Anyone elses town have more stop signs than people. There are 7 stop signs in a 1/2 mile from my house to a main road.

Anywho, I usually switch from first to 2nd only to have to step back on the breaks again. Lately I have just been staying in 2nd and sort of rolling through the signs. The reason being 1) im lazy 2) it seems that everytime I go from first to second I have to let the clutch out just as slowly as pulling from a dead stop with first gear, because if I try to quick shift I end up putting my face into the steering wheel.

Another thing I have noticed is that if I am driving along in 2nd or 3rd gear and completely let off the gas and try to coast, the engine slows the car a little (which is normal as far as I know) but it is not smooth what so ever. Its almost as the clutch is slipping or the car is going back and forth between neutral and 3rd gear. (And I am not touching the clutch) This usually happens when I am going about 25 mph in 3rd gear.

Anyone else notice this? My car is brand new with only 200 miles on it. This is basicly the first time I have ever really driven a stick outside of random test drives as well, so it could be due to my own suckyness.

Any help is greatly appriciated

 

Sounds fine to me. Its normal

 

“Stop” means “stop.” I will set at a stop sign as long as it takes to insure that crossing the intersection is safe.

The second and third gear problem is impossible to diagnose on the internet. Are you “lugging” the motor? Attempting to accelerate with the RPM too low?

 

you are burning up your clutch doing that.

 

sounds normal Z are funny like that

 

You could start from a standstill in second if you're too lazy to switch back to first.

 

messes up the clutch doing this. There is a reason why there is 1st gear.

 

If I know I'm going to stop, I get out of gear and coast to a stop using my brakes, then start all over in 1st gear. I don't even think anymore when I shift gears, so laziness is not a factor for me.

 

+1

i see a lot of people do that and end up having to slip the hell out of it...not a good thing .overall what you are describing sounds normal.being lazy behind the steering wheel is not acceptable, especialy a Z

 

k thanks, if im trying to excellerate when im lugging the motor (ex 2nd gear at 5 mph or so then excellerating) is this damaging the engine, should i constantly be around 2000-3000 rpm when coasting?

 

just sounds like your going too low in too high of a gear.
practice first gear and be like everyone else! haha

i learned stick on the Z. Im getting much better real quick, its not that hard.

 

Learning to drive a stick on a Nismo 350Z: priceless!

You'll get the hang of it eventually. Once you go manual it's hard to go back to driving an automatic.

 

i had to learn stick all over agian when i got my nismo z. it sounds like your going through what i did so i say its normal. i take forever in first gear too. i have to let of the clutch real slow or launch it.

 

Thank god! Makes me feel a hell of a lot better. Any advice when to switch between 1st and 2nd (at which RPM) because as of now I am switching at about 3-4K and I have to gently let the clutch out into second or else I hear (and feel) a BANG! (and yes I push the clutch all the way to the floor, shift, let it go)

3rd-6th almost no problem other than mabee a little bounce. But first and second feel like riding a very angry bull.

MC stated that they are a little notchy, anyone else notice this as well?

 

“Lugging” or “bogging” the motor is not good. You have engaged the transmission, but do not have sufficient torque to drive the drivetrain. So the motor and drivetrain react poorly.

The Z should coast smoothly in any situation. Maybe you should observe a more experienced driver.

 

Maybe you have more torque than you are accustomed too. Practice using the clutch and accelerator at the same time for smooth shift. A couple of thousand miles and you should get it right.

 

LOL. For the sake of simplicity, there are only two shifting techniques:

Banging the gears!: Its a drag racing technique to get you to the finish line fast. Holding the transmission and rear end together doesn't matter. Everything is replacable. You can also impressive your friends.

Smooth shifting: This one takes more experience. Everything is smooth and purposeful. Shifting, clutch, brakes and accelerator all working together. Up and downshifting are smooth. This will impress your HPDE instructor.