hey im the same guy that asked if it was ok to shift 1st 3rd 6th. I was wondering if it was ok to start in 2nd gear from a dead stop instead of first gear? The only reason why im asking this is bc im still new to manual trans. and starting in second gear is a smoother take off from me in daily driving. Is starting in 2nd bad? will it and can it cause and damage?

 

There's no problem with starting with 2nd gear...you just wont have enough
power
because your RPM will climb slower.
Just practice 1st gear so that you can start moving the car smoothly.

As for me, I can't wait to shift from 1st to 2nd in my Z.

 

first gear is for starting from a stop. while you CAN do it in 2nd, i wouldn't. check your manual.

 

ya but if i have a passenger in my car, i try to drive smoothly and not too fast. But theres nuttin wrong with starting in 2nd gear?

 

what's more important to you, your engine or your ego? master first gear, bruddah! practise make perfect.

 

2nd will work in most cars. But depending on how you do it, you might be slipping the crap out of the clutch.

I would say just learn to drive a stick correctly instead of looking for ways around it. IE: starting in 2nd, or 1,3,5.

Enjoy the car but learn to drive it with out killing the clutch

 

I know what you mean about starting off more smoothly with second gear becuase i did that with my gf's sister's prelude when i first drove stick. You won't stall as easily but you'll ride/wear your clutch more. Just pratice some more with first gear, you'll get the hang of it in no time.

 

yea in my old ranger I started in second all the time if I was going from a stop in a left turn lane or something b/c it was always annoying (to me) to change gears into 2nd halfway though the turn while I was still in the middle of an intersection.

 

There are some unique situations (ice and snow) where its appropriate, other than that, no.

 

Starting the car in second gear every time is NOT okay like mentioned above. To take off in first gear and be smooth requires slipping the clutch and taking off smooth in second gear requires even more slipping of the clutch which will wear it out very quickly. Learn to launch and shift properly and don't worry about smoothness or you will be the next guy saying your clutch is gone at 5,000 miles and blaming Nissan.

 

im always using 2nd gear in stop start traffic on the way home from work

i find the Z pulls really smoothly in 2nd, u just need to get the hang of it so ur not riding the clutch so much

i personally think first gear is too short

 

It's short for a reason. You own a PERFORMANCE car. If you wanted a Caddy you could always trade in the Z.

 

Yes, using 2nd gear will "hurt" the clutch by shortening its life. Once inawhile is fine but not on a reg basis.

I agree on 2nd gear being to short but it is what it is.

 

wouldn't it "lug" the engine of something? not sure if I used the word correctly.

 

I've done that at a very low mph (3-4 mph) and it worked fine.

I tried it from a dead stop and was concerned about clutch slippage so I don't do it anymore.

 

+1. Learning to drive right from the start is important because it will difficult for you to un-learn and re-learn later on.

In slow moving stop and go traffic I use 2nd unless I am completely stopped, then I start at 1.

 

I wouldn't really recommond that like other people have already mentioned because it will really screw up your clutch. Also, if you're on an incline you're going to have alot of trouble getting the car to move without burning the hell out of your clutch.
here is a tip for you: put the car in first, start releasing the clutch slowly without pressing the gas. you'll notice the car starting to move very slowly...keep practicing that for a while until you get used to your clutch engagement point. once you master that you can start applying the gas slowly while you release the clutch and you'll have smooth launches.

GL

 

You are going to hurt your clutch doing that, especially if you do it more then once a week. I only do that maybe once a month....Just learn how to drive!


I still have a hard time launching smoothly if I am not paying attention in my Z, but its not like I am stalling, just stutters...in my 95 VR4, the clutch was pretty heavy and it engaged almost at the floor. So you put it in first, hit the gas let the clutch up an inch and you take off smooth, I miss my VR4

I called the dealer today where I bought my car to see if I could get my clutch adjusted to engage earlier, becuase I have seen the thread to DIY, but I dont want to mess my car up doing it myself lol....

The ONLY time I take off in second is those rare times I am on the cell phone in the car, and only at left turns through intersections, because starting in second I can make it through the intersection smoothly without having to take my hand off the wheel. Starting in first, taking your hand off switching, then puttin back on the wheel, you look like you cant turn right lol....Now I got my razr, so I can use bluetooth, thank god!

 

You need to stop!!! get on a sloped driveway (almost everyone has one) and practice holding your car in place by feathering your clutch.
QUIT SLOWLY BREAKING YOUR Z!!!!!

 

There is nothing wrong with doing that. Especially in traffic or going downhill I always start in 2nd because you know you'll be shifting in a second anyway. But I wouldn't make a habit or daily routine out of it.