Just re-read the thread… For the most part it is accurate, but the disjointed presentation is awful.

Hopefully we (and the double-clutching vs. rev-matching discussion) have not confused the real issue, which is how to smoothly shift your MT equipped Z.

--Spike

 

To answer the original question when you are changing gears it is always best not to skip gears if you can and rev match each downshift (including heel toe downshifts which are even more fun once you learn how to do it properly)

There are plenty of benefits to rev matching as it makes your gear changes a lot smoother, it puts less stress on your clutch and if you all of a sudden have to speed up again quickly you are pretty much always right back in the sweet spot without dropping revs.

You don't ever need to blip the throttle on upshifts and fast and the furious is to blame for a whole generation of kids thinking they should double clutch while drag racing.

for me it's just a force of habit now to rev match every downshift or heel toe if I have to pull up harder.

 

Lol, why do you think its hard to shift from 6th to 4th? Its not "necessary" but neither is using the clutch (i can clutch-less shift all day). If you double-clutch whenever skipping gears, you wont have any problem getting it in gear.

**edit**
I didnt mention rev-matching anywhere because it is simply intuitive that you need to rev-match, always. Anyone who doesnt rev-match and is complaining that their car is hard to downshift is a doit.

 

but if you double clutch and don't bring the rpms's up to the right range, you run into the same problem. 99% of the people who say they have a problem getting into 4th aren't blipping the throttle to bring the rpm's up high enough for a smooth transition

 

ive never had a problem downshifting to 4th from 5th or 6 with rev matching. Double clutching were not driven 18 wheelers lol

 

wasn't hard when I had the Z....

 

Have you tried double-clutching heel-toe rev-matching?

 

I had this same problem. I found that if I aimed my revmatch 500-1000 RPM higher than I needed, shift, then let the revs fall back to a match, the gear changes became effortless.

It takes a little more time to shift, but I had exactly the same problem as you with 4th and 3rd. Now it predictably shifts every time.

 

Give a little gas before downshifting and it should go right in

 

Hey, thanks for all the positive replies. After reading what everyone says I think i understand what my problem is. I only rev matched to exactly where i thought it would be and perhaps didnt' rev it high enough. also i only had difficulty doing 6th to 4th in a quick single motion. whereas with double clutching or if i had just went a little slower in the change perhaps it would enter the gear better.
Also i understand that 6th to 4 isn't really necessary, but I like to cruise at 60 in 6th cause 5th feels like it's eating up too much gas. If you're going 60 in 6th, then 4th is actually very good for quick lane changes.

 

6th to 4th is easy and fun.
do it at like 85mph

just make sure you rev it up before you shift, if you're doin like 80 in 6th, and you want to shift it to 4th get that needle at like 5k before you drop it in (or somewhere around that)



i'll goto 3rd doing like 75-80 sometimes, depends on what im doing really.

it'll help to know what speed you're going when you have to shift to the next gear, that'll give you a good idea what which gear will be at what speed.

so go threw your gears a few times from first to 4th, and take notice of your speed when you shift
you'll learn quick what rpm your at, what gear your in, and what speed your going
this will help you to downshift smoother :P

time & experience > *

 

welcome to the wonder slush box 6mt of 350z....

 

 

i've never had any problems in mine. i sometimes downshift from 6 to 4 or 3 (depending on speed) without rev-matching although i should be.

 

i imagine that no less than 5 people jacked up there transmissions attempting to learn the double-clutch procedure on their Z after reading this thread.

I always rev-match only, never DC. The Z is an easy car to rev-match, and it makes the whole experience feel that much sportier.

 

holy thread revival batman! haha well it's 3 months later and as the op, i will give my insight on my problem of the past and my solution. I found out that it was indeed because i hadn't revved high enough. When i first started driving manual and downshifting,I had a habit of pulling the shifter into gear first, and then rev matching. But that is of course wrong, you should be reving as you move it through neutral and into a lower gear but my coordination wasn't quite there yet. i've also realized that whenever downshifting, if the revs are too low there is ALWAYS resistance that feels like it is being blocked. You can of course force it in but an easier way is to rev as you pull down and when it reaches the right rev it opens up and the shifter goes into gear like butter and at the exact right rpm!!! don't know if it's like this for everyone but using the resistance feel i'm able to easily revmatch and downshift smoothly.

 

OP was granny-shiftin, not double-clutching like he should...

 

Ahh my eyes, why the F did you bring this thread back.

Is this the official "Bring Back Annoying Threads" day or something? I'm waiting for that S2K thread to pop back up.

 

I got mine for 2 months now but have drivent stick all my life.
My take is do not get the pedal to the floor, I go about 3/4 of the way, and in a mean deceleration, I can take 6 to 3 nicely
I think your prob is to go from 6 to 4, the shifter do not line up.
you got to push FWD then side way then back.
It do not work very well.

 

6th, 4th, 2nd, STOP.

Thats how I go from highway speed to stop sign at the end of the ramp. Rev matching of course. No problems (and no double clutching wtf?)