New 350z coupe
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: DC Metro
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://my350z.com/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif)
I just bought a new '05 350z coupe. I'm taking delivery on it tomorrow. Here's the catch.. I don't really drive stick. I've drove my brothers bmw a couple times (stick), but that's about it. How screwed/stupid am I? Anything else I should know as a new z owner??
#3
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: DC Metro
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://my350z.com/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif)
That's what I'm planning on doing. I'm going to feel like an idiot, but I'm going to ask one of their guys to drive the car over to a parking lot for me (which is right down the street). This will give me a couple hours of practice before having to take it back home.
#6
Registered User
iTrader: (2)
![Default](https://my350z.com/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif)
My first car was a Corvair with a four-on-the-floor. Since then, I’ve never bought a car with a automatic transmission. When I drive a car with an automatic, I can be forgetful coming to a stop, and panic for a second. In other works, a manual feels conformable, and an automatic is, umm, scary. LOL.
The 350Z transmission is very forgiving. Just practice.
The 350Z transmission is very forgiving. Just practice.
Trending Topics
#8
![Default](https://my350z.com/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Just stick to the basics (push in clutch, shift into gear, release clutch/push on gas) & you will do fine.
Your liable to see a bunch of posts here about how "hard" it is to drive a Zzz stick.
Rubbish. If you could shift the Beemer you can shift the Z. Even if you could not shift the BMW well it only means you need more practice.
I taught my son to drive stick on my Zzzz with no danage to his psyche or, more importantly
,to my Brick!
Enjoy the new ride.
Your liable to see a bunch of posts here about how "hard" it is to drive a Zzz stick.
Rubbish. If you could shift the Beemer you can shift the Z. Even if you could not shift the BMW well it only means you need more practice.
I taught my son to drive stick on my Zzzz with no danage to his psyche or, more importantly
![Big Grin](https://my350z.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
Enjoy the new ride.
#10
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: DC Metro
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://my350z.com/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Thanks for all the encouragement everyone.. I'm moving from a SUV (Pathfinder) to the Z. I really can't wait... They were trying to push me on an auto, but I just couldn't do it..
#11
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 130
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://my350z.com/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally Posted by Nano
Manual is the way to go
best thing that could have happened to you. Once you learn how to drive stick you won't be able to drive automatic again on a sportscar ever.
best thing that could have happened to you. Once you learn how to drive stick you won't be able to drive automatic again on a sportscar ever.
#12
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 196
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://my350z.com/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif)
I have wondered whether you can test drive a manual on the lot. If you dont know how to drive one, will they let you? Even though you dont tell them you dont know how to drive a stick, they can tell right away!
I'm planning on getting a stick Z too, also heard the clutch is real steep.
I'm planning on getting a stick Z too, also heard the clutch is real steep.
#14
Registered User
iTrader: (50)
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Indiana
Posts: 4,266
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://my350z.com/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally Posted by Nano
Manual is the way to go
best thing that could have happened to you. Once you learn how to drive stick you won't be able to drive automatic again on a sportscar ever.
best thing that could have happened to you. Once you learn how to drive stick you won't be able to drive automatic again on a sportscar ever.
#15
Registered User
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
Posts: 1,004
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://my350z.com/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif)
The easiest way to perfect it is to find a place with a slight incline which will make the Z roll back, make sure thier wont be anything around like a parking garage at night. THen practice going up the incline. Once you got that down with little to no rollback everything else will be cake. Hills are the most challenging.
#16
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://my350z.com/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif)
I bought a 280 back in the day with a manual and I'd never driven one before. I had a buddy meet me at the dealership and I was going to drive his Mustang back and have him drive my car home. He shows up with his wife's Fiero that's a manual. Smooth move. So now I have to drive my car the 20 miles from West Covina, CA to Los Angeles. Somehow I did it. After leaving the dealership, I drove around the block several times until I could turn onto the freeway without having to stop at the light and then I drove all the way home in 3rd gear. After getting home I pretty much just drove around the hood until I got the hang of it. Getting stopped at a light on a hill was the only problem I came across. I just put it in gear and gunned it when the light turned green.
To quote Rob Schneider in the Adam Sandler movies, "You can do eet!".
To quote Rob Schneider in the Adam Sandler movies, "You can do eet!".
#17
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://my350z.com/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif)
I am glad to read this, as I don't drive stick and am planning on getting a '06 MT Grand Touring Roadster asap. A friend took me out in his new Mustang GT convertible. I stalled a few times, but had no problem after 1st. I will likely bring him with me when I pick up the Z just so I don't do something dumb. I have been reading this forum for weeks, and there are a lot of people who have said that the Z is a hard car to start out with, so I am glad to hear this may not be true. Good luck
![Smilie](https://my350z.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif)
#18
New Member
iTrader: (6)
![Default](https://my350z.com/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Here's another tip to get you started, on a flat surface (like a parking lot), you can actually get the car to move forward just by letting the clutch out very, VERY slowly. The fuel injection will provide enough gas to move the car forward. Once the car is moving forward, you can gently apply gas (for god sake, don't punch it).
Note, while trying this, if you start to feel the engine go dead, then immediately push in the clutch, and start the process over.
Note, while trying this, if you start to feel the engine go dead, then immediately push in the clutch, and start the process over.
#19
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Washington DC
Posts: 114
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
#20
Registered User
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Indy
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://my350z.com/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally Posted by tropicalypso
Here's another tip to get you started, on a flat surface (like a parking lot), you can actually get the car to move forward just by letting the clutch out very, VERY slowly. The fuel injection will provide enough gas to move the car forward. Once the car is moving forward, you can gently apply gas (for god sake, don't punch it).
Note, while trying this, if you start to feel the engine go dead, then immediately push in the clutch, and start the process over.
Note, while trying this, if you start to feel the engine go dead, then immediately push in the clutch, and start the process over.
+1 man. Excellent advise. That's the best way to learn the feel of the clutch IMO.