What's up guys. I've had my car for about a week now and am getting better with shifting but still am having lots of issues getting into first gear (a roll) smoothly. I feel as if I am lugging the engine too by not giving it enough gas. I know what I am supposed to do... find the bite point release slowly as your giving it gas but it's almost as if I can't get my foot placement right to do it consistently. Tbh almost every time I get into a roll I feel the car "buck" because I'm either releasing the clutch too fast or not giving it enough gas (or sometimes both). I understand the Z has a high engagement point and the clutch is stiffer than other cars which makes learning a bit more tricky but if anybody has tips on seating position & foot placement/motion as you're releasing the clutch would be much appreciated! Almost as if once I'm at the bite point I cant bend my heel backwards anymore so I resort to either sliding my leg back or lifting my leg up and it's not getting good results. So grateful to drive a Nismo Z but it's embarrassing when you look like an idiot on the roads lol

Thanks guys
#1132

 

Hi Ryan, I'm gonna set a good example and provide positive comments-
1st, make sure your seating position allows you to fully depress the clutch pedal completely and still have a slight bend in your knee. I don't know exactly which clutch you're running but if you put your rpms between 15-1800 and release your clutch pedal smoothly at a moderate (neither super-fast nor slowly) pace you should launch without bucking or overheating the clutch.
Another thing that may help-
Muscle memory for your right hand- practice the sequence of depressing your clutch and going through all your gears (including Reverse) at least 25 times in your driveway/parking lot (engine off) so you're confident in your gear choice. You'll be fine and engine-braking into turns before you know it. Gl !

 

Its not embarrassing. Sounds like you are doing ok. You don't have to give too much gas as this engine is relatively large, you can just slip the clutch slow if flat surface, which you cannot do with something <1.8L. Takes about 5 months to be 100% confident (not scared at every hill start), keep it up!

 

Actually read this when I was out practicing at an empty parking lot last night! A co-worker mentioned to me yesterday that my seating position my be to close if I'm struggling to release clutch past the bite point. By moving my seat a little back and paying attention to my knee bend I think I have come up with a solution that works for me. I fully press the clutch in with the top part of my foot just under my toes, when I initially release it I keep the clutch in the same position resting on my foot and just slide my foot back. Once I get back to about where I started before I pushed the clutch in I can simply lift my foot while keeping my heel planted on the ground. It's not perfect but at least it's working for now. Got off to some smoother rolls doing this method. Thanks for the advice!

 

I won't give up! And by the time April is over and more and more people get back on the roads I will actually know how to drive!

This Coronavirus has been horrible but having no traffic in bay area has been a godsend for me at this time

 

hell i have been driving manual cars most of my driving life (almost 30 years) and there are times that i feel like a noob driver. hell just the other day i stalled the vette backing up into a spot

 

Since your seat is now properly adjusted, here's another hint about the proper use of the dead pedal. Between shifts, your clutch foot should be resting on the dead pedal to the right of the clutch. Not leaving your left foot on the clutch reduces heat and extends clutch life.

 

Check out "How to Drive Manual Transmission" playlist from TheSmokingTire on YouTube. He has a view of himself and the pedals and goes through the basics, then touches on more advanced moves such as heal-toe.

 

Good feedback everyone! Also, for whatever reason, the 350Z has a way of making even the best drivers feel like idiots from time to time.

 

Thanks for the responses guys, starting to get the hang of it but still looking for methods (foot-motion wise) to release the clutch a little slower at the end getting to a roll. I'm literally lifting my leg up after I'm past the bite point and it feels like its almost too much work. But if I extend my seat back any farther I feel like I have to stretch my leg too much to have clutch in probably w/o much of the slight bend in knee you mentioned. Getting the hang of downshifting mostly from 4th to 3rd, noticed the 2nd gear is hard to get smooth as I've read but when you hit it smooth it feels like money