How to drive a manual Z smoothly?

nicknick · 02-22-2010, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shabarivas

Shift slow when you go slow and shift fast when you go fast

Good point. You can't always release the cluth slow, especiallly when you are pressing on, if you do then this will be rough. Practice!

mick · 02-22-2010, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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

feelzpwr91 · 02-22-2010, 11:50 PM

had mine since last june i took me about a month and a half or close to 2 to get 1-2 mistake free, it will all come with time , Good Luck!

g96818 · 02-23-2010, 02:57 AM

practice and modifying the clutch travel helps a lot also

Matt · 02-23-2010, 03:20 AM

The Z, so far, has been one of the easier manuals to drive smoothly for me. My 72 Bug is nearly impossible to get a "perfect" take-off from 1st -> 4th. Even my tC was a little clunkier in lower gears, IIRC.

The BlueMax · 02-23-2010, 11:00 PM

The clutch in the Z is real sensitive, but I'm getting better. When the tranny is cold shift slowly from 1st to 2nd as it comes up to tempature you can shift faster. I drove my 97 WS6 on Sunday and the clutch engagement was so much easier

. It uses a pull type pressure plate, the T-56 tranny felt more solid, but the clutch pedal required more effort

iKnoYooNikka · 02-23-2010, 11:08 PM

Put a cup of tofu filled nearly to the edge in your cupholder than drive around and it'll get you driving smoothly in no time.

Ok on a serious note as everyone said like every car, it'll take time for you to adjust to how your car likes it. The biggest tip I gave to my bud who owns a Z is to not FORCE your shifts, but try to SMOOTHLY TRANSITION the shifter into the gears. The car knows you want to go into a higher/lower gear, just feel it and work with it and it shall be smooth for you. With patience and practice, you'll learn how to make your car feel smooth as an automatic, yet still deliver the sportiness of the Z legacy.

I know the Z is extremely fun to drive, and you'll like slamming the gearbox, but there is a time when someone is filling in that ever so vital 2nd seat in your ride. Make sure to treat your baby right so she can treat your special guest to a righteous smooth ride.

370Zsteve · 02-23-2010, 11:59 PM

I find things go much more smoothly if I gradually bring the revs to 3000+ in 1st gear, then shift to 2nd. But as someone else said, it's all about learning the clutch, feathering a bit when necessary, I just turned 2k miles and it gets easier every day. You should have driven my '84 Alfa GTV6. Twin-plate clutch was a bitch.

sktvietdragon · 02-24-2010, 02:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonybui

I just bought a 09 Z and no matter how slow I release the clutch, 1 to 2nd for me is always "rough" also there is this clunky noise everytime I shift even though I alwyas depress the clutch all the way in. How do you guys drive the Z smoothly? Please share your ways of driving, thanks

i have the same problem. driving my friends 8th gen si is easier than my z. but im getting a little bit better though

Drift Motion · 02-24-2010, 03:34 AM

just keep on learning

haha

its not that hard

Endgame · 02-24-2010, 07:46 AM

Practice Practice Practice... And always pay close attention to your driving. You will get it after a short while....

IDZRVIT · 02-24-2010, 08:23 AM

Quote:

I find things go much more smoothly if I gradually bring the revs to 3000+ in 1st gear, then shift to 2nd.

same here. Starting off and shifting into 2nd, the car shifts better at higher revs. The drivetrain is stout enough that the Z doesn't need to be babied.

kenchan · 02-24-2010, 08:42 PM

get a AT.

370degreesNY · 02-24-2010, 09:06 PM

I learned how to drive stick on my Z...not the easiest way to go about learning how to drive a MT.

kenchan · 02-24-2010, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 370degreesNY

I learned how to drive stick on my Z...not the easiest way to go about learning how to drive a MT.

but do you realize there is a difference between DRIVING a MT car and just making it move... driving MT is like learning a musical instrument. takes years not months to master.

