Hi guys, i am new to this website.

Just got my 2008 350Z from dealership two days ago.It looks so good!

I'v been driving automatic cars for the past 5 years...

Once i got my 08 Z MT, i had to get someone to drive the Z back to my home from the dealership and then i went out with my Z for a spin during the nite, i stalled for like 30 times, or maybe even more...it was my frist time driving a manual. i was totally frustrated, and it made me think why am i getting a manual?...but i don't wanna just give up, so i practiced a lot mainly during the nite time for the past two days....For Now, i won't stall anymore, but i still suck when it comes to upshift and downshift..and i always give too much gas when try to start(around 2000rpm), i guess that's why i don't stall anymore??????

plz give me some advice on learning how to drive a stick properly. I started to drive an automatic since the day i got my driver's license 5 years ago.And all of a sudden, i have to swtich to manual completely for my daily driver. it's really tough for me..plz help!!!
btw, am i gonna destory my Z as i am learning how to drive stick with all the stalls and bad upshifts/downshifts?????

 

Your best bet would be to find a long strip of pavement that has no traffic. You're in a double-trouble situation right now anyway. To be a beginner at driving stick and have a brand-new Z with a sticky clutch. I'm 44 and I killed mine on my test drive. Felt pretty stupid especially since I've been driving stick for nearly 30 years.
Work on slowly letting the clutch out while slowly accelerating. Remember, you've got a buttload of horsepower. It's very difficult to stall these cars if you are smooth enough with the clutch. Get the feel of where the clutch starts to engage, get your seat adjusted so that clutch engagement feels natural. You don't want to be sliding around in the seat or releasing the clutch real fast either.
Mostly, just work on slow acceleration. Since you're brand-new at it, I wouldn't try to learn on the fly, that's the way you have wrecks. Don't get frustrated with yourself, just take each mistake and evaluate what caused it and learn from it.
I think your clutch will survive your training period. If you don't think it will, feel free to give me your car and I'll make sure it doesn't get worn out.

 

I was really bad with sticks as well, but I practiced alot in my Z. Only thing I have trouble with now are hills... I can't ever just go forward from a dead stop on a hill. Soon as I let of the brake the car rolls back.. Most people dont have this problem. I suck...

 

Leave your foot on the brake, start letting the clutch out. As the clutch engages, then flip your foot to the gas.

 

lol. thanks for all your advice, i really don't wanna just give up on driving a stick...i wanna take my time and get used to it, and learn more things as i practice...but i am really worried about my car, cos it's brand new..warranty doesn't cover clutch, rite??? btw, u said the clutch will only survive the training period??? how long is the trainning period gonna be? 3 months? half a year? or one year?

btw, will i destory the Z's engine, transmission or some other parts while i am learning to drive the stick? or the only part that will suffer during the so called training period is the clutch??

 

well, i am so scared every time i am on a hill. that's why i give a lot of gas while releasing the clutch, and i have no problem starting on a hill...i guess that's because i give way too much gas... that way, at least i won't get stalled on the hill.

 

i had a similar situation, bought my first stick in 2001, it was a 97 eclipse, had to drive it 40 miles home and cursed the whole way there, it took about 3 weeks of practicing on empty roads before i got the hang of it, now i absolutely hate driving auto's, hang in there you will be fine after about 2 weeks or so! PRACTICE!!!

 

If you don't learn by midnight, it'll turn into a pumpkin and you'll never marry the handsome prince. Oh, wait a minute, wrong story.

 

u only need to give it a tiny bit of gas to star moving, sometime i dont even press the gas to start i just let off the clutch really slow

 

dont stall to many times in a row the the car will shut down

 

^^Yea, but what else can he do? When I learned, I stalled a million times the first 2 days...The car did do the shutting down, but after like 5 min it turned on again...Here's my advice: let off the clutch halfway, give it gas to 2k rpm, and let off slowly...that should help a lot!

 

Practice practice practice. That's the only way to get better.

Drive in low traffic areas, but ultimately, high traffic is what teachest you best; you want to be able to reliable at least get moving before you do that though.

 

i would stall like a million time wen i used to move my moms car, but that was wen i was 11, u'l get used to it.. jus rev it to about..mmm.. 6000 and jus let the clutch go... u wont stall. i promise..

 

Your not going to ruin anything. I taught my son to drive MT on my Z; both the car & his psyche survived. just keep practicing. And forget about downshifting for now; that is the second class. Pass your first class, up shifting, then move on.

 

I've had my Z for 2 months now, and I just learned to drive stick on it. First few days were hell, but I would practice after work at night when there was little traffic!

Then I forced myself to drive to work, and eventually got the hang of it after a week or so.

 

the best thing you can do is learn where you engagement point is. get on a flat ground, put your clutch in and put it in first. with no gas or no brake or parking brake on, let off the clutch as slow as humanly possible. it will start to roll forward without gas. when it starts rolling forward, where your clutch pedal is, is your engagement point

 

Keep practicing OP. The 350z clutch is a little tricky getting used to. The car loves to rev down low so taking off from a complete stop can sometimes be a challenge for a new MT driver. Your not going to hurt anything unless you burn up the clutch from excessive revs while letting off.

Downshifting takes alot of practice also. When coming to a light, sometimes I will down shift and sometimes I dont. Depends on how fast I have to stop. When downshifting to gain speed to pass another car is about rev matching. I do not like to downshift without tapping the gas a little to get the RPMs around where I believe they will be for that lower gear. Not doing so can sometimes lead to a hard jerk and possible damage.

Just take it easy and dont give up, once you learn it, you'll love it! And congrats on your new purchase, you picked a great car.

 

It takes some time to learn, so just be patient. I do hate that our learning in a brand new 08 Z, but you have no choice. Hopefully you don't do any heavy wear and tear damage while learning. Good luck with the training.

 

Its like riding a bicycle. Once you "get it" you'll have it forever. I taught my son. His problem was letting the clutch out quickly once the car started to move. You have to be SMOOTH and let the clutch out (lift your foot up) slowly all the way untill it is all the way out. Don't panic and jerk you leg when the car starts to move.

 

Alas, Thank you.