Driving a stick properly is a skill. Some cars are harder than others...I actually find the German cars easier than most Japanese cars...But I love the clutch on the Z. It's right up my alley - feels perfect. I haven't had any clunks or anything.

I love manual trans.

:happydance:

your exactly right i end up feather/tease it until it feels right.

Yup i agree with mick on the german cars clutch!!!

Shifting into 2nd gear, I feel like there is something stuck in there that I can't just pull straight down from 1st. Anyone experiences that?

Nope. But I have the Canadian model so it must be different.:shakes head:

I've notice that when the car is still cold, putting it into 1st gear at a stop is really difficult to get through the gate. Once the car warms up, its like butter. Anyone else experience this?

Mine hardly ever shifts smooth, most especially if it's cold. And the pull on the thing, jeez ! It's like someone is underneath holding the shifter so it's hard to move around.

It's like 35 degree right now but the 40mph wind makes it a very cold day today. Maybe that's the problem.

^^ Yeah that sounds like what happens to me...not a complete stop but very very slow and its really hard to throw into first.

I will say this, I'd rather drive a tough to drive manual then an automatic any day!!!
Even in Grid lock, rush hour, traffic!! :tup:

One thing that helped me get smoother shifts is putting slight "pressure" on the shift knob in the direction you want to shift. The transmission will not let you shift until the clutch disengages. Do not use force, just light pressure.

Doing this will ensure that the shift lever starts moving into the next gear as soon as it is mechanically possible. It seems to make less noise when I do it this way, not sure why (maybe because the revs drop cleanly as the next gear engages).

I keep seeing this thread in passing and thought I would just come in and chime in...

I don't seem to have this apparent problem. :icon23: :tiphat:

Here is my second reply, when cold I take a second or two when shifting from 1st to 2nd to give the cold syncro time to smoothly accept the next gear. I have had pretty good success with this, especially slow speeds. When its warmer and higher rpms come into play I can shift faster without it cliping something on its way into the next gear.:ugh2:

The E92 335i and E46 M3 6MT's clutches are not the average German sports car clutch (I haven't driven an E92 M6 6MT yet, so I can't comment on that)...I have sold several E92 6MT, and I gotta say, their clutch is too soft...too much like the Toyota Corollas and Camrys clutches I think....it has too much give...it's way too buttery

if you want to feel the clutch of a German car, try a Porsche...I think that if you can master the clutch of a Porsche 911 Turbo, you can drive any stick...I had my 350Z 6MT back when and I had perfected clutching and shifting the 350Z, I was able to "race" the car off the line perfectly from a dead stop without over or under -revving and you couldn't feel my shifting...however, when I jumped a 911 Turbo, I thought it was gonna be the same, it took me awhile to perfect that clucth....now that's how you perfect clutching, by perfecting cluthing a Porsche...

Personally, I liked the 350's clutch much more than the 370's...I think the 350's clutch was shorter and firmer...I don't like the slight softness in the 370'z clutch...

Please don't do this. Even putting slight pressure on the knob like that while in gear can cause excessive wear in the synchros. Just take your time when shifting with cold trans fluid and give the car time to make the shift.

I think he means after the car is in neutral, in order to go into the next gear, apply the pressure, not when the car is already in gear. I have found the same thing, especially the first couple of 1-2 shifts. Just pushing toward the 2nd gear gate you can feel the moment when everything matches up right and it slots into gear, without any crunch/grind that you can get from trying to force it in.

The only problem with doing that is that you'll wear out the synchronizers quicker.

Glad I'm not the only one finding this 6MT a bit challenging to drive smoothly. At least I'm not alone. Is that what they mean by, "Cold Comfort?"

I think I'm gonna go buy A 911 so when I get my z I can drive it no problem. :driving:

Just point it downhill and keep it in neutral. Problem solved. :ugh2:

Sage Advice
 

BlueMax:

I spent considerable time out driving today, concentrating on shifting and handling. Shabarivas nailed it:

1) In town and in low-speed situations, shift slowly and gently. Drive like a Grannie and, after a while, you'll get smoother and more relaxed with the shifting.

2) In hard driving contexts, shift aggressively and get on the power immediately--shazam! Push the right foot down and feel the power pull you up toward the next shift--very gratifying.

