others.  So
> what gives?  Have I just driven the wrong cars?  Are there other cars out
> there with remarkably better shifting?
>
> I will say that the TR3A I drove did have a tighter, shorter shift feel.
> But, at the same time, I thought compared to all the other cars I've
> driven, it was the closest to the Alpine in feel.
>
> Jay

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