Introduction & New Owner Questions

BlackElectric · 08-23-2017, 11:55 PM

Hello all!

New 370Z owner here! A month ago I had the pleasure of picking up a 2016 6-Speed base model (pearl white). Up until now I have just been rolling with my 2011 Sentra which I riced out a long time ago. (See pictures below)

My plan is to keep her stock until I can afford to upgrade to one of the following:

2018 Nissan 370Z Heritage Edition (bottom of my list)
2017/2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo Tech
2019 Nissan Z35 (as of yet unconfirmed)

As I said, I have been driving the Z for a month now though only on the weekends as I still daily the Sentra. I've driven her 700 miles but still find myself having difficulty perfecting the shifts. I only started learning how to drive stick back in February, and in a 2001 Honda Civic so part of it is the heavier/tighter clutch and getting used to the car in general but I could use some pointers:

I still occasionally get a bunny hop when starting (usually just a single lunge), I think partly due to the fact that the range of clutch engagement is so narrow.

Also when I don't give it enough gas when starting off (not enough to stall it though) I hear a strange noise almost like something's grinding/clicking. Any idea what this is?

Sometimes when I depress the clutch when coming to a stop/changing gears it sounds like the clutch is slapping around for a brief moment after disengagement. This seems to only happen when engine breaking or if I push in the clutch before my foot is completely off the gas, perhaps when there is still torque on the drive shaft?

I also have trouble getting smooth shifts for 2nd and 3rd. If I shift at 2000 rpm everything is fine but higher than that and I occasionally get some jerk when letting the clutch out. If I watch the revs drop I can time it so it is smoother but I don't want to always be watching my tach.

I'm sure most of this will be resolved with practice but any advice would be appreciated.

Quicksilvers · 08-24-2017, 08:00 AM

Welcome to the 370Z forums congratulations on your car and enjoy driving it! Practice makes perfect it takes time to properly learn how to drive a manual Nissan 370Z. You have to learn the relationship between the clutch petal and gas petal and giving the vehicle enough gas petal good luck. The stock OEM Nissan clutch is not perfect by any means. You could consider in the future installing a different clutch.

Z-Girl 12 · 08-24-2017, 04:35 PM

Welcome!!!

Spoiler · 08-25-2017, 05:11 AM

Welcome to the forum

Jayhovah · 08-25-2017, 10:38 AM

Welcome to the forum! The Z is not the easiest car to drive in manual form... A vendor here (RJM performance - not to be confused with RJ Manufacturing) makes an adjustable clutch pedal assembly for our cars that makes it much easier to drive.

All the drive train chatter you hear is completely normal. These are not quiet cars. =)

cigarclifford · 08-25-2017, 04:06 PM

Welcome to the 370Z forum

Memphis370Z · 08-25-2017, 11:32 PM

Congratulations and welcome.

08-23-2017, 11:55 PM	#1 (permalink)
BlackElectric Base Member Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 47 Drives: '16 370Z White M6 Rep Power: 21	Introduction & New Owner Questions Hello all! New 370Z owner here! A month ago I had the pleasure of picking up a 2016 6-Speed base model (pearl white). Up until now I have just been rolling with my 2011 Sentra which I riced out a long time ago. (See pictures below) My plan is to keep her stock until I can afford to upgrade to one of the following: 2018 Nissan 370Z Heritage Edition (bottom of my list) 2017/2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo Tech 2019 Nissan Z35 (as of yet unconfirmed) As I said, I have been driving the Z for a month now though only on the weekends as I still daily the Sentra. I've driven her 700 miles but still find myself having difficulty perfecting the shifts. I only started learning how to drive stick back in February, and in a 2001 Honda Civic so part of it is the heavier/tighter clutch and getting used to the car in general but I could use some pointers: I still occasionally get a bunny hop when starting (usually just a single lunge), I think partly due to the fact that the range of clutch engagement is so narrow. Also when I don't give it enough gas when starting off (not enough to stall it though) I hear a strange noise almost like something's grinding/clicking. Any idea what this is? Sometimes when I depress the clutch when coming to a stop/changing gears it sounds like the clutch is slapping around for a brief moment after disengagement. This seems to only happen when engine breaking or if I push in the clutch before my foot is completely off the gas, perhaps when there is still torque on the drive shaft? I also have trouble getting smooth shifts for 2nd and 3rd. If I shift at 2000 rpm everything is fine but higher than that and I occasionally get some jerk when letting the clutch out. If I watch the revs drop I can time it so it is smoother but I don't want to always be watching my tach. I'm sure most of this will be resolved with practice but any advice would be appreciated.

08-24-2017, 04:35 PM	#3 (permalink)
Z-Girl 12 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Florida Posts: 4,105 Drives: Spirited Rep Power: 11716	Welcome!!! __________________ 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

08-25-2017, 04:06 PM	#6 (permalink)
cigarclifford A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Cali State Hospital Posts: 13,351 Drives: 2017 Corvette Z06 Rep Power: 458713	Welcome to the 370Z forum __________________ -Clifford

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08-24-2017, 08:00 AM	#2 (permalink)
Quicksilvers A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2017 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 2,039 Drives: 2017 370z Rep Power: 25463	Welcome to the 370Z forums congratulations on your car and enjoy driving it! Practice makes perfect it takes time to properly learn how to drive a manual Nissan 370Z. You have to learn the relationship between the clutch petal and gas petal and giving the vehicle enough gas petal good luck. The stock OEM Nissan clutch is not perfect by any means. You could consider in the future installing a different clutch.

08-25-2017, 05:11 AM	#4 (permalink)
Spoiler A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Central Florida Age: 65 Posts: 8,409 Drives: 21 Supra -Blk/Red Rep Power: 2684380	Welcome to the forum

08-25-2017, 11:32 PM	#7 (permalink)
Memphis370Z A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Memphis Area Posts: 3,117 Drives: '09 MB Rep Power: 124434	Congratulations and welcome.