Hope that helps. Now for real fun, turn the VDC off and and go for it. Oh, yeah...:driving:

and CRUNCH! no need to shift aggressively or slam the throttle wide for fast acceleration. smooth is the way to go.

It's always something.
 

No, I have never yet CRUNCHed my transmission on this admittedly new car (1200 miles)--I suppose there's still time. I simply meant not to be afraid of the car. In "hard driving contexts" (remember that?)... oh, never mind. It is absolutely not necessary to brutalize the car in order to shift aggressively (or drive aggressively, for that matter), and "getting on the power early" ("slam" was your word) is a necessary and desirable part of high-performance driving. Doing it all smoothly; that is where we are in complete agreement. :stirthepot:

I just purchased a 09 370z and im having that same clunk problem from 1st to 2nd. No matter how many different ways i do it.

spring
 

I've owned a bunch of mt vehicles but none had the clutch pedal feeling (or lack of) of the z. I figured it just took some getting used to... Then i saw a post for a replacement clutch assist spring on the forum...

BEST 15$ I EVER SPENT!

the stock spring is like 250 lbs of resistance, the replacement is like 60. it totally feels like the sports car clutch it should now. you can actually feel the point of friction and engagement... it's made the car so much more fun to drive, like night and day!

I was embarrassed to even state how I could not shift smoothly in the Z when I first got it. So glad to find out it wasn't me. I was so frustrated the first 3 months, I thought it was because its not my DD. Every time I would get it in it was like learning to shift all over again. I began to doubt if I would ever learn the gearing. I was most frustrated with 1st being so short, I still don't get that. But I have owned 5 manual tranny's and couldn't believe how difficult it was to get 1st to 2nd smoothly. Finally after 6 months things are alot smoother but I still clunk 1st-2nd every now and then. Slow and easy, slow and easy!

Revs up from 1st to 2nd helps...had same prob as you and too embarassed to admit it! Lol somebody on here suggested the rev ups and the dif was amazing. Shifting now is a breeze. :)

Every once in awhile I get that clunk when going from 1st to 2nd, usually after the first time I start the car. It took me some time to get use to driving the Z. At first I just totally sucked and get jerking when shifting gears. Now, I've learned to take my time and my shifts are pretty smooth.

If you let out clutch slow and smooth you won't have clunk feeling. Also a lot of people don't get used to it might because of the SRM. When it's on, you don't need to blipping the gas when shifting from 1st to 2nd. Try it.

Got a 13 w/SRM. 2/3 of the time, my shift's from 1 to 2 is fine. 1/3 of the time it's not as smooth as I like, but thought it was my driving. Does anyone know if this is better in the 13?

Okay after reading this thread last evening, went out driving and really paid attention to shifts and when gas was applied with SRM On. I believe Forza is correct.

On the 1-2 shift, hitting the gas (even slightly) a little early causes a clunk and a jerk. Letting it engage into 2nd then smoothly applying throttle makes a very smooth shift, however if you apply the gas too late after the engagement, like any other stick you get the slowdown then jerk acceleration.

Practicing this, my drive to work this morning was really smooth. Got a 13 though, maybe different model years behave differently.

:tup:you will have to let us know-we are all excitedly awaiting pics and evaluations...make sure we get closeups of all the changed parts. :excited:

Drive fast shift fast, drive slow shift slow. Ease on the gas. I got it to perfect now :)
Of course there are times that I still clunk but practice made perfect for me!!


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RJM Performance Clutch Pedal Assembly
 

I purchased the RJM Performance Clutch Pedal Assembly and installed it a couple of weekends ago. I'm very impressed with this Clutch Pedal Assembly, I must say that my 370Z feels like a different car; It actually changes the whole car experience.

I have driven manual cars my whole life, however, when I first purchased my 370Z and drove it around for a day, It felt like I never drove a manual before. 1st and 2nd gear was very jumpy and difficult, now, with the Clutch Pedal Assembly, it's smooth as ice. I barely have to give it any gas when starting from a dead stop and I'm able to switch gears way smoother. I just can't believe the difference it makes. Also, being able to adjust the clutch pedal to your liking makes it even that much better. I highly recommend this MOD.

Here is a link to photos of the clutch pedal assembly.

RJM Performance.com - Home