Vic and piners,
Me thinks that if the test included, a tiger and an alpine in the same
session, the test was over before it began.
Perhaps "vague" is from the standpoint of having driven a Lamborghini
or a Ferarri, where the shifter gate literally sets before you, and
the "gate" positions are plainly visible.
The alpine, with an unworn shifter ball is about as precise as any
integrally shifting transmisions Ive driven.
Ive driven external shifters that are more precise, but only after
blueprinting the linkages with metal or hard plastic bushes.
Jarrid Gross
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-alpines@autox.team.net
[mailto:owner-alpines@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of hughes
Sent: Wednesday, March 05, 2003 2:47 PM
To: alpines@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: British Car Magazine Article and Shifting
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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