How to use TIPTRONIC
OP- Basically, here's what I'd suggest to make this simple for you to practice on a normal street (not a highway).
-Start in 1st gear at a stop
>Accelerate
-Shift to 2nd gear when the RPM's are somewhere between 3k and 4k for now
>Keep Accelerating
-Shift to 3rd gear when the RPM's are somewhere between 3k and 4k for now
>Decelerate/Slow down
-Shift to 2nd gear when the RPM's have fallen between 2k and 3k (the RPM's will go up when you shift down to 2nd gear)
>Keep slowing down/stopping
-Shift to 1st gear when the car has stopped
You'll get the hang of it. Basically 1st gear is for 0-20 or 30 mph, 2nd gear for 20-40ish, 3rd gear for 40-60ish, 4th gear for 50-70ish, 5th gear over 70 or so. There is no exact speed to shift into a new gear, but you'll get the hang of it. The lower the gear, the higher the RPM's will be. Just try to keep the RPM's at a comfortable level (well below redline). Remember that when you downshift, the RPM's go UP, so don't downshift unless you are slowing down and the RPM's are pretty low (2-3k).
-Start in 1st gear at a stop
>Accelerate
-Shift to 2nd gear when the RPM's are somewhere between 3k and 4k for now
>Keep Accelerating
-Shift to 3rd gear when the RPM's are somewhere between 3k and 4k for now
>Decelerate/Slow down
-Shift to 2nd gear when the RPM's have fallen between 2k and 3k (the RPM's will go up when you shift down to 2nd gear)
>Keep slowing down/stopping
-Shift to 1st gear when the car has stopped
You'll get the hang of it. Basically 1st gear is for 0-20 or 30 mph, 2nd gear for 20-40ish, 3rd gear for 40-60ish, 4th gear for 50-70ish, 5th gear over 70 or so. There is no exact speed to shift into a new gear, but you'll get the hang of it. The lower the gear, the higher the RPM's will be. Just try to keep the RPM's at a comfortable level (well below redline). Remember that when you downshift, the RPM's go UP, so don't downshift unless you are slowing down and the RPM's are pretty low (2-3k).
On normal street driving I rarely use Manual Mode. Only in occasions that i want to keep the engine roaring.
Even in AT mode the tranny automatically downshifts just like a normal AT.
The only time the MT Mode gets very useful is when you go uphill, run the twisty roads, or even better - track days.
It will let you stick on a desired RPM so that you will have power when you exit a corner. Also, it will prevent your car from automatically shifting gears during cornering which could throw the car off-balance.
Down-shifting for harder acceleration - keep the pressure on the gas pedal so that the momentum of the engine keeps going. How much pressure? Depends on what RPM
Down-shifting to slowdown:
Personally i would never use the gear to slowdown the car (engine brake) since it is an Auto and there's too much friction/heat build up in there. It just shortens its life. . . Unless you have an upgraded AT Tranny. Use the brakes instead.
Even in AT mode the tranny automatically downshifts just like a normal AT.
The only time the MT Mode gets very useful is when you go uphill, run the twisty roads, or even better - track days.
It will let you stick on a desired RPM so that you will have power when you exit a corner. Also, it will prevent your car from automatically shifting gears during cornering which could throw the car off-balance.
Down-shifting for harder acceleration - keep the pressure on the gas pedal so that the momentum of the engine keeps going. How much pressure? Depends on what RPM
Down-shifting to slowdown:
Personally i would never use the gear to slowdown the car (engine brake) since it is an Auto and there's too much friction/heat build up in there. It just shortens its life. . . Unless you have an upgraded AT Tranny. Use the brakes instead.
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Hendersonville, NC
alright well here is what it should say in the 350z manual :
gear 1: use when climbing steep hills quickly or driving sideways through deep snow , mud or sand , for maximum engine power
gear 2 and 3: use for tight roads like Deal's Gap.
gear 4: for driving in Texas
gear 5 : use this position for west Texas.
......
gear 1: use when climbing steep hills quickly or driving sideways through deep snow , mud or sand , for maximum engine power
gear 2 and 3: use for tight roads like Deal's Gap.
gear 4: for driving in Texas
gear 5 : use this position for west Texas.
......
Personally I'm addicted to the rev matching downshift on our '07. I just can't help myself. One of these days I must seek help.
OP- Basically, here's what I'd suggest to make this simple for you to practice on a normal street (not a highway).
