New Manual Driver

mishuko

speaking from experience i learneded to drive manual on the Z too... i had 2 abilities. stall and rocket launch. it'll take some time (practice on residential roads once you get the basics down)

i still ride the clutch a bit during my hill starts and once in awhile from a standstill for a second or two but practice makes perfect. our clutches are strong but the csc... nvm

don't rush the clutch and you will get smooth shifts. Ken's ichi-ni-san count is a great way to do it if you have the sports mode shifting from 1st to 2nd and so on.

Firebase99

Havent tested it yet. Pesky moon roof switch is sticking. Time to trade the old girl in.

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'14 3.8 Genesis Coupe, '13 Volvo S60, '04 Honda Accord, '13 370Z-sold, '05 350Z Touring-sold, '92 300Z Twin Turbo-sold, '82 280ZX-gone, '79 260Z-gone

moore.speed

A lot of good advice here and again, be patient. It's not the easiest car to learn on. I learned in a Jeep Wrangler- whole different ballgame.

One thing I haven't noticed in this thread (and I hope this makes sense doesn't cause confusion)- when you're sitting at a stand-still and you're about to start moving forward, right when you are about to start slowly releasing the clutch, try to give it a very small amount of throttle, quickly. Like a tap on the gas peddle before giving it a consistent amount of throttle, taking off. This makes the transition into first gear much smoother and easier to find the engagement point, releasing the clutch.

I'm not suggesting dropping the clutch by any means but just a slight amount of throttle and slowly release the clutch like you've been doing and feeling first gear engage while releasing the clutch may seem easier for you.

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"Let me tell you something. Anyone who owns a car like this (370Z) has something wrong with them in the head." My Grandpa who has owned 4 Z's in his day.

kenchan

huh? with or without SRM, doenst matter. and im talking about engaging 1st gear from stop.

JARblue

1. Practice, practice, practice. It will become second nature to you with time.

2. No. Stalling isn't hurting your car.

3. Slow down and be patient with it.

Find an empty parking lot with parking spaces directly across the aisle from each other. Pull into a space and come to a complete stop. Reverse into the space across the aisle and stop. Pull forward into the original space and stop. Do this repeatedly to get a nice feel for the engagement point.

After you get first gear down, then you can practice the first to second shift. The rest are easy

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mishuko

i use your technique on 1-2 and 2-3 (a fast 1-2-3 count) and found it drastically helped in the jerkiness of the transition.... you've helped me improve my shifting more than you think

kenchan

i did?


jk, good to hear.

Jsolo

San Francisco is an awesome place to learn to drive a manual

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vooshhz

Got a lot better! I will be using the handbrake technique on hills for now.

Takes me about 1 full second to get moving on first gear, used to be like 5 seconds.

Another question if anyone reads it: When stopping for a stop sign or red light and I'm in 4rth gear, should I bring the transmittion to neutral right away, or at the very end of the stop? As in if it'll take me 6 seconds to stop, should I neutral at the beginning of the 6 seconds or at the end?

Thanks guys, really helping me out here!!

TN.Z

I typically downshift through the gears when coming to a stop, but it isn't necessary just helps with engine braking and saves a little on brakes. If you have a sport and have your synchro rev match on then you should practice this tactic. If not then you do not HAVE to put the car in neutral or press the clutch until your RPMs are low. Say like 1500 or so. If you always take it out of gear or press the clutch when you start to come to a stop then you will use more brakes in the long run. Let the engine help you stop, just don't let the RPMs go below your idle point without pressing the clutch in.

kenchan

u will feel the ecu burn the last bit of fuel with a slight bump in 4th while rolling. thats when i slide the gear into neutral without using the clutch to roll to a stop.

im usually in 3rd gear though while approaching a stop.

kenchan

and shift it into 1st gear just a second before you actually stop and slide it back into neutral, clutch-out. this aligns the folk to the holes so that you can shift into 1st easily when the light turns green.

otherwise you might encounter your gear shifter rejecting u into 1st gear unless you roll ur car forward or aft. since ure a newb, u might panic and kingkong the shifter into 1st which can damage it.

vooshhz

Hello again,

Much more improvement today. Shifting from 1st gear on wards is piece of cake. Feeling much more confortable, actually feels great when my shifts go as planned and don't give the car a jerk.

Here's a question that's been bothering me, the only thing that I don't know what it means or if its related:

Sometimes, not always, when I come to a stop from 3rd or 4rth gear, switching into 1st gear makes kind of a "zzzzz" sound, as if the car doesn't want me to switch. I have to kind of force myself into 1st gear. Also sometimes when I'm in 1st and I'm just using my clutch, there seems to be a sound, really fast, "tiktiktiktiktik". Am I doing something wrong?

Thanks

GeauxTigers1

CONGRATS on the car!! It's going to be SOO worth it. A manual Z is the way to go!

Second, all normal sounds, this is a very noisy transmission but that's bc of how built and truly track ready it can be. Some of your fastest best race cars have the noisiest trannys.

Few pointers, don't ever put the car in 1st unless you are coming to a stop or very very close to it. Your second gear is low enough that even if you are at 5 mph you can be in second and keep going.

Biggest thing that helped me learning was I always thought you have to either be pushing in the clutch OR the pedal, not both and that's so far from the truth it's not even funny. When I first get into a car, any manual, I immediately find the clutches release point by just pushing it in and out a little. If you can't tell, try putting the car in 1st and WITHOUT even touching the gas sloooowly release the clutch and the car will actually start to inch forward. Without you even pushing the gas. Once you found that you've found right about your point that you want to start feathering the gas when you want to go. Keeping the clutch slightly engaged, start to increase on the gas a little. This is normal wear and tear on the clutch and you may even burn it a little but that's OK. Clutches are replaceable and normal wear and tear items. Seriously whenever in doubt BURN that clutch. LOL especially when coming from a stop uphill. Find that release point on the clutch and just before it, start to accelerate. You will need practice on how to feather the gas and disengage the clutch simultaneously. Not instantly, but together. This will make your transitions so much smoother... and seriously the ladies LOVE smoooooth.

The best analogy that always helped me is it's just like relay racing. When you are running with a baton in your hand you go to hand it to the next racer, for a split second you are both holding the baton, you make sure he has it THEN you let go. You don't throw the baton at them or let it go like it's a hot potato. Treat the clutch the same way. pass it along to the gas. You can do that literally ever transition as you go.

Hope that helps and congrats on the amazing piece of machinery!

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Fast Intentions Kit Stage 2 #076 2017 Twin Turbo 370z Nismo. JMS Built Block, Closed Deck 874whp, 803lbs Tq e85 Ecutek Tune

vooshhz

Awesome man thanks! From the advice I got here, ive gained a lot of confidence. Spent the last 2 hours on a slight hill just clutching... trying to hit that engage point as fast as I can. I think in 2-3 days i'll be driving around the city without the fear of rolling back into someone.

Thanks!! loving the Z this car picks up so much speed in 2nd and 3rd gear I'm still getting used to it.

Everytime i come outside the house it puts a smile on my face. You guys are all awesome thanks!!