Noob at driving stick, how hard is it with the z??

tonybui · 01-06-2010, 10:10 PM

As title said, anyone with same problem? I don't have a problem as I have basic of drving a stick with my cousin SI but is the Z harder since it's a RWD??

cptspeed · 01-06-2010, 10:35 PM

The pedal on the right is much more dangerous than in a civic.

tonybui · 01-06-2010, 10:45 PM

hahaha seriously man, I'm not afraid of leaning and probably stall a couple times but its bearable right ?? im a fast learner. It's just that blindspot when backing out of parking lot with a manual trasmission in the Z kinda worry me a bit !!

Viera · 01-06-2010, 10:45 PM

Go test drive one.

tonybui · 01-06-2010, 10:48 PM

Yeah, I should. Man its gonna be embarrassing if i stall when the sale man is in the car hahahaha

m4a1mustang · 01-06-2010, 11:00 PM

Driving stick is no big deal. The issue is when you combine power with inexperience. Very easy to go wrong if you are a moron, and obviously shifting mistakes can be more dangerous with rwd.

But like it has already been said, the civic is a very weak car compared to the Z... so be careful!

tonybui · 01-06-2010, 11:09 PM

Oh i'm not a racer so being a moron won't likely to be me. But thanks for the input guys !!
I will do a lot of practice in open places before really go out there !!

cptspeed · 01-06-2010, 11:13 PM

I have an auto. My last ride was a six speed. i don't miss it. The manual mode works awesome.

Attaboy · 01-06-2010, 11:18 PM

IMO, the difference isn't so much about FWD vs RWD, but the amount of power you now have on tap in the Z.

probably the biggest difference you will notice is that the clutch is much beefier and requires more effort to depress and properly time release when engaging 1st and 2nd gear than a car like a civic requires. stock clutches in those cars are almost effortless to depress.

take a test drive and just be careful when taking off from a stop the first few times. Feather the clutch until you get the feel for it. no need to rev above 2K. treat it like you would if you were taking off in any unfamilar car that has a manual transmission.

If the salesman tempts you to give it some gas and take off quick, dont do it no matter how fun it sounds. VDC is nice, but you can still lose control.

The MT is thrilling to drive if you can learn to do so properly, but it's not for everyone. you may want to consider the 7AT and take that for a test drive as well.

armensti · 01-06-2010, 11:26 PM

i would say go auto but who am i to judge. i learned how to drive stick on the z and after few months im a beast behind the wheel. i love the fact that my car is stick and i would never trade it for an auto. When i drive an automatic car i keep looking for the clutch lol and it gets boring very fast. There is no feeling like the one that you get when your doing 40mph in 5th gear and you hit the clutch rev to 5.5-6k and dump it in 2nd. i wouldnt trade that for anything

Zaggeron · 01-06-2010, 11:26 PM

Avoid stop lights at the top of a hill if the intersection is busy if you are at all shaky on the clutch engagement. As people have noted here before, people have a tendency to pull up closely to you at a red light

armensti · 01-06-2010, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zaggeron

Avoid stop lights at the top of a hill if the intersection is busy if you are at all shaky on the clutch engagement. As people have noted here before, people have a tendency to pull up closely to you at a red light

i play with the clutch and the gas a little bit if someone comes really close behind me and if they dont get the point i just let off the brake and roll back really close to them lol

tonybui · 01-06-2010, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by armensti

i play with the clutch and the gas a little bit if someone comes really close behind me and if they dont get the point i just let off the brake and roll back really close to them lol

Hey, u might win the arguement since that person is not keeping distance and your car is a stick so it tends to roll back a little up hill. Happened to someone I knew (just in case you hit that car)

Red370 · 01-07-2010, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by armensti

There is no feeling like the one that you get when your doing 40mph in 5th gear and you hit the clutch rev to 5.5-6k and dump it in 2nd. i wouldnt trade that for anything

say whaaaat?

fairladyZ34 · 01-07-2010, 12:48 AM

i got a friend in the hospital right now because of inexperience so just be careful

01-06-2010, 10:10 PM	#1 (permalink)
tonybui A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,397 Drives: 09 Sports 6 Speed Rep Power: 427	Noob at driving stick, how hard is it with the z?? As title said, anyone with same problem? I don't have a problem as I have basic of drving a stick with my cousin SI but is the Z harder since it's a RWD??

