Argh... I haven't driven stick in a long time, not to mention a car with so much torque. So this will take a bit of getting used to.

Tonight was the first training night since I got my car. Went around some empty parking lots practicing. Yeah I know... geeky... BUT honestly... it's embarassing to drive a nice car like the Z when you shift like a newbie. (i.e. break your passengers neck with those annoying stutter starts)

Wow. I love this car... but shoot there are things that scare the bejeebers outa me.

1) Parallel parking. This thing is big (well not SUV big, just wide). So time to go steal some cones and practice where no one can see me. I would rather knock over cones then damage the rims, my beloved Z, or someone's ride. So yeah, I know... I suck, but at least I admit it.

2) Inclines. Well this is just cause I suck at stick at the moment so I have a hard time jumping to the proper "balance" point and sitting on the hill.

3) Inclines. Yeah they bother me so they reappear again. I use to be able to do them, but I gotta be good enough to drive it in SF's wonder hills and feel comfortable, that's the true sign of knowing your car.

4) Speed. Man, I have no idea how fast I'm going. I look and before I know it, I've broken the speed limit. Thank god for the digital speedometer.

Sigh, well I just got from a nice vacation, tomorrow is the first day of officially breaking the car (and me) in. So hopefully I will make it to work in one piece and try to ignore people staring at me and wondering "man, that's one nice car and one sh*tty a** driver."

Hahah, so one more Z in the San Diego area is here. If you see me driving horribly (i.e. stalling) in a le mans sunset yeah, it's me. Don't laugh just smile and tell me later how much I need to practice.

 

i dont think ur clutch is going to like u after all of this

 

its ok, i am still gettin back to drivin a stick..
all i can say is the clutch gets better with mielage. when i picked the car up it was pretty stiff and hard to modulate. not its smooth and easy to operate.
give it time, thats all you and the car need!
happy motoring!
-tony

 

Yeah tell me about it... but I've resigned myself to my fate since I must train with my Z to drive my Z. Catch 22 I guess.
It's a well designed car and I figure the first thousand miles will be it's worst (since it's the break it period and I'm re-learning old tricks). After that, smooth sailing.

Daytona, yeah I figure it can only get better from here. No wimping out. Besides, I drove stick for 2 years about 6 years ago and what I'm feeling now, was exactly how I felt when I first started. Unfamiliar car will soon become familiar. Thanks for the encouragement.

 

Don't sweat it man. I was in the same boat as you (haven't driven stick for about 14 yrs). I'd killed the engine numerous times and after each outing, my wife would massage her neck and gave me those sympathetic smiles . It's been just a little over a week since I've picked up my car and I've pretty much re-familiarized myself with stick again. It's a great fun to have stick in a car like this, but I would dread driving this car in stop'n'go traffic everyday. BTW, I'm able to crank up the music now,hehe!

 

Dont sweat it, sooner or later your going to be able to shift gears without letting up on the gas.

 

Shift_desire

 

When I first drove the 350, the thing that took some getting used to was the EXTREMELY short throw on the shifter! Nothing at all like my other Z-Cars! Very precise and quick.

The torque was incredible, leaving the driver pretty much a wide choice of what gear to use. I was very impressed.

The clutch on the car I drove was very easy and light...take up took a bit of getting used to.

For all of you who have been driving them for a while: did you notice a difference in the clutch action/take up? Is there a noticable break in period?

 

Like they said above, there's so much torque that you really only need 2 gears... 3rd and 5th I'd say...

Though I wouldn't recommend doing that...

 

nwind21,

In a forum filled with 'know-it-alls', your post is refreshing, and I admire your courage.

I'm confident that you will master your clutch, and stalls/jerky starts will be a thing of the past for you, in the very near future.

As for San Francisco, I plan on staying aware from those hills (and even some in Laguna Beach) for a while longer myself.

There are no tips I can offer, but I think you are doing the right thing already - practice. Gain the confidence.

Enjoy.

 

Don't sweat it. Every car is different when it comes to a MT. You just have to be patient (and so do your passengers ) and take some time to get used to it. BTW, great idea on practicing parallel parking! I would hate to have anything happen to my wheels b/c of lack of practice.

