Got some Z Driving Tips?
03-18-2006 | 04:57 AM
#21
Originally Posted by usmanasif
A little tip in case the MT you practiced on wasn't a 6spd: With a 6spd, the **** has to be pushed down a little while shifting into reverse...otherwise it would shift into 6th.
Also, with your level of comfort with an MT, it is a good thing that you are getting a Z. Its transmission is quite forgiving and you will be less prone to stalling it.
Above all, congrats!
Also, with your level of comfort with an MT, it is a good thing that you are getting a Z. Its transmission is quite forgiving and you will be less prone to stalling it.
Above all, congrats!
03-18-2006 | 08:55 AM
#22
If you can walk & chew gum at the same time you can drive a MT.
My first & best piece of advice is don't make a mountain out of a molehill.
I see lots of posts about how tough it is to drive MT & the Z is, someehow, harder than other MTs. Bull manure. Push in the clutch, place in gear, let out clutch, give it gas. It "ain't" rocket science. My wife got in the Z the first time after not driving a MT for 30 years. She went through the sequence & pulled away smooth as silk.
Steps:
1) Without the engine running practice pushing in the clutch & going from gear to gear. That gives you a feel for how/where gears are.
2) Find a large flat area (like a mall parking lot when empty) & practice going into first & driving off. Getting the friction point of the clutch coordinated with the gas will take practice and you are likely to stall sveral times. Dooesn't hurt a thing. Jerking the car won't hurt it. Do avoid missing gears and grinding as much as you can. Grinding can hurt the tranny.
3) Once you figure out first the other gears are easy.
4) Take a family member or friend with who can drive MT; keeps the pressure off you.
Enjoy the Z; its a great car that is very forgiving in spite of what you might read here.
My first & best piece of advice is don't make a mountain out of a molehill.
I see lots of posts about how tough it is to drive MT & the Z is, someehow, harder than other MTs. Bull manure. Push in the clutch, place in gear, let out clutch, give it gas. It "ain't" rocket science. My wife got in the Z the first time after not driving a MT for 30 years. She went through the sequence & pulled away smooth as silk.
Steps:
1) Without the engine running practice pushing in the clutch & going from gear to gear. That gives you a feel for how/where gears are.
2) Find a large flat area (like a mall parking lot when empty) & practice going into first & driving off. Getting the friction point of the clutch coordinated with the gas will take practice and you are likely to stall sveral times. Dooesn't hurt a thing. Jerking the car won't hurt it. Do avoid missing gears and grinding as much as you can. Grinding can hurt the tranny.
3) Once you figure out first the other gears are easy.
4) Take a family member or friend with who can drive MT; keeps the pressure off you.
Enjoy the Z; its a great car that is very forgiving in spite of what you might read here.
03-18-2006 | 01:08 PM
#23
When I teach manual I like to have the person stall out first just so they see it's not THAT bad. I have them release the clutch ever so slowly until the car stalls out gracefully and then they realize how insignificant their great fear was.
Then, on a flat surface, you learn clutch point by slowly releasing the clutch until you feel the car start to move...apply gas lightly...and learn clutch/throttle control from there. BOO YA!
Then, on a flat surface, you learn clutch point by slowly releasing the clutch until you feel the car start to move...apply gas lightly...and learn clutch/throttle control from there. BOO YA!
03-18-2006 | 01:17 PM
#24
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
From: Coppell, Texas
Age and Wisdom
My Advice is to take it easy for awhile, you will get used to it eventually and
you will know when it is time to play. Just make sure you break it in right.
You are going to love the Interlagos Fire. That's the same color as my Enthusiast
with leather, spoiler, splash guards, and tinted windows. I just recently added an
aftermarket sub-woofer and amp. It rocks!!
you will know when it is time to play. Just make sure you break it in right.
You are going to love the Interlagos Fire. That's the same color as my Enthusiast
with leather, spoiler, splash guards, and tinted windows. I just recently added an
aftermarket sub-woofer and amp. It rocks!!
03-18-2006 | 02:25 PM
#25
Originally Posted by The Brickyard Rat
If you can walk & chew gum at the same time you can drive a MT.
My first & best piece of advice is don't make a mountain out of a molehill.
I see lots of posts about how tough it is to drive MT & the Z is, someehow, harder than other MTs. Bull manure. Push in the clutch, place in gear, let out clutch, give it gas. It "ain't" rocket science. My wife got in the Z the first time after not driving a MT for 30 years. She went through the sequence & pulled away smooth as silk.
Steps:
1) Without the engine running practice pushing in the clutch & going from gear to gear. That gives you a feel for how/where gears are.
2) Find a large flat area (like a mall parking lot when empty) & practice going into first & driving off. Getting the friction point of the clutch coordinated with the gas will take practice and you are likely to stall sveral times. Dooesn't hurt a thing. Jerking the car won't hurt it. Do avoid missing gears and grinding as much as you can. Grinding can hurt the tranny.
3) Once you figure out first the other gears are easy.
4) Take a family member or friend with who can drive MT; keeps the pressure off you.
Enjoy the Z; its a great car that is very forgiving in spite of what you might read here.
My first & best piece of advice is don't make a mountain out of a molehill.
I see lots of posts about how tough it is to drive MT & the Z is, someehow, harder than other MTs. Bull manure. Push in the clutch, place in gear, let out clutch, give it gas. It "ain't" rocket science. My wife got in the Z the first time after not driving a MT for 30 years. She went through the sequence & pulled away smooth as silk.
Steps:
1) Without the engine running practice pushing in the clutch & going from gear to gear. That gives you a feel for how/where gears are.
2) Find a large flat area (like a mall parking lot when empty) & practice going into first & driving off. Getting the friction point of the clutch coordinated with the gas will take practice and you are likely to stall sveral times. Dooesn't hurt a thing. Jerking the car won't hurt it. Do avoid missing gears and grinding as much as you can. Grinding can hurt the tranny.
3) Once you figure out first the other gears are easy.
4) Take a family member or friend with who can drive MT; keeps the pressure off you.
Enjoy the Z; its a great car that is very forgiving in spite of what you might read here.
03-19-2006 | 08:24 PM
#27
The 350Z clutch and transmission are pretty forgiving. Just practice and by the time the break-in period is over, you will be shifting like a pro.
My recommendation to new 350Z owners is a helmet and high performance driving class.
My recommendation to new 350Z owners is a helmet and high performance driving class.
03-19-2006 | 08:47 PM
#28
http://www.standardshift.com/
In particular, these videos REALLY helped me since I had trouble with the Z the first time I drove it...I was a pro after watching the clips twice (literally...):
http://www.standardshift.com/videos.html
By the way, the best advice I received was learn the engagement point. Basically, lift your foot off the clutch VERY slowly while in first gear. At a certain point, it will "catch" and you'll start rolling forward...if the person teaching me had told me this the first time, I would have been a pro to start with! GL!
In particular, these videos REALLY helped me since I had trouble with the Z the first time I drove it...I was a pro after watching the clips twice (literally...):
http://www.standardshift.com/videos.html
By the way, the best advice I received was learn the engagement point. Basically, lift your foot off the clutch VERY slowly while in first gear. At a certain point, it will "catch" and you'll start rolling forward...if the person teaching me had told me this the first time, I would have been a pro to start with! GL!
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