Shifting on a manual

SR370z

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!

AreJay

My first manual as well is a red Z. 2011 thou. I find it took me about a Lil over a month to really get use to the clutch.

FairladyZ

The z is harder to drive at first than those cars listed

You shouldn't rev to 3k

dP3NGU1N

I'm usually off first by 2500rpm, you run through the gears pretty fast in this car. Also, ease up on clutch out and careful over-revving into second. That's usually where the notchiness is. With a bit of time it should smooth out. My car and my feet still fight every once in a while but it's night and day compared to when I first test drove it. Almost bucked the salesman out the passenger window LOL

roy'sz

I had a newbie when I testdrove mine. The guy who was training him showed up and was hung over. I got a sweet deal and when I was done testdriving with the newbie he was shaking! He said " that was the best test drive I've ever been on." What a blast that was!

DEpointfive0

LOL!!! Awesome, when I test drive any car, I inform the sales person that I am going to brake the car, LOL!!!

When I was buying my 370Z I didn't even need to test drive it (drive another one at a different dealer 2 weeks before) and the sales guy kept insisting, even though the paperwork had been started. So we went and I beat that bitch and the 50~ year old sales guy tried to reach for the "OHHHHHH SHIIIIIITTTT handle", but we don't have one, LOL, and I did give him the warning that I was going to brake the car, but I guess he didn't believe me...

SR370z

haha thank you all for the tip! I guess I gotta break in my clutch a little bit more than. When I bought my car I didn't even test drive it. My mom went home with me and she was scared shitless haha. No joke. I told her that I was just nervous haha...

SR370z

When is the best time to rev up to? Thanks for the tip again

Z-Girl 12

I hated the clutch in this car the first 3 months of ownership. I was so frustrated. I have never driven a manual with first gear being soooo short. All past car were manuals but this one had me second guessing my purchase. I must say that after researching how other drivers via this forum dealt with the shifting I no longer buck like a newbie! But nowadays my Z is always in Sport Mode with helps smooth things out alot especially when I'm lazy.

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2012 Z-SOLD
2014 Nismo #565 Fast Intentions CBE/HFC/Swift/SPC/RJM/H&R-15/20mm/Z1 CAI/Headers/Intake Manifold w/Uprev Tune 328.31whp/263.64tq

SR370z

Well I am glad things got better for you! Do you think you can take me through the steps you did to make yourself improve and get better at driving a manual?

SS_Firehawk

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.

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Dzel

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

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10secWS6
IF YOU CAN'T SWING IT THEN DON'T BRING IT! Check out Domestic Performance C.C.

IDZRVIT

You're OK to upshift at 3000 for the first few gears. It won't hurt anything as long as you ease out on the clutch pedal as already stated and start to press down on the gas pedal. You'll get the hang of it.

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"America.... still builds rockets!"
Vette: 355 cid, 400 rwhp
'13 CTS-V Coupe: 6.2L LSA, 556HP

SR370z

Thanks a whole lot! I feel like I am getting better with your tips. I try to incorporate them into my daily driving every day so I can get better. But I still feel slow when driving from 1st to 2nd to 3rd gear. All these cars pass me.

SS_Firehawk

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.

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