Hey Everyone,

I started another thread a few weeks ago before I got my Z and you guys have really helped me with my decision to with the 6mt and also improve my shifting. But, I'm still having one slight problem with my tcnique. When I shift my 1st to 2nd to to 3rd, I feel as if i may not be shifting as fast as i should be. I engage the clutch and shift from 1st to 2nd (with my foot off the accel) and let go of the clutch with giving gas once in 2nd and so on...i'm also shifitng at 2500-3000 rpms, since im trying to conserve gas AND i'm tryin to abide by the break-in rules (thought it is very hard )

Any suggestions?

 

Hi everyone, I just took delivery of my 350Z last night and I just LOVE this car!!!!! The last time I drove stick was 3 years ago so I have to get used to driving it again.

I'm trying to improve on my shifting technique too and I'm trying to get use to the clutch balance point. Going from 1st to 2nd is hell and I thought I should shift fast but it just jerked the car but when I took it easy in the shifting, the car was smooth and there was no jerking. I also found that there were more jerking at 3000 rpm too.

Tell me if I'm wrong, but shifting faster doesn't mean the car will be smoother right?

Any other hints and tips on driving manual will be greatly appreciated!

 

unlike lower powered cars, you need to rev-match your upshifts in the Z...

shifting "fast" or "slow" is subjective... the key is to observe your tach when you're shifting to find out the rpm your car likes to be in for the gear you're shifting into... makes sense?

example: if you're @ 3000 rpm in 1st and you want to shift into 2nd, the correct RPM to be in for 2nd gear is about 2100 rpm (you can also relate this by speed but i like using the tach since it's in the center pod of our console)... so to get a smooth shift, you need to re-engage the clutch at that point.

Remember - rule of thumb is:

1. If you lunge forward after a shift, you are shifting too slow
2. If you are thrown back after a shift, you are shifting too fast (no such thing as shifting too fast in a Z btw ... just too fast for "city" driving )

 

my secret of smooth shifting is always apply a little gas and pause for 0.5 s when the clutch is about to engage.

 

lol we have torque SLAM THOSE GEARS, SHIFT FAST AND HARD. okay done =) oh but dont grind =)

 

jor8888... what you're describing is akin to "riding the clutch"... i wouldn't recommend it

the only good and smooth shift is a rev-matched shift

 

the shift from first to second never seems incredibly smooth compared to the other shifts because it is such a short change. I usually make that shift fairly slow unless i am gunning it. For normal driving i dont think you need to be throwing gears extremely fast, just try and be smooth and dont ride the clutch

 

Rev matching upshifts? For shifting up you just shift as fast as you can, you don't need to wait for a desired RPM. Secondly I don't see why it matters between say a 350Z, and a lower HP Sentra, or Honda Civic etc.

 

k to correct myself, I meant to say slow down for 0.5 sec when clutch about to engage then let go fast again. I just think the smoother the clutch engages the less wear on the clutch but I could be wrong tho.

 

if you're racing sure... but in day to day driving, if you shift "as fast as you can" you're going to get thrown back into your seat at every gear... I personally don't like to feel like i'm racing every time i drive my car

plus i'm not trying to describe the best (or fastest) way to drive, i'm describing the smoothest way.. and short of riding the clutch, your best bet is the rev-match your upshifts

and yes you caught my mistake re: HP... what i meant to say was torque... a car with more torque and a precise shifter like the Z, compared to say a civic, will feel more jerky in the lower gears if you're not rev-matching your shifts

 

So you can shift at different RPM points and still be smooth?

Got lots of practicing to do!

 

Here's what I've found out in my G35. At lower RPMs if you wait a second before letting the clutch back out (2K-3.5K RPM) it will be perfectly smooth. Basically, you're letting the RPMs drop down a bit more (ie NOT SHIFTING FAST). However, at higher RPMS (4.5K - 6.6K) you can shift as fast as you can without noticing the jerk. Either the gear ratios were worked out that way, or you're accelerating too fast to tell.

 

linus: absolutely... you can be very smooth with the shifter in the Z (i've always been taught that the best shift on the street is the one you can't feel)

a good way to practice is to put a full bottle of water in the cup holder... if water spills everywhere at each shift, you've got work to do

btw... racing of course is a completely different matter... in that case you simply want to shift as fast as possible

 

Whatever, lol, my last two transmissions grinded through no fault of mine. The 3rd one doesn't grind YET

 

hot coffee!!! hot coffee!!!

 

Try the B&M short-throw shifter. Definitely not smooth, but it will improve, or "speed up" (as you want) your shifting.

Also, give this page a listen (to each exhaust system). It will give you an idea of how to shift quicker (towards the end of each dyno run, there is a 1-2-3 run outside).

http://www.everything350z.com/exhaust.html

 

I love chirping the tires when i shift from first to second...sooo fun. Matchign gears is the easiest and right way to have a smooth shift, it just takes practice.

 

Don't worry about speed. It will come with the right technique.

Rev matching is Key.

Also, use your wrist to shift gears and don't grab the ****.

 

I just got my Z a few weeks ago and it is also my first manual transmission car. I was also having touble getting my shifts from 1st to 2nd to be smooth. Like others have said you need to let the engine speed drop to match the vehicle speed, and the time you need to wait depends on what engine speed you decide to shift at. If shifting a lower rpms (1500 to 2000) you don't have to wait at all, but a higher rpms (2500 to 3000) you have to give the engine a second to slow down. I put this chart together to help.

 

mikef - that's an awesome chart... great first post bud

anyway that chart illustrates what i mean about rev-matching your upshifts... you need to let the rpms drop to the correct point when you shift to prevent jerkiness

(for the same gear) the higher the rpms, the more time you need to wait to get a smooth transition