Shifting on a manual

SS_Firehawk · 11-15-2012, 04:43 AM

The clutch took me a good couple weeks to get used to. Shift points are all based on how you feel like driving. I like to shift higher in the RPM because I like listening to the sweet music of my exhaust. Typical driving, shouldn't need more than 2000rpm to get moving. What I do that helps me smoothen things out is blip the throttle to bring the revs up and as the revs top off, start releasing the clutch. You'll feel it catch and just feed some throttle. Everyone drives a clutch different, so GL OP in conquering your clutch.

Dzel · 11-15-2012, 05:25 AM

FS: Clutch Helper Springs!!!! Century Spring P/N 72577

I did this cheap mod and the clutch pedal feel was greetly improved. Hope this helps

SS_Firehawk · 11-15-2012, 10:15 PM

You can do like my Wife and redline shift on your commute. She's complaining of not being used to it, but doing 90+ banging off perfect up and down shifts. Sure has a funny way of showing it :P

Anyways, try this... There is no power down low so so once your completely off your clutch, just give it a lot of gas. These motors don't wake up until 4krpm. May help you row through the gears aggressively without looking like that guy... otherwise known as the douche with the nice car showing off.

SR370z · 11-15-2012, 11:26 PM

Haha thanks a whole lot! Great tips btw!

Hopefully tomorrow I can try that out if it doesn't snow here. Scary stuff driving in the snow. Feels like I am a grandma.

SR370z · 11-15-2012, 11:38 PM

Yeah I also liked the Z too much not to get it. I drove my friends RSX no problem but when I got the Z it was way different. I can get to 1st gear easy, but when I get from 1st to 2nd is the challenging part cause I feel slow.

forza370z · 01-13-2013, 12:48 AM

I think the slow feeling is because the 1st gear is short and it doesn't push you fast unless you gun it up to 5k. So you might want to shift into 2nd a litter earlier around 2.5k. But then again, you need to ease out the clutch when shift into the 2nd otherwise the car jerks. This is my first manual car too and I do feel it's slower then other cars at normal launch.

SR370z · 01-13-2013, 05:01 PM

Yeah I think I got better at the launch from 1st to 2nd gear. I try to shift listening to the car and usually when I do that I tend to shift better without looking at the rpm. But yeah when I do shift around 2.5 I do not get a jerk.

6MT · 11-15-2012, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andyt421

Hey I am a new NISSAN 370Z owner from Utah! I have a red 2012 NISSAN 370Z sport base model.

Sorry about this newbie question. This is my first manual transmission vehicle. I have 2012 nissan 370z manual transmission. When I shift to 1st and 2nd gear I feel like I am going really slow compared to other drivers on the road. Do you know why? I usually rev up to 3k RPM then shift to second gear. Is that normal cause I feel a jerk when I do that. Do I need to rev at a lower RPM before I shift to 2nd gear? I also drove a WRX hatch and a 2002 rsx which were my friends and I had no problem driving them. But for my Z I am not so great at driving it. Been driving manual for about a month now. Any tips on driving will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Andy...tough vehicle to be your first manual gearbox. You probably should have learned on something else.

Practice, practice, practice.

SmallermouseZ · 11-15-2012, 11:21 PM

I ordered my Z without even knowing how to drive standard...LOL. You just gotta practice then u'll get really good with it.

SmallermouseZ · 01-14-2013, 10:17 PM

i agree on 7k rpm every gear. Makes life ezer.

L33T Z34 · 01-15-2013, 12:31 AM

Don't be skeered to rev this engine to 5k RPM for DD and redline at least once a day that you do drive it. The majority of Japanese "sport" engines make little torque so you have to rev them.

chrischhorn · 01-15-2013, 12:37 AM

I feel most of you don't have headers/test pipes combo or long tubes....You'd be deaf by the end of the week lol.

