the 1st-2nd shift sucks

 

Takes a while but i can drive mine pretty dam smooth. The only problem is , its a pain in the azz to do, and i do mess up and jerk the car once and a while.

Other manuel cars i've had in the past, people who rode with me would think i had an auto, if they didn't see me shifting.

 

Yes. 1st->2nd stucks. Probably because of the big gearing difference, and I notice it takes a long time for the rpms to drop.

 

Definitely makes the shifts quicker. This is how I shift without the clutch on my streetbike, and usually will do it even when using the clutch to upshift to speed things up. However, the transmission on my bike is not like the one in our cars, so as said, I'm not sure how good it would be for the syncros, etc.

 

I'm old too. Have been driving manual since 1960. Including an old pre-WWII truck with no synchros.

I used to have trouble being smooth w/ my 03 touring but no more. I had a new aftermarket clutch and flywheel installed. Installed the JWT cluch and lightened flywheel (along with a new throwout bearing). The clutch was really binary for about a week where it was either engaged or disengaged. But after one week, the clutch is very comfortable. Easy to drive even in commute traffic.

For those trying to manage shifting without complete disengagement of the clutch. That's only something for when the clutch doesn't work at all. (Had that experience quite often before years ago but it's really hard on the tranny even if you match the RPM's exactly right).

gtstephenson

 

The z is def. harder then most cars but you will adjust to it and it will become 2nd nature.

 

i'm glad i'm not the only one with this problem. i'm kinda new to stick and i thought i just sucked at it but i guess everyone else has this problem too.

 

you guys must not know how to drive. I learned on a gsr integra with a stock clutch, then I put an unsprung 6 puck in it. Now I have an 07 z with a stock clutch and it's like butter.... I really don't see a problem, not trying to be a jerk or step on anyone's toes. Just go out and practice.

 

Sorry Bro, but I think you are being an ******* for saying this. Saying that someone doesn't know how to drive correctly because that they don't get shifts perfect is ridiculous. You should have said, "You guys don't practice enough", not that everyone doesn't know how to drive. Were all on this forum together to learn more about the Z. Your driving an 07 Z. Remember that now, your 07 could be much different from the previous years. Lets not just make assumptions.

 

Tell us your technique, please.

 

So I was reading through this thread and was confused.. I have 2 cars, a Honda Civic, and the 2003 350... Yeah it is more difficult to drive smoothly... but I seriously think my 03 350 is smooth.. I am not trying to brag/say I'm a great driver, I just thought this thread was interesting... I need to try an 07-08 I guess to see the difference.

 

it might be because they had a recal on all the o7 clutch systems so maybe ur s was not fixed i actually just had it done this week and it drive so much smoother

 

I've been driving my '08 base for a little less than 2 months now and I can tell you that it <u>IS POSSIBLE</u> to drive the Z without it jerking around in 1st and 2nd (and no you do not need to get the revs past 2k to achieve this). I've been driving a 5-spd Sentra for the last 7 years so yes the Z was much more sensitive in the clutch for me. I remember the first 1000 miles of driving the Z and getting used to the clutch was a challenge...I'm sure my passengers were thinking "this guy can't drive worth ****". Now I'd say my transitions are extremely smooth, and very unnoticeable. It's all in the technique and learning how the car runs. From a stop in neutral practice going through the first 3 gears driving relatively SLOW and concentrate on not jerking the car around...you will learn where the sweet spot on the clutch is, how much gas to give it (if any) and how fast you can release the clutch. You don't learn how to run before you learn how to walk... Perhaps some of the complaints are coming from people who are relatively new to driving a manual, as I would say that the Z is not the best car to master your technique.

As for the Z being more sensitive in the clutch compared to other manual transmissions I'll have to disagree with all those who said its abnormally sensitive. I've driven an 03 Maxima and an 08 V6 Accord, both very unforgiving clutches just like the Z if not more so. Go to some dealerships and actually test drive some NEW manual sports cars with similar HP ratings, I think you'll find they are not much more forgiving than your Z. If you want a car with a smooth clutch buy a BMW or be willing to spend some money on a more expensive sports car.

 

Nobody said it was impossible lol. everybody is simply saying it is more difficult then most other cars. No its not hard to drive it without jerking but to the newer guys it is a little more difficult to get used to.

 

I agree with everyone that said that the 350Z is tougher than most to get a smooth start. Not impossible but tough.

I recently bought a 2003 civic 5spd and I was actually shocked at how easy it was to drive smooth...On the test drive I actually laughed at the smoothness. I dont think its the same boat however. 115HP VS 306HP...civics got a heavy flywheel etc...

But back to the 350...My best starts are very slowly in gear 1. Light on the throttle and easy on the clutch and i'm pretty good at a smooth get away. I seem to shift the easiest around 2000-3000 into the next gear. I've never had one gear grind ever. Thankfully I guess I have a good tranny unlike some other forum owners.

Just as an FYI - I got the new recalled slave cylinder installed and I think the car is a little better and less touchy on the clutch now. What i mean is that instead of 2 inches of clutch travel at the bite point its now like 3 or 4 inches.

I wish it wasnt snowing cause now i want to go run through the gears in the 350 not the civic LOL!!!

 

i used to hate drving the z UNTILL I GOT THESE!!!!
BLUE SUEDE SHOES B****ES!




needless to say i dance my way into everygear. ahuh ahuh

 

Try these on for size...they really let you feel the car

 

i never have any trouble but a while back i had an mx-6 with a real ***** of an aftermarket clutch that taught me a lot about smooth shifting, yea the Z is harder than most cars but not a lot harder than other cars with lots of low end torque

 

I have an 03' and it took a little getting used to especially being my last car was an auto. The hardest thing for me was getting into first without jerking. I can now give it very little gas or a lot of gas and do it smoothly either way, but every now and then I mess up and the car bobs back and forth. I've got no complaints about the 1-2 shift although I love seeing passengers heads lean forward.

I valeted when I was younger so I've driven just about every make and model. Believe me there are cars which are much worse than ours. Just the other day I drove a salvaged SRT4 where the engagement point was at the bottom of clutch travel. I almost stalled a 1/2 dozen times. Then I go back to my car and I'm over-revving the crap out of it.

I do this all the time.

 

My first car had a column shift and the headlight dimmer switch was a button on the floor board to the left of the clutch. Since then and over the years I've driven all manner of cars including column shifts, floor shifts and automatics. The Z can be twitchy for sure but is not impossible to drive smoothly if you practice and pay attention. I can drive my 07 smoothly enough that you won't even notice the gear changes and I can start on an incline without jerking. One day in Seattle I had to stop on a fairly steep hill and use the emergency brake to hold the car and even then was able to pull smoothly away without backing into the car behind me. You just have to practice and pay attention and pretty soon it will come to you. Sort of like learning to ride a bicycle. You fall off a lot and then suddenly one day you're able to pedal away and you don't look back.