Auto or Manual-never driven stick

Lloydy · 05-06-2010, 12:23 PM

I've driven stick all my life, right up until I bought a Golf GTI a few years with the dsg gearbox. Really enjoyed that gearbox and if they had given the 370 a twin clutch auto like the they did in the GTR, I would have bought one no problem, but they didn't, so I went with the manual and I'm glad I did.

Like others are saying, it might not be a bad idea to learn in something crappy before you buy a manual Z.

frost · 05-06-2010, 12:27 PM

All this talk about learning on another car, having someone teach you, it's overrated.
Here's the story of the first car I bought with a stick: I bought it. I learned to drive in about 10 minutes, because if I didn't I wasn't getting home. I never grinded the gears. Stalled somewhere around 10 times. Been driving the hell out of anything with wheels since.

whoady4shoady · 05-06-2010, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frost

All this talk about learning on another car, having someone teach you, it's overrated.
Here's the story of the first car I bought with a stick: I bought it. I learned to drive in about 10 minutes, because if I didn't I wasn't getting home. I never grinded the gears. Stalled somewhere around 10 times. Been driving the hell out of anything with wheels since.

Rui Z · 05-06-2010, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenchan

sounds good, Rui. a car like the Z that wants to be motored, MT is the way to go. same as your MINI. go get a getrag.

I'm broke now

nolan1016 · 05-06-2010, 01:55 PM

basically its easy to drive a manual like crap but takes practice to drive one well. Its not like if you buy a manual there is no way you can drive it, people might just laugh at you for a little while till you get a hang of it.

The hardest part is learning to use your left foot at the same time as your right while driving.

brakedrift12 · 05-06-2010, 03:58 PM

Just telling you, my Z is my first manual car in my life. Well, I knew how the thing works and how to do things, and it took me about 2 week to feel easy with driving

dont worry about the clutches we have thing called warranty. Just get manual, its fun and make you feel like '"driving" the car

mayhem052 · 05-06-2010, 05:33 PM

Well don't tell him that because the clutch is classified as a wear and tear item and therefore not usually covered by the warranty unless there is manufacturer defect. That being said get one of your friends to teach you if you really want a manual. I would personally never buy a sports car without one. It all depends on personal preference though and if you want to get the best 1/4 mile times, because the auto definitely has the 6spd beat in that category. If you want to have the most control and more driver involvement then the 6spd is definitely the way to go.

kfscoll · 05-06-2010, 06:26 PM

The Z is my first manual car and it took me about two weeks to get it figured out. That being said, I never ground the gears and only "burned" the clutch twice. If you want a manual, get a manual. You'll figure it out really quickly and it's a blast to drive.

rudi · 05-06-2010, 06:32 PM

Driving modern day manual is really easy. My wife drove my manual Silvia S15 coming from an auto no problem. However, when you start doing things like hill starts you will have some fun. Only you can decide what you want to drive and don't let anyone tell you that a sports car needs to be a manual. That's not the case with the 7AT.

Gunzero · 05-06-2010, 06:45 PM

Just get a white Z they are the best

tonybui · 05-06-2010, 07:52 PM

Alrite guys I bought the z as a 1st manual car and I got it down smooth but still can't get it smooth when driving a bit aggressive going 1st to 2nd. Any suggestions on how to improve my knowledge there?

RayJay · 05-06-2010, 08:15 PM

I have been driving manual transmissions most of my life. I recently purchased a new 2010 370Z with manual transmission. All the gear ratios are good, except the low first gear. The first gear ratio was MUCH better in my older 1986 300Z manual transmission than the ratio in the new 370Z. ALL said I still enjoy the manual transmission.

Ricochet48 · 05-07-2010, 01:27 AM

Don't be discouraged if you have never driven stick. When I bought my RSX-S I had them drive it back to my house. I spent the whole night stalling up and down my driveway. A friend took me the next day and we drove in a parking lot. He just said put it at 1k rpm and let the clutch out as slow as possible. Simple as that. Then I learned rev matching by myself etc.

seungklee · 05-07-2010, 01:56 AM

I would say go ahead with manual transmission because like others have said numerous times, you control the car, not your car controlling you.

My first stick shift car was 08 Scion tC and I learned it within an hour, but it took me like a month to get it smooth and driving well. You will have hard time starting on an incline, but with enough practice and learning to let go of your fear of rolling back, you'll be fine. Also, during the time when you drive manual, you will be frustrated because it's not smooth and not going the way you wanted to, but don't get frustrated because it's all learning process, I have face this many times in my tC. Have fun with your manual! You can't go wrong!

gumpy · 05-07-2010, 02:04 AM

stick is the best but learn on a rental car which you can abuse without worring. For the sake of your clutch don't learn on the Z...