B&W_Evader · 01-15-2013, 09:25 AM

Personally, like to shift at 3k when the engine's cold. (4500 past 140 and up to redline once it's past 180) You really shouldn't be putting power to the wheels under 2k. It's pretty hard on the internals.

Once warmed up, you should be taken 1st at least to 3500 on a gentle start. Shift slow and gentle as this is a pretty finiky transmission and does not like to be rushed. If you feel a crunch or grind it's not liking what you're doing.

Also, I lowered the clutch engagement position of the pedal to make the feel better.

Clutch Peddle Position Adjustment

Clutch pedal too soft/no feel? Remove the helper spring!

And don't spin the tires, they're hella expensive!

IDZRVIT · 01-15-2013, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B&W_Evader

Shift slow and gentle as this is a pretty finiky transmission and does not like to be rushed.

Don't know about your tranny and others but I don't need to be gentle with mine and it's not "finiky". Rev to 7K and it shifts fast and smooth for me.

edub370 · 01-15-2013, 01:15 PM

I will agree, i have owned nothing but manuals my whole life, and this is the most finiky trans i have owned. It likes to be shifted higher in the rpm's for sure. But when you are below 3k, it can get very notchy.. I had to adjust my driving style for this. Went from shifting around 3500 to shifting north of 4k. Much smoother now

11-15-2012, 04:43 AM	#1 (permalink)
SS_Firehawk Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Tampa Posts: 4,142 Drives: 13' Magma Red Nismo Rep Power: 7335	The clutch took me a good couple weeks to get used to. Shift points are all based on how you feel like driving. I like to shift higher in the RPM because I like listening to the sweet music of my exhaust. Typical driving, shouldn't need more than 2000rpm to get moving. What I do that helps me smoothen things out is blip the throttle to bring the revs up and as the revs top off, start releasing the clutch. You'll feel it catch and just feed some throttle. Everyone drives a clutch different, so GL OP in conquering your clutch. DEpointfive0 and SR370z like this. __________________ Old Car:GTM TSC'd 550whp / 410lbft tq @ 11.88PSI New Car: Under Construction

11-15-2012, 05:25 AM	#2 (permalink)
Dzel A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2011 Location: Midland, TX Posts: 3,884 Drives: 11 370Z PW M6 Rep Power: 23	FS: Clutch Helper Springs!!!! Century Spring P/N 72577 I did this cheap mod and the clutch pedal feel was greetly improved. Hope this helps DEpointfive0 and blackcherry20 like this. __________________ 10secWS6 IF YOU CAN'T SWING IT THEN DON'T BRING IT! Check out Domestic Performance C.C.

11-15-2012, 10:15 PM	#3 (permalink)
SS_Firehawk Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Tampa Posts: 4,142 Drives: 13' Magma Red Nismo Rep Power: 7335	You can do like my Wife and redline shift on your commute. She's complaining of not being used to it, but doing 90+ banging off perfect up and down shifts. Sure has a funny way of showing it :P Anyways, try this... There is no power down low so so once your completely off your clutch, just give it a lot of gas. These motors don't wake up until 4krpm. May help you row through the gears aggressively without looking like that guy... otherwise known as the douche with the nice car showing off. __________________ Old Car:GTM TSC'd 550whp / 410lbft tq @ 11.88PSI New Car: Under Construction

01-15-2013, 12:37 AM	#12 (permalink)
chrischhorn A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Mililani, HI Posts: 1,566 Drives: 2014 Juke Nismo RS Rep Power: 17	I feel most of you don't have headers/test pipes combo or long tubes....You'd be deaf by the end of the week lol. __________________ R.I.P. 8/01/13 1SlowZ One day I'll have another....

