New Manual Driver

darkphantom

@kenchan - you on something bro?

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'13 PW M6 | Takeda | ARK GRiP V2 | H&R

kenchan

no, just my normal self.

TN.Z

Like everyone else says go to a parking lot(a flat, level one). If you are having trouble locating the engage point then stop your car. Put it in first and slowly let out on the clutch until the car starts to roll/the revs drop slightly, that is the engage point. Memorize it.

In a lot of other cars you can feel it but in the 370 due to the helper spring in the pedal you can't feel it at all. I have never owned an automatics car and I still have trouble in the Z. It's almost pure memorization unless you get the RJM pedal.

You should honestly just start a roll go maybe 5 mph, stop and repeat. Do this for a couple hours and shifting between gears will seem simple.

Also you asked what riding the clutch is. That is when you have the clutch partially engaged and rev the engine. This makes the flywheel and clutch plate slide against each other and will eat your clutch.

When I teach people I always make sure they understand what exactly the clutch assembly is and what it does. If you aren't 100% on that watch some YouTube videos this one I found real quick seems to give a pretty good explanation: http://youtu.be/pqF-aBtTBnY

Zbrah

1. Do you have sport mode engaged? It helps with the jerkiness going from 1st to 2nd. But like other have said, shifting at higher rpm (~2K) will make the transition between gears smoother.
2. Replace your oem clutch pedal spring with aftermarket. This simple mod greatly helped me to get a better feel of the clutch pedal almost instantly.
3. Find an empty parking lot and spend some time getting comfortable with the engagement point. Put it in 1st and using only your left foot on the clutch, learn to get the car moving and stopping without any throttle inputs. Try not to stall (clutch it to keep from stalling), keep repeating until you get more comfortable with it. If you're stalling, stay calm and keep trying. Don't get frustrated it's a process of learning. We all been there.

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vooshhz

Thanks everyone,

Glad to see i'm not the only one who feels the clutch engage/disengage is really high up. I don't think my enthusiast package has sport mode.

I'll keep practicing... im getting better. And when I get frustrated, I just go to 3rd and hit the accelerate all the way, and by the time I stop i have this "holy ****" look on my face.

Thanks again!!

Mike

just takes a little practice. My wife learned in my 400hp Z32TT. I had to let her go out and solo to really get the hang of it.

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NISSAN: 75 280Z / 86 300ZX GLL /87 Sentra SE / 03 350Z / 23 Z
Porsche: 93 968 / 23 Macan GTS / 93 968

kenchan

i guess being married to someone who captains a plane with 60Klbf+ per engine, that's a 'calm' car to practice on?

kynseon

It takes patience and practice. Youll get the hang of it by the 2nd or 3rd week. For real you wont feel it after.. i felt the same way you did.. the clutch was a pain the *** but after practice its just as any other manual car.

GZ3

Just practice like this;... In an empty level lot..Put your car in 1st gear, forget the gas pedal, and slowlllyyy start coming off the clutch until you feel it disengage and the car rolls a little forward. Push it right back in... Do this over and until you can pop it in and out and keep the car moving.... Then your coast in 1st. NO gas pedal.... This will get your muscle memory used to the pressure and point of engagement and release. Think of it like a see saw....
Once you master the engagment, you can start applying gas a going forward

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09 GT-R
12' 370Z 7AT HANDED DOWN
12'+13' 5.0 SOLD

Mike

actually, I learned in my Dad's Datsun 210 in our driveway. Roll back with the clutch in and gently let it out to go back up the hill. Rinse and repeat for about a half hour a day for 2-3 days and you are done.

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NISSAN: 75 280Z / 86 300ZX GLL /87 Sentra SE / 03 350Z / 23 Z
Porsche: 93 968 / 23 Macan GTS / 93 968

HulaGirl

Practice makes perfect. Lots of good advice above. When I got my MT at the end of May I had not driven a stick in over 18 years. 1 to 2 and 2 to 3 was pretty rough and yeah, I stalled it a couple of times. It *will* all come together and very soon you'll be "one" with your car and shifts will be super-smooth :-)

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~*Hula Girl at Heart*~
Rear Deck Spoiler, Splash Guards, AFE filters, Weathertech Liners, Xpel, Calipers in VHT Bright Blue, Clazzio Seatcovers

zmanelite

Here ya go , watch this video

Learn How To Drive Stick In Five Minutes

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Instagram @zmanscm

Firebase99

Just bring the revs up to 7500, clutch in, engage first, let go of weird third pedal on far left and hang on.

Don't listen to me.

DavidZ370

That hyundai warranty must be gr8

MagmaRed370z

you picked an interesting car to learn how to drive stick. By nature the 370z is a PITA to launch. I have been driving stick my whole life (never purchased an AT) and sometimes 1st is a mess lol

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Sold: 2014 Magnetic Black Base.
Current: 2014 Magma Red 370z Sport | ARK Grip Exhaust | 25mm HR Spacers | GTR Button | DRL Mod