01-06-2010, 11:00 PM	#6 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6962	Driving stick is no big deal. The issue is when you combine power with inexperience. Very easy to go wrong if you are a moron, and obviously shifting mistakes can be more dangerous with rwd. But like it has already been said, the civic is a very weak car compared to the Z... so be careful! __________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

01-06-2010, 11:18 PM	#9 (permalink)
Attaboy Base Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Olathe, KS Posts: 130 Drives: '09 370Z 6M Black Rep Power: 16	IMO, the difference isn't so much about FWD vs RWD, but the amount of power you now have on tap in the Z. probably the biggest difference you will notice is that the clutch is much beefier and requires more effort to depress and properly time release when engaging 1st and 2nd gear than a car like a civic requires. stock clutches in those cars are almost effortless to depress. take a test drive and just be careful when taking off from a stop the first few times. Feather the clutch until you get the feel for it. no need to rev above 2K. treat it like you would if you were taking off in any unfamilar car that has a manual transmission. If the salesman tempts you to give it some gas and take off quick, dont do it no matter how fun it sounds. VDC is nice, but you can still lose control. The MT is thrilling to drive if you can learn to do so properly, but it's not for everyone. you may want to consider the 7AT and take that for a test drive as well. __________________ farts are funny on so many levels.

01-07-2010, 12:48 AM	#15 (permalink)
fairladyZ34 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Central NJ Posts: 1,577 Drives: 08 G37S Black M6 Rep Power: 19	i got a friend in the hospital right now because of inexperience so just be careful __________________ From Z to G to BMW and back to a G! Nismo for life

01-06-2010, 10:35 PM	#2 (permalink)
cptspeed Track Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: tampa Posts: 799 Drives: 09 370z Rep Power: 17	The pedal on the right is much more dangerous than in a civic.

01-06-2010, 10:45 PM	#3 (permalink)
tonybui A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,397 Drives: 09 Sports 6 Speed Rep Power: 427	hahaha seriously man, I'm not afraid of leaning and probably stall a couple times but its bearable right ?? im a fast learner. It's just that blindspot when backing out of parking lot with a manual trasmission in the Z kinda worry me a bit !!

01-06-2010, 10:45 PM	#4 (permalink)
Viera Track Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 897 Drives: '09 M.Blue 370Z 6MT Rep Power: 264	Go test drive one.

01-06-2010, 10:48 PM	#5 (permalink)
tonybui A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,397 Drives: 09 Sports 6 Speed Rep Power: 427	Yeah, I should. Man its gonna be embarrassing if i stall when the sale man is in the car hahahaha

01-06-2010, 11:09 PM	#7 (permalink)
tonybui A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,397 Drives: 09 Sports 6 Speed Rep Power: 427	Oh i'm not a racer so being a moron won't likely to be me. But thanks for the input guys !! I will do a lot of practice in open places before really go out there !!

01-06-2010, 11:13 PM	#8 (permalink)
cptspeed Track Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: tampa Posts: 799 Drives: 09 370z Rep Power: 17	I have an auto. My last ride was a six speed. i don't miss it. The manual mode works awesome.

01-06-2010, 11:26 PM	#10 (permalink)
armensti Enthusiast Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: CA Posts: 447 Drives: 370Z/Tring/Spt/6MT Rep Power: 16	i would say go auto but who am i to judge. i learned how to drive stick on the z and after few months im a beast behind the wheel. i love the fact that my car is stick and i would never trade it for an auto. When i drive an automatic car i keep looking for the clutch lol and it gets boring very fast. There is no feeling like the one that you get when your doing 40mph in 5th gear and you hit the clutch rev to 5.5-6k and dump it in 2nd. i wouldnt trade that for anything

01-06-2010, 11:26 PM	#11 (permalink)
Zaggeron A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,951 Drives: '10 370ZR '13 BRZ Rep Power: 18	Avoid stop lights at the top of a hill if the intersection is busy if you are at all shaky on the clutch engagement. As people have noted here before, people have a tendency to pull up closely to you at a red light