05-06-2010, 06:26 PM	#23 (permalink)
kfscoll Base Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 86 Drives: 09 370Z BS T/S/N 6MT Rep Power: 15	The Z is my first manual car and it took me about two weeks to get it figured out. That being said, I never ground the gears and only "burned" the clutch twice. If you want a manual, get a manual. You'll figure it out really quickly and it's a blast to drive. __________________ 2009 Brilliant Silver 370Z 6MT coupe w/ Touring, Sport, and Navigation packages

05-06-2010, 06:45 PM	#25 (permalink)
Gunzero Track Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 889 Drives: Nissan 370z Rep Power: 259	Just get a white Z they are the best __________________

05-06-2010, 08:15 PM	#27 (permalink)
RayJay Base Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: DFW Posts: 5 Drives: 2010 370Z Rep Power: 15	I AGREE on the 1st Gear Ratio I have been driving manual transmissions most of my life. I recently purchased a new 2010 370Z with manual transmission. All the gear ratios are good, except the low first gear. The first gear ratio was MUCH better in my older 1986 300Z manual transmission than the ratio in the new 370Z. ALL said I still enjoy the manual transmission.

05-07-2010, 01:27 AM	#28 (permalink)
Ricochet48 Base Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Darien, IL Posts: 117 Drives: 06 Acura RSX Type S Rep Power: 17	Don't be discouraged if you have never driven stick. When I bought my RSX-S I had them drive it back to my house. I spent the whole night stalling up and down my driveway. A friend took me the next day and we drove in a parking lot. He just said put it at 1k rpm and let the clutch out as slow as possible. Simple as that. Then I learned rev matching by myself etc. __________________ I feel like some RWD and torque!

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05-06-2010, 01:55 PM	#20 (permalink)
nolan1016 Base Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Lubbock Posts: 214 Drives: 09 Nissan 370z A6 Rep Power: 15	basically its easy to drive a manual like crap but takes practice to drive one well. Its not like if you buy a manual there is no way you can drive it, people might just laugh at you for a little while till you get a hang of it. The hardest part is learning to use your left foot at the same time as your right while driving.

05-06-2010, 03:58 PM	#21 (permalink)
brakedrift12 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: virginia Posts: 266 Drives: 10 Nissan 370z 4G M6 Rep Power: 16	Just telling you, my Z is my first manual car in my life. Well, I knew how the thing works and how to do things, and it took me about 2 week to feel easy with driving dont worry about the clutches we have thing called warranty. Just get manual, its fun and make you feel like '"driving" the car

05-06-2010, 05:33 PM	#22 (permalink)
mayhem052 Base Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Bartlesville, OK Posts: 26 Drives: 08' Civic Si/280ZX Rep Power: 17	Well don't tell him that because the clutch is classified as a wear and tear item and therefore not usually covered by the warranty unless there is manufacturer defect. That being said get one of your friends to teach you if you really want a manual. I would personally never buy a sports car without one. It all depends on personal preference though and if you want to get the best 1/4 mile times, because the auto definitely has the 6spd beat in that category. If you want to have the most control and more driver involvement then the 6spd is definitely the way to go.

05-06-2010, 06:32 PM	#24 (permalink)
rudi Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Australia Posts: 306 Drives: 370Z Australian Spec Rep Power: 16	Driving modern day manual is really easy. My wife drove my manual Silvia S15 coming from an auto no problem. However, when you start doing things like hill starts you will have some fun. Only you can decide what you want to drive and don't let anyone tell you that a sports car needs to be a manual. That's not the case with the 7AT.

05-06-2010, 07:52 PM	#26 (permalink)
tonybui A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,397 Drives: 09 Sports 6 Speed Rep Power: 427	Alrite guys I bought the z as a 1st manual car and I got it down smooth but still can't get it smooth when driving a bit aggressive going 1st to 2nd. Any suggestions on how to improve my knowledge there?

05-07-2010, 01:56 AM	#29 (permalink)
seungklee Enthusiast Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: SoCal Posts: 291 Drives: you around! Rep Power: 16	I would say go ahead with manual transmission because like others have said numerous times, you control the car, not your car controlling you. My first stick shift car was 08 Scion tC and I learned it within an hour, but it took me like a month to get it smooth and driving well. You will have hard time starting on an incline, but with enough practice and learning to let go of your fear of rolling back, you'll be fine. Also, during the time when you drive manual, you will be frustrated because it's not smooth and not going the way you wanted to, but don't get frustrated because it's all learning process, I have face this many times in my tC. Have fun with your manual! You can't go wrong!

05-07-2010, 02:04 AM	#30 (permalink)
gumpy Enthusiast Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Sydney Posts: 449 Drives: 09 370z white manual Rep Power: 16	stick is the best but learn on a rental car which you can abuse without worring. For the sake of your clutch don't learn on the Z...