01-15-2013, 09:25 AM	#13 (permalink)
B&W_Evader Track Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: CA Posts: 972 Drives: slower than before Rep Power: 387	Personally, like to shift at 3k when the engine's cold. (4500 past 140 and up to redline once it's past 180) You really shouldn't be putting power to the wheels under 2k. It's pretty hard on the internals. Once warmed up, you should be taken 1st at least to 3500 on a gentle start. Shift slow and gentle as this is a pretty finiky transmission and does not like to be rushed. If you feel a crunch or grind it's not liking what you're doing. Also, I lowered the clutch engagement position of the pedal to make the feel better. Clutch Peddle Position Adjustment Clutch pedal too soft/no feel? Remove the helper spring! And don't spin the tires, they're hella expensive! __________________ \|RIP\|6spd-sport\|OSG-LSD\|XP8\|RBF600\|Eibach Sways\|RE-71R\|FI-34Row\|Gen3-CAI\|Yaw P.S.\|

11-15-2012, 11:26 PM	#4 (permalink)
SR370z Base Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Utah Age: 34 Posts: 79 Drives: 12' Red 370z S 6MT Rep Power: 13	Haha thanks a whole lot! Great tips btw! Hopefully tomorrow I can try that out if it doesn't snow here. Scary stuff driving in the snow. Feels like I am a grandma.

11-15-2012, 11:38 PM	#5 (permalink)
SR370z Base Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Utah Age: 34 Posts: 79 Drives: 12' Red 370z S 6MT Rep Power: 13	Yeah I also liked the Z too much not to get it. I drove my friends RSX no problem but when I got the Z it was way different. I can get to 1st gear easy, but when I get from 1st to 2nd is the challenging part cause I feel slow.

01-13-2013, 12:48 AM	#6 (permalink)
forza370z A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: 403 Forbidden Posts: 2,512 Drives: 2009 NISMO 370Z Rep Power: 19	I think the slow feeling is because the 1st gear is short and it doesn't push you fast unless you gun it up to 5k. So you might want to shift into 2nd a litter earlier around 2.5k. But then again, you need to ease out the clutch when shift into the 2nd otherwise the car jerks. This is my first manual car too and I do feel it's slower then other cars at normal launch.

01-13-2013, 05:01 PM	#7 (permalink)
SR370z Base Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Utah Age: 34 Posts: 79 Drives: 12' Red 370z S 6MT Rep Power: 13	Yeah I think I got better at the launch from 1st to 2nd gear. I try to shift listening to the car and usually when I do that I tend to shift better without looking at the rpm. But yeah when I do shift around 2.5 I do not get a jerk.

11-15-2012, 11:21 PM	#9 (permalink)
SmallermouseZ Enthusiast Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Vancouver Posts: 368 Drives: 2012pw 6mt sport/nav Rep Power: 14	I ordered my Z without even knowing how to drive standard...LOL. You just gotta practice then u'll get really good with it.

01-14-2013, 10:17 PM	#10 (permalink)
SmallermouseZ Enthusiast Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Vancouver Posts: 368 Drives: 2012pw 6mt sport/nav Rep Power: 14	i agree on 7k rpm every gear. Makes life ezer.

01-15-2013, 12:31 AM	#11 (permalink)
L33T Z34 Banned Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Ahnald, MO Age: 47 Posts: 387 Drives: 09 K51 G C Bw/S 6MT Rep Power: 0	Don't be skeered to rev this engine to 5k RPM for DD and redline at least once a day that you do drive it. The majority of Japanese "sport" engines make little torque so you have to rev them.

01-15-2013, 01:15 PM	#15 (permalink)
edub370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2011 Location: KCMO Posts: 3,458 Drives: 09 370z S/T 6MT Rep Power: 20	I will agree, i have owned nothing but manuals my whole life, and this is the most finiky trans i have owned. It likes to be shifted higher in the rpm's for sure. But when you are below 3k, it can get very notchy.. I had to adjust my driving style for this. Went from shifting around 3500 to shifting north of 4k. Much smoother now __________________ 09 370Z ST 6MT//Injen CAI//Greddy CBE//TP//TSW's//Swifts//Stillen lip//Whiteline sways 326whp/268tq

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