First manual I ever drove was the Z and it was a little frustrating at first. But with practice and patience you will be fine. I was driving on normal roads within 3 or 4 days. Hardest part is hills, but everyone knows that. Just find one without a lot of traffic and go to town. I also drive a 1991 Wrangler 5-speed and its about 100 times easier than the Z.

Anyway good luck!

 

Yea I have the same problem. For me, I have more issues shifting to 2nd than I do starting in 1st. Guess I'm just not totally used to it yet.

 

I'm assuming this has a bit to do with a shorter throw than some other vehicles' gears. I'll never forget learning to drive my first MT. It was an Isuzu 1/2 ton pickup with no power steering, lol. Nice truck for a high school kid at the time, but it was difficult to maneuver AND learn how to take off, especially while turning going uphill . For the last 13 years since I totaled that truck, I have owned a '95 Integra GS-R (college car and 212,000+ miles on it now) and really had to learn on that car how to shift quickly/efficiently in a foreign car.

Actually, I just traded in an '05 Mustang GT for my '08 Nismo and there really is no comparison. I think the Mustang had a decently robust set of gears, but as far as the "feel" of the Nismo goes I enjoy the gears much better in the 350Z, personally speaking of course. The best things you can do is get practice and experience with different manual transmissions. It helped me a bunch over the years.

 

How is you progress driving a manual transmission?

 

I can vouch for you, as the 350z is my first manual car. And I'm relatively young. This is the first manual car I've ever driven in fact. Now after about a month or so, I don't even think when I drive, it's all natural. You just have to find that "sweet spot" in the clutch on hills and such. Good luck

 

"...I don't even think when I drive..."

Sadly, that's pretty common around here, too.

 

It's easy. My first vehicle was a Tacoma 5 spd, but I learned how to drive manual before I even had my license. Once you get the hang of it, it is easy as hell and more fun to drive.

 

Like any manual car, you just gotta get used to how it responds to what you do.

 

What, are you four year old? Do understand me?

 

The 3 Z's I drove definately require more effort than an economy car but most powerfull cars require more muscle. The clutch is harder to push in, harder to release and the shifter requires more effort. My 09 Mazda 5 can be shifted with 1 finger (literally) but its a slow car. More power, more effort- just like a motorcycle.

 

Also just be sure to take note if the Z you buy is mod'd. I purchased my 03 Z as my first manual car(I already knew how to drive manual) but I picked up one with a racing clutch.

At first I didnt mind it because it was my "sports car". Then it became a bit of a pain in traffic.....but ultimately I got used to it

 

hey i have a 03 350z. Its a manual obviously. people were telling me it was going to be hard to learn, but i was set that i really wanted to learn stick. It was my first stick car and the first few days were okay but after a week or so i think i was a pro. It is a drag when in traffic rolling and clutching but in time it will feel so normal that you wont even notice its stick. Right now i have about 2 months with the Z and lemme just say that i dont think ill ever go back to automatic, maybe when im older and have gray hair! lol. but it comes so natural to me now that i love it and wont change it. do i recommended it? YES. Even tho at the beginning its hard, but just like anything else that your not accustom to...youll get use to it and when you master it...thats when the fun begins!

 

oh is great i actually learned on myself i just drove the car late at night with no traffic and i found it easier that my dad 97 jetta so now i consider myself pretty good the thing i sucked at was reversing since is so diffrent from the jetta but now im really good. oh btw i love this car

 

Make sure to practice hills The Z was also my first manual car and I bought it brand new. My dad tried to teach me, but I eventually learned to drive it myself. The hardest part was getting the car rolling, as I had problems balancing the clutch out and gassing it. I occasionally tend to not give enough gas sometimes and the car jerks, but I'm working on it! Practice makes perfect!

 

not hard, just notchy as hell. i would kill for the s2k gearbox

 

Everyone is getting a 350Z. Better hurry. That are not making any more.

 

6 speed 350z is my first manual car. it was not hard to drive i only stalled it when i forgot i was driving a stick. but after you do that once or twice you never forget again

 

I don't mean hijack this thread, but it relates to the topic and might even benifit the OP.

Gears 1-2 seems a bit rough and sometimes I have to keep clutch (ride) in just to keep it from lurching and jumping.

I've read about this somewhere, but it seems like a few owners of 350z are having the same issue.

Has anyone found a solution to this or has anyone input?

I've heard that you don't fully depress the clutch (Floor) but just enough to disengage the clutch so it can give you a better timing. (350z has a long clutch throw) etc etc

Thank you,

Kenny