Hey guys,

I finally got my dream car - a brand new 2006 Touring Le Mans Sunset Z!

I'm still a bit rusty with my manual transmission skills (or lack thereof) after an 8 year hiatus, but it's a great feeling to be driving the car I've wanted to be driving for the past 4-5 years.

Could someone direct me to a thread or lend some advice regarding how I can manage a faster start from a full stop? Is it a matter of keeping the RPMs up and steady, and then releasing the clutch slowly? Or, alternatively, is it more about keeping off the accelerator until I feel the friction point, and then getting on the gas?

Also taking suggestions as to how I should start modding this bad boy up

Excited to be here.

 

Congrats. If I had to start modding all over again. I would have just saved enough money for Turbo. These N/a mods just dont do it for me.

 

Have any recommendations? I still have some cash to burn...

 

I personally like the APS TT setup. Everyone on here who has this kit has nothing but good words to say about it. If the APS TT is to much for you. You could get the APS ST (single turbo) or Turbonetics ST setup. Alot of people are having more success with the Turbonetics.

Anyways, Im saving my pennies for the APS TT.

 

Congrats and i know most of the ppl here know how ya feel! Might wanna think intake maybe, popcharger seems to be one of the most popular. welcome!

 

JR, before you shoot yourself, you might want to read your MANUAL with regard to breakin period. Also, i'd get shifting down to a fine art before going after hole shots!

 

For the money I would suggest a plenum spacer, JWT popcharger (short ram intake), cat-back exhaust. Depending on how much money you have to burn, those mods will run about a grand total, depending on what exhaust system you choose.
But if you're looking for alot of power, save your money and start a turbo fund. I would have done that in the first place, but I needed to mod my car in the mean time.

As far as launching goes... what type of driving are you talking about? Daily driving at a stop light or racing? For daily driving, I wouldn't worry about learning any particular techniques, it should all just sink in eventually and you will be shifting nice and smooth. Keep in mind that all m/t cars drive differently. I still cant get used to my mother's BMW 5-speed, it drives me insane!

 

+1 & Congrats!

 

Thanks for the welcome, guys. I'm comfortable with basic shifting: that's no problem, but I feel like I'm slow off the start. I'm not talking racing - just off a street light, which I realize isn't a rush, but I don't feel like Joe 2001 Honda Accord LX should be leaving me in the dust off the start.

I'm taking it easy on the RPMs overall, and just trying to take it through the range of gears (whilst keeping it under 4000).

 

My lord, a rational approach!! LOL!

Welcome to the group, JR.

 

Welcome and congratulations. Plenty of suggestions in the drag racing forum.

 

Break you car in then, get some Drag Radials. After you learn what the Z can do ...... start modding the heck out of it. It will come naturally after a couple trips to the track as to what your likes and dislikes are.

If money is no object. Build the bottom end, TT, intercool, and top it off with some laughing gas. However, for some of us a plenum, exhaust, popcharger, suspension and a reflash is all we need.

My other car is a Drag Car.





Welcome..... Enjoy the ride !!!!

 

I know what you mean. I posted a similar question sometime ago.
Feels stupid if you start slower from a stop then a grandmother next to you with an automatic beater.

With the Z you have a long way to go up with your clutch before it grabs (high engagement point) and especially in the beginning when you are not used to the car as much, you go up slowly. By the time your clutch starts engaging you already lost a few seconds. Then you are kind of slowly giving the gas while letting the clutch out fully and it takes getting used to the car until you can do this faster.

It just takes time. Hard to explain any 'trick' or 'technique'.
You need to practice going out the clutch much faster till it starts to grab, then go slower and add the gas, and once the clutch is fully engaged or even a little earlier I feel I need to step into the gas a little more. Give it that extra blip. Otherwise I get this bog down right after the clutch is fully engaged.
(This is all meant for everyday street driving, not looking to race, just getting a decently quick start from a full stop)

If you would ride the clutch a lot longer with a lot more gas, it's probably easier but not good for the clutch.

With the Z I feel it is hard to get the timing between clutch pedal and gas pedal right while trying to avoid riding the clutch too long.
I was used to low HP manual cars, where you don't have to worry about anything: let the clutch out while giving gas, you pretty much can do it any possible way/speed. It never gives a problem, a lot of room for timing errors...
Basically I never had to even think about clutch or gas. It's like opening a door, you don't need to think about how fast you turn the door ****.

But with the Z it's somehow different: a little off the timing between clutch and gas and I get bogging.

Go to an empty parking lot and try it out. It just needs practice and getting used to the clutch.
While the high engagement point of the clutch is definitely one thing to get used to, I was also suspecting that the throttle by wire may cause a little less feel for the timing as the computer decides when to give gas.

 

+1