I have had about 8 cars with manual transmission as I am 56. This is my 1st Z. Driving with the clutch on this is different in that any other I had including a Vette Z06 I would give it the gas just as I let off the clutch for a smooth shift but with my Z I have to give it the gas when the clutch is halfway engaged for a smooth shift, if I use the clutch like my other cars it is definitely not a smooth shif. Is it the nature of our clutches or does mine need to be looked at by the dealer.

 

That is normal. I've never driven a car that shifts like this car, . I've been driving stick for about 10 years and participated in autocrosses, etc and still mess up shifting every once in a while because of the stupid clutch, haha. Unfortunately, that's just the way they are. There is a thead on here about adjusting the clutch pedal down a bit and after doing that it helped a little bit but not much.

 

It has a heavy dual mass flywheel and that may be the difference you feel. In daily driving up-shifts you don't need to give any gas until the clutch is fully engaged. Work on smoothly shifting up without even touching the throttle. I think the trick is just waiting for the RPM to drop the right amount. If you shift at high RPM you have to wait longer than if you shift at low RPM.

 

Or practice shifting w/out using the clutch. Yeah, clutch in to get it out of gear, then slide it into gear @ correct RPM. Pretty much anyone can put it into 2nd w/out using the clutch when the car is rolling (i.e.: to a stop sign), and its quite smooth too.

 

Shifting without the clutch is obviously not recommended.

 

I thought my gearbox was jacked beacuse I am used to those honda transmissions. Had it checked out and my new transmission is in good shape, from what I hear that is just how they are.

 

Whats up with all these clutch and tranny issues all of a sudden?

 

I've only had 2 automatic vehicles in my almost 35 years of driving, and the last one I have been driving for almost 11 years (1996 Infiniti I30T). Having not driven a stick from 1996 until last year when I started looking at Z's, I found the Z's six-speed relatively easy to ease back into. I bought a 35th AE and except for the high engagement point, this clutch has been one of the easiest ever for me to get familiar with. Pertaining strictly to my driving abilities, I think the reason I shift smoothly is I don't speed shift like I used to with the Hurst shifters I had on most of my other cars. I can feel and hear each distinct click between gears, and that extra time might just allow the rev's to subside enough for smooth shifts. Just keep driving and it will suddenly come to you that your shifts are getting smoother and smoother. In fact, I have even gotten used to the high engagement point, and probably wouldn't want to change it now. I can hold it on hills real easy, or start it rolling without any throttle, and without a second thought. What did take me the longest to become acquainted with was the Z's raw stock power and its incredible handling abilities. Even with all its quirks, still one of the best cars on the market, IMO...

I fell in love with my father-in-law's 1970 240Z the first time I sat in it. I've been waiting since then for my own.

 

I think after reading his post that he was saying to shift with the clutch completely disengaged. and let the tranny take the gear before letting the clutch back out. Thats what i do in daily driving, i don't have any problems.
I have smooth shifts.

However i wouldn't call that shifting without the clutch, i have a friend who shifts without the clutch, thats a completely different method.

 

I guess we disagree on how to interpret: "Or practice shifting w/out using the clutch. "

"Yeah, clutch in to get it out of gear, then slide it into gear @ correct RPM."

There in lies the confusion. He never said to release the clutch(even though it was implied by his previous statement). You can also get out of gear easily without using the clutch, also not recommended.

Never mind the fact all of this is totally OFF TOPIC. The poster was interested in smooth shifts, not how to abuse our already shoddy transmission.

 

This drives me frickin insane. I hate getting into the high rpms in first and second gear because it takes FOREVER for the rpms to drop. So, I either get a nice jerk if I shift fast, or I wait several seconds for it to drop (I perform the later due to not wanting a busted tranny/clutch).

A lightened flywheel may be in my future, but I do not want it to make daily driving a burden.

 

Hi Steve,

Hey, I’m 56 too and have always owned at least one MT in a good performing car. I have the same problem you describe. With a little practice, I’ve learned to live with this idiosyncrasy in the Z. But, it is a pain and shouldn’t be like this in a high performance sport car. See my following post responding to camaro194’s good post about this problem. Also “roast" 's post has it right.

--Spike

 

Good response to Steve’s question. I couldn’t agree with you more. In fact the car reviewers mention the same point you make. The Z’s engine (same for the G35) hangs (RPMs drop slowly). My understanding is this is a compromise Nissan/Infiniti makes to pass USA emission standards. I’m not sure how to fix this without doing some expensive mods.

--Spike

 

https://my350z.com/forum/engine-and-drivetrain-50/

 

Just the way the Z is. I drove an Rx7 for a few years, and the first time I drove the Z I stalled it three times, like I had never driven a stick before. I jumped in my buddies Mustang GT and didn't have any problems, despite not driving a stick for 5 years. I like the clutch on the Z. I don't know why, but I just do.

 

+1 to that I do the same. It does kind of suck having to wait for the RPM's to drop. Does this have anything to do with the motor being REV-UP?

 

I have the same gripe. I hate redlining in 1st or 2nd since when I go to shift, the revs seem to take forever to drop. Its funny because in my 98' Pathfinder with the VG, the revs drop very fast if I let off the gas at redline. So, Im guessing like some others have said that it is an emissions issue, because letting the revs drop really fast on an engine usually results in very high emissions for that short period of time.

 

Tell me about it, I hate the 1-2 shift. The rpms drop way too slow. I think its just the way its geared, because its ok on any other upshift. Its really annoying, and pretty much anyone who drove the Z stalled it the first time. Think of it this way... if you can drive the Z smoothly, then you can probably drive anything smooth as hell!!!

 

lol im 19
before i bought my Z
i've ridden in a couple of them.
first time i went to the dealer to test drive one.
i had no problem with shifting at all.
i guess im just used to most of the cars.
i used to drive a Rx-7 and a Supra on basically daily bases .... both were extremely modified... btw those are my friends cars.
99 Cobra i drove with a short-throw .. i had a little confusion after a few seconds got the hang of it and did pretty good.

i also been driving manual cars since i was 11 years old.

 

just to bring this post back up because my last cars were both a 97 eclipse GST and a 95 eclipse RS and the Throttle Response is what throws me off not so much the cluth... or the "Drive by wire" as they call it. My other cars would quickly respond the very second i stepped on the accelerater as opposed to my Z which has that slight delay.... I still have problems shifting as well, im not shifting smoothly because with the Z I think you give it more gas and let off the clutch slowly... as opposed to my previous cars where i could do it quickly with no stutter because the throttle responded faster...


It's really hard to explain but your not alone, im still learning how to shift smoothly as well.