Finally, My New Xr6t Is Delivered!

[John K]

It looks beautiful.

I chose silk off the colour chart - and on the car it's a bit darker than I thought it would be, but it does key nicely with the new grey highlighted wheels and skirts.

After taking soooo long to be delivered, I was a little disappointed that the dealer forgot the tinted windows - but otherwise, everything seems in tip top shape.

Driving wise, I'm hitting it fairly hard as I do believe engines that are babied during run in don't end up being as good. I haven't done any full throttle acceleration from a standing start yet - I'll wait a week or two for that (LOL). It's not spectacularly quick feeling, but it sure sweeps you away like you are on a magic carpet ride - effortless.

I can't believe how easily it revs - I've been up over 5500 rpm a couple of time accidentally - it just spins!

My only gripe is the ZF auto - is an amazing gearbox and one of the reasons I chose the car, but I'm having problems reprogramming my arm. Does anybody know why Ford decided that pushing the shifter forward in manual mode shifts down? It's opposite to what my body wants to do after 5 years of pushing forward to shift up. I think Ford have it wrong since every T bar auto since the 1970's pushes forwards to shift up. Hopefully I'll get used to it quickly before I redline the engine too many more times!

I was driving it home from the dealers in afternoon traffic and some loser did a lane change on me and came within I think centimeters of taking out the whole front drivers side guard. Jeeeeeeesus! I memorised his rego and stopped at the next servo to check for scrapes - it was that close!

Oh the joy of new cars

[Trish]

Awesome John, Well done. I am sure you will be out all weekend enjoying it.

Don't forget to take some photo's!

Congrats,

Cheers,

Trish.

[Honest Gaza]

Ahhhh....I remember my first week all those years ago. It's a great car

[mbjunior99]

Awesome work mate, make sure you post some pics

I have to say that I disagree with your comments to the direction you push the gear stick to change up or down a gear. I think they are one of the few that have it right

[Inducted_Breeze]

top stuff mate, give it time for the car to loosen up

my first impressions of the car was that it wasn't as fast as I was expecting but looking down at the speedo confirmed just how fast it was actually going...

that's the thing with these cars...they are so much faster than they feel...too quiet maybe

[NVYDF6]

I have to say that I disagree with your comments to the direction you push the gear stick to change up or down a gear. I think they are one of the few that have it right

[Full Monty]

The reason for the direction of the gearchanges is that whilst accelerating, you are pushed back in your seat, so back for upshift, and whilst braking you are forced forward.

Same format as used by BMW and many other euro sports car manufacturers, takes a week or 2 to adapt, then it seems second nature and very logical.

[Grudgee]

I've had a 2001 VRX limited (still shopping for my TT or TTG) for a few years and it shifts up. Drove a mates Typhoon a month ago and gave it a red-hot rev by accident. Had another friends new SS and nearly blew the bastard up - only had 550kms on the clock too, which can't be good for it. Can't remember if the SS shifted up or down, but if you do it wrong, the car certainly lets you know.

[hanra]

The shift pattern works well, otherwise your just fighting the G's.

[Adam]

John, you do remember I said if you didn't post pics I would ban you don't you? Where are they?

The manual shift feature is the way it should be. The idea is when you are slowing down weight is pushing forward so that's the direction for downshifting. When you are accelerating weight is being pushed back so you pull back to up shift.