NOOB question for brand new cars.
 

Today I pulled the trigger and purchased a 2010 solid red sport touring without the nav pkg. I have test drove Z's before back in may and back in september. I always thought the transmission was very clunky but I can live with that. My problem is the clutch. It seems like banging megan fox ontop of mount everest would be easier. I swear from 1st to 2nd it releases the fly wheel early and from 3rd to 4th it releases it late. Is it because it is a brand new car? My rsx was as smooth as butter but I bought the car with 12 miles on it and it currently has 143 on it and I don't feel any better than i did when I drove it off the lot.

Clutch is definitely "on/off" early in its life. Give it a little time. I test drove both a brand new and well broken-in (5000+ miles car) and noticed much smoother, more uniform clutch operation in the one with more miles.

I have the same thing in my G37. I still have clunky/ jerky 1-2 shifts at 17k.

thanks guys. I figured it may have been because it was a brand new car. I have never had a new car before so I am not used to this. Not too mention I don't even want to drive it. I am so afraid to put a scatch on it.

I'm always tense when I take mine out, too, worrying about some careless or drunken driver who may damage it. That's a problem when you own a beautiful car and take pride in it like we do. I guess all you can do is to "drive defensively."

even at 6700 miles i still get a little jerky/bouncy accelerating in 1st gear at times. once it's warm it's better, but it was definitely worse early-on.

It's just a tough clutch to master, no doubt about it. 1st & 2nd is very difficult for me unless I'm either babying it or flooring it. Smooth is the word for this clutch..you gotta be smooooth.

The clutch does get better but is still difficult to manage. Of course coming from a Honda you are spoiled. They have some of the best clutch and shifter feel at any price.

Very true. Of course this clutch is built for a powerful engine so I expected something like this when I bought it. The flywheel is something like 23 lbs, I believe. 1200 miles now on mine and I'm getting used to it, but I laugh when I let one of my buddies drive it around the block, heh.

yeah you end up with a very jerky drive. although my mom picked it up with very little issue. brother did alright too, but he's used to performance clutches.

i'm DREADING teaching my gf to drive a stick on my car. been putting it off as long as possible. :shakes head:

Well thats good to know. I i guess time will tell. Good to hear to that the clutch is more difficult. So what does a dual stage clutch feel like? Can you feel when the first stage begins to slip and the second backs it up?

Going back and forth between my TSX and my 370Z is a real adjustment. But I appreciate and love both styles.

My 350Z really loosened up and settled out after about 10K miles - but I also think it was matter of adjusting my driving style. My buddies that drove S2000's hated the clutch/shifter combo in the 350Z. And I thought the input resistance betweeen the clutch pedal and the the throttle was very mismatched.

When I first started dating my wife, she asked to drive my 350Z and I kinda' laughed and said OK. She was used to driving a manual 01' VW Beetle so I thought she would make a real circus out of it. turns out she had no problem at all.

But I do like the feel of the 370Z better than the 350Z.

my shifts 1-2 are smooth on my Z... MT ofcourse. try engaging more gently.