-Start in 1st gear at a stop
>Accelerate
-Shift to 2nd gear when the RPM's are somewhere between 3k and 4k for now
>Keep Accelerating
-Shift to 3rd gear when the RPM's are somewhere between 3k and 4k for now
>Decelerate/Slow down
-Shift to 2nd gear when the RPM's have fallen between 2k and 3k (the RPM's will go up when you shift down to 2nd gear)
>Keep slowing down/stopping
-Shift to 1st gear when the car has stopped
You'll get the hang of it. Basically 1st gear is for 0-20 or 30 mph, 2nd gear for 20-40ish, 3rd gear for 40-60ish, 4th gear for 50-70ish, 5th gear over 70 or so. There is no exact speed to shift into a new gear, but you'll get the hang of it. The lower the gear, the higher the RPM's will be. Just try to keep the RPM's at a comfortable level (well below redline). Remember that when you downshift, the RPM's go UP, so don't downshift unless you are slowing down and the RPM's are pretty low (2-3k).
-Start in 1st gear at a stop
>Accelerate
-Shift to 2nd gear when the RPM's are somewhere between 3k and 4k for now
>Keep Accelerating
-Shift to 3rd gear when the RPM's are somewhere between 3k and 4k for now
>Decelerate/Slow down
-Shift to 2nd gear when the RPM's have fallen between 2k and 3k (the RPM's will go up when you shift down to 2nd gear)
>Keep slowing down/stopping
-Shift to 1st gear when the car has stopped
You'll get the hang of it. Basically 1st gear is for 0-20 or 30 mph, 2nd gear for 20-40ish, 3rd gear for 40-60ish, 4th gear for 50-70ish, 5th gear over 70 or so. There is no exact speed to shift into a new gear, but you'll get the hang of it. The lower the gear, the higher the RPM's will be. Just try to keep the RPM's at a comfortable level (well below redline). Remember that when you downshift, the RPM's go UP, so don't downshift unless you are slowing down and the RPM's are pretty low (2-3k).
a. Start in 1st gear at a stop
>Accelerate
b. Shift to 2nd gear when the RPM's are somewhere between 3k and 4k for now
>Keep Accelerating
c. Shift to 3rd gear when the RPM's are somewhere between 3k and 4k for now
>Keep Accelerating
d. Shift to 4 gear when the RPM's are somewhere between 3k and 4k for now... OR go to step e.
e. Start decelarating by applying brakes... Take right hand off the shifter (ie do not downshift, car will downshift for you)... Bring car to a stop.
-Repeat.
i cant believe people are giving tips on how to drive a auto, this is crazy
only tip should be to sell it and get a real sports car, or u can have fun shifting your "tiptronic" and feeling it actually shift 10 seconds later
only tip should be to sell it and get a real sports car, or u can have fun shifting your "tiptronic" and feeling it actually shift 10 seconds later
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: Canada
i tried it with success, and it doesnt shift that long after you clown.... Honestly i felt the shift probably 0.5 seconds later, if i had to guess ....
and yea it may not really take 10 seconds but its not instant is it? nope... its NOTHING like a manual
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: Canada
Ive been driving it for a year, on D mode.
I was interested in understanding the tiptronic mode or whatever its called. On some forums, people help, but on others, you quickly realize that most people are idiots, criticize for nothing, or are jealous.
The only member who really helped me is ICE or whatever his nickname was. he took the time to explain it... Some other members also tried helping .
anyways, a small advice for some members, you should read everything before commenting, because 70% of your comments were not related to my situation at all... Learn to read
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 422
Likes: 0
From: Warren, NJ/Boston, MA
I think its a z tronic haha. Anyways, this thread was actually really informative. Especially the two posts from ICE. I too have an auto, but never played with the manual mode, only because I tried it once, and thought I was breaking the engine haha. My friends with manuals downshift instead of using the brake, which I thought was pretty neat. I tried downshifting while in manual mode in my z, and all it did was make the rpms shoot up even though I wasn't applying gas. Thats when i stopped playing with it lol
As for the OP, thank GOD you are in Canada.
Registered User
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,141
Likes: 0
From: Here.
The anderson bearings in the 350Z's torque convertor are notoriously weak.
You stay in 5 on the highway for more than 17 minutes, I guaran-damn-tee you that you're gonna blow your anderson bearings . . .
The question is essentially about gears, torque, acceleration, deceleration. Same as "How do I drive a manual transmission?" but here we have no clutch. Is is not imperative that you be an expert in the above. But it is helpful if you understand the fundamentals.