02-22-2010, 11:50 PM	#18 (permalink)
feelzpwr91 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: RVA Posts: 311 Drives: 09 Black370z T M6 Rep Power: 197	had mine since last june i took me about a month and a half or close to 2 to get 1-2 mistake free, it will all come with time , Good Luck! __________________ Rather be driving my Z

02-23-2010, 02:57 AM	#19 (permalink)
g96818 Track Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: A rock in a big pond Posts: 681 Drives: 2009 370Z, 2012 M56 Rep Power: 3394	practice and modifying the clutch travel helps a lot also __________________ CZP are lying thieves!

02-23-2010, 03:20 AM	#20 (permalink)
Matt A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Augusta, GA Age: 41 Posts: 1,680 Drives: 2010 Avalanche LT Rep Power: 19	The Z, so far, has been one of the easier manuals to drive smoothly for me. My 72 Bug is nearly impossible to get a "perfect" take-off from 1st -> 4th. Even my tC was a little clunkier in lower gears, IIRC. __________________ "Any man who can drive a 370z while kissing a pretty girl is simply not giving the Z the attention it deserves." Albert Einstein....modified.

02-23-2010, 11:00 PM	#21 (permalink)
The BlueMax Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Louisville Posts: 337 Drives: 09 370/97 T/A 01 ZRX Rep Power: 25	The clutch in the Z is real sensitive, but I'm getting better. When the tranny is cold shift slowly from 1st to 2nd as it comes up to tempature you can shift faster. I drove my 97 WS6 on Sunday and the clutch engagement was so much easier. It uses a pull type pressure plate, the T-56 tranny felt more solid, but the clutch pedal required more effort

02-23-2010, 11:59 PM	#23 (permalink)
370Zsteve A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Gold Coast CT Posts: 10,599 Drives: 2019 Corvette G.S. Rep Power: 43	I find things go much more smoothly if I gradually bring the revs to 3000+ in 1st gear, then shift to 2nd. But as someone else said, it's all about learning the clutch, feathering a bit when necessary, I just turned 2k miles and it gets easier every day. You should have driven my '84 Alfa GTV6. Twin-plate clutch was a bitch. __________________ SOLD MY Z MARCH 2018 - another Core OG moves on - new ride 2019 Z Corvette Grand Sport - no mods necessary but already have eyes on HFC and intakes LOL IT NEVER ENDS.

02-23-2010, 11:08 PM	#22 (permalink)
iKnoYooNikka Base Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 22 Drives: 05 Acura RSX-S Rep Power: 15	Put a cup of tofu filled nearly to the edge in your cupholder than drive around and it'll get you driving smoothly in no time. Ok on a serious note as everyone said like every car, it'll take time for you to adjust to how your car likes it. The biggest tip I gave to my bud who owns a Z is to not FORCE your shifts, but try to SMOOTHLY TRANSITION the shifter into the gears. The car knows you want to go into a higher/lower gear, just feel it and work with it and it shall be smooth for you. With patience and practice, you'll learn how to make your car feel smooth as an automatic, yet still deliver the sportiness of the Z legacy. I know the Z is extremely fun to drive, and you'll like slamming the gearbox, but there is a time when someone is filling in that ever so vital 2nd seat in your ride. Make sure to treat your baby right so she can treat your special guest to a righteous smooth ride.

02-24-2010, 03:34 AM	#25 (permalink)
Drift Motion Base Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: 626 Posts: 76 Drives: 2010 PW 6MT Rep Power: 16	just keep on learning haha its not that hard

02-24-2010, 07:46 AM	#26 (permalink)
Endgame A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Phoenix Posts: 1,613 Drives: Nothing Now! Rep Power: 224	Practice Practice Practice... And always pay close attention to your driving. You will get it after a short while....

02-24-2010, 08:42 PM	#28 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	get a AT.

02-24-2010, 09:06 PM	#29 (permalink)
370degreesNY Base Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: NY Posts: 30 Drives: 09 370Z PW 6spd Rep Power: 16	I learned how to drive stick on my Z...not the easiest way to go about learning how to drive a MT.

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