I know as soon as I get my car, I'm going to take some time to get used to it and learn all its angles and edges to make sure I'm good to my new baby!

Happy Motoring!

 

nwind21... I am in the same boat as you... maybe worse.

I have only driven a stick 3 times in my life on a Ford Pinto. My 6MT is due to arrive in 1 1/2 weeks and have been stressing it since I placed my deposit. Tried to rent a stick for pratice, but no rentals have them since most dont know how to drive them.

Just last night a good friend of mine let me practice on his Civic. I did pretty good if I say so myself. Stalled it a couple of times in an empty parking lot, but by the end of the driving lessons, I was able to get us home without a stall. Tomorrow night were going to do some more practicing on his wife's new vw bug.

As they say... Practice makes Perfect!!

 

OK, so the clutch is supposed to become a bit "more loose?"

when I test drove my car immediatly before buying I stalled it as did my dad when he tried it. we both have been driving stick shift... with no break in between, but the clutch was just so ON/OFF it was really hard.

now it seems its much more forgiving, so I thought 3 things, either Im getting used to it, the clutch is getting worn down to the metal, or its just being broken in.

I guess its a mix of 1st and 3rd, but as long as it isnt second Im cool with it.

oh and for hills, cheat till you master it, hold the ebrake up to hold the car untill you have the clutch engaging. or just floor it and let the wheels spin(handbrake is a better option I think)

 

nwind,

no worries man, the Z is my first MT car and I suck at driving manual. I figure at least I'll "appear" to look good as I'm sitting in a Z I'm in La Jolla, where in SD are you? It would be cool to learn with another stick newbie

ganz

 

Its not really that hard to drive an MT. Practice on parallel parking, you will be fine; Inclines are done this way, use the handbrake to hold you in place and release it and the clutch and push down on the throttle at the same time, you can practice this in a parking lot too, on flat ground until its second nature and then tackle real inclines, just remember to raise the revs to about 3000-3500 so you won't stall, don't start up an incline from a dead stop and try to use flat ground techniques, like minimal revs to start off in the car. This a sports car, be agressive short of breaking the law or running into something; and, you are on your own when it comes to speed, you just have to familiarize youself with your cars capabilities, its fast, so sharpen your reaction time. It too, will come with practice. Don't worry, practice will make you into a good MT driver again sooner than you think.

Remember incline strategy, Raise the revs, release the hand brake and clutch at the same time and keep pressure on the throttle at the same time, and be ready to raise the revs higher, if necessary.

Boomer

 

There's an easy trick to help with the inclines. Just pull up on the parking brake handle and hold in the button while you gas it and let off of the clutch. Once you feel the car trying to move forward, slowly release the parking brake.

This isn't a trick just for newbies. I use it when on a steep hill and someone pulls up to within inches of my back bumper.

Even after you master the clutch, DO NOT hold the car on a hill with the clutch. It will overheat and the flywheel will probably warp.

If you can avoid grinding gears, you'll be fine. The clutch is pretty durable and not that expensive compared to an entire tranny.

Good luck!

-TB

 

start on a hill with revs at 3000 to 3500????? jeez, I have managed to get going on a semisteep hill without handbrake without reving over 2000RPMs, just be quick about it before you get too much momentum in the back direction.

as for handbrake all the time on steep hills, use the heel toe method, its difficult(I havent mastered it at all) but once you do, it will be the best way for all hills, keep the heel on the brake and push the gas with your toes(you can do vice versa, but for most applications its easier to modulate the gas with the toes rather than the heel). when your ready slide your heel off the brake. this leaves your hands free to steer and shift. this is the "best" way, but assuredly one of the most difficult things to do.

if you dont want to bother with that, handbrake is fine, but some hills just dont need it, as long as your quick and precise with the clutch and revs, you can get going.

 

nwind,
well, your dealer predicted your delivery date fairly accurately. my car arrived just about the same time he said yours would. remember, we ordered within the same time with the same color? congrats, man. i'm enjoying my car, and i know you're enjoying your car! once again, NICE COLOR!