How to drive a manual Z smoothly?

mick

it's pretty easy to drive a manual z smoothly if you have driven a manual transmission german car (i.e. they are tougher to drive smoothly, imo)

NCSUPACK09

^ I'm gonna disagree on that one. I've driven an E92 335i 6MT several times and it seems a lot more refined and easier to shift smoothly than the Z.

I agree with all the other guys on here that it just takes time to find that "sweet spot".

MeetJoeAsian

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...

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Jeffblue

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

KillerBee370

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

cab83_750

I can drive my German car as if it is automatic. The Z? I am about ready to give up even though I have almost 700,000+ miles for experience.

mick

i probably can't drive the z super fast and smooth but I can drive it at normal acceleration speed very smooth -- as smooth as an automatic

KillerBee370

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.

The BlueMax

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.

kevr6

I disagree!! All the german cars I've had have been more refined and easier to shift!
The "Friction Zone" on The Z requires that you hold the clutch a pinch longer then most cars! What your experiencing is driveline lash like you'd find with a pick up truck!
As stated throghout this thread, Practice makes Perfect! There are a number of refinement issues with our cars...like the seat quality, the rear road noise, lack of adaptive xenons (Mazdas have those), the fact that we still have a power steering pump vs mechanical steering, shifter vibration, harsh rear suspension, and driveline lash!!!
But when you look at the price then you understand why.

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mick

well, kevr6. maybe this just applies to me
i could not drive smoothly the german cars that i have had the very first time I drove them but I could drive the 370z smoothly the very first time behind the wheel.

of course, maybe I am just a much better driver now than when I drove those german cars -- i probably could drive them all smoothly today

EP350Z

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