6MT and the right pair of shoes

cruzmisl · 08-26-2010, 02:59 AM

When I first got my G37S, I was pretty much clunking everywhere. My GF was a bobblehead due to this and said I need to man up and learn how to drive the car properly.

I usually wear athletic type shoes. Some adidas bounce, nike shox, air force ones, and some other random assorted shoes.

After I got the hang of the car a bit more, I found my self clunking a lot more in certain pairs of shoes. It didn't dawn on me that shoes with thicker soles were either muting more feeling from the clutch (not that it really gives us any to begin with) or giving me slightly more travel that it was causing me to inadvertently mess up.

I've since found that shoes like nike tennis classics, or any thinner-soled tennis shoe...adidas has a bunch, and soccer type shoes like the Air Gatos work really well for me. These weren't my preferred type of shoes before but I find myself going for them just because of the way it changes my control of the clutch. I hate wearing any type of dress shoe in the car.

Anyway, just my random observation. I was shoe agnostic when I drove an automatic, but now my behavior with the 6MT in wanting smooth shifts + clutch longevity has definitely affected my shoe choices.

Maybe it's just me...

spearfish25 · 08-26-2010, 08:29 AM

I like bare-foot but it's hard to heel-toe. Picked up a pair of Pilotis that are awesome. The worst for me are a pair of leather soled dress shoes...like driving with concrete bricks on my feet.

ZedZed · 08-26-2010, 08:45 AM

I tried the car with a pair of Geox, can't say at had any problem clutching. I do think it would be a problem with a pair of running shoes cause of the fact the pedals are so close to each other. Whereas I don't have any problems driving my 6Spd manual Audi A3 with fat sports shoes.

Zaggeron · 08-26-2010, 09:00 AM

My Favs:

Red__Zed · 08-26-2010, 09:44 AM

For normal-to-mildly spirited driving, I'm pretty much a shoe agnostic. I've been driving a manual since I got my license, and I've spent significant time driving in traffic in a pair of thick work boots, skate shoes, etc... all that provide literally zero feel. Took a little time to get used to, but I've no issue now running the car in just about anything.

For something crazy, I've got a couple pairs of Piloti's around here somewhere. I'll break them out whenever I've got the time to put the Z through it's paces.

antman22 · 08-26-2010, 09:55 AM

puma makes some pretty good shoes for driving, even outside of their racing shoes.

kenchan · 08-26-2010, 10:01 AM

i wear shoes with rounded heel when driving MT cars. even for work i wear leather slippers with the heels rounded since my dd is MT. for business meetings i take another pair of leather shoes.

for motoring my Z and G, i wear piloti's. i have several pairs but not all pairs fit well... so there's some trial and error to be done.

Jeffblue · 08-26-2010, 10:14 AM

Really popular on the drift scene:

kenchan · 08-26-2010, 10:21 AM

matches your brake calpers, jeff!

m4a1mustang · 08-26-2010, 10:28 AM

I have a pair of Puma Drift Cats that are very nice for when I know all I'm doing is going out for a drive or hitting up the track. Otherwise it doesn't matter.

ClemsonWill · 08-26-2010, 12:14 PM

I have had trouble with dress shoes as well. I have big feet and they tend to be too big when managing the pedals. I agree with Zaggeron, Chucks are the best.

Mt Tam I am · 08-26-2010, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spearfish25

I like bare-foot but it's hard to heel-toe.

Ouch! No foolin'. Barefoot means SRM. Dress Shoes are tougher to heel toe in but I rarely wear them. OP's Nike solution works for me.

Mt Tam I am · 08-26-2010, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeffblue

Really popular on the drift scene:

Yes but do they come in bright colors?

6spd · 08-26-2010, 12:33 PM

im a tad shorter than my fiancee, so i bought some shoes with large soles so that when she wears heels, im not being towered over, and they were a bitch to drive in. I just got used to them and there is no issue anymore. these were boots btw.

klubbheads · 08-26-2010, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cruzmisl

When I first got my G37S, I was pretty much clunking everywhere. My GF was a bobblehead due to this and said I need to man up and learn how to drive the car properly.

I usually wear athletic type shoes. Some adidas bounce, nike shox, air force ones, and some other random assorted shoes.

After I got the hang of the car a bit more, I found my self clunking a lot more in certain pairs of shoes. It didn't dawn on me that shoes with thicker soles were either muting more feeling from the clutch (not that it really gives us any to begin with) or giving me slightly more travel that it was causing me to inadvertently mess up.

I've since found that shoes like nike tennis classics, or any thinner-soled tennis shoe...adidas has a bunch, and soccer type shoes like the Air Gatos work really well for me. These weren't my preferred type of shoes before but I find myself going for them just because of the way it changes my control of the clutch. I hate wearing any type of dress shoe in the car.

Anyway, just my random observation. I was shoe agnostic when I drove an automatic, but now my behavior with the 6MT in wanting smooth shifts + clutch longevity has definitely affected my shoe choices.

Maybe it's just me...

as far as smooth driving its all practice and shoe type should make absolutly no difference of how smooth you drive.
With enough practice you will drive smooth with any type of shoe or without a shoe. Adjustments with different shoes should not take more than going through couple of gears.

As far as fast driving such as using heel-n-toe, shoes have everything to do with it... but not for smooth driving.

08-26-2010, 02:59 AM	#1 (permalink)
cruzmisl Base Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Hillsboro, OR Posts: 122 Drives: 08 G37S 6MT Rep Power: 15	6MT and the right pair of shoes When I first got my G37S, I was pretty much clunking everywhere. My GF was a bobblehead due to this and said I need to man up and learn how to drive the car properly. I usually wear athletic type shoes. Some adidas bounce, nike shox, air force ones, and some other random assorted shoes. After I got the hang of the car a bit more, I found my self clunking a lot more in certain pairs of shoes. It didn't dawn on me that shoes with thicker soles were either muting more feeling from the clutch (not that it really gives us any to begin with) or giving me slightly more travel that it was causing me to inadvertently mess up. I've since found that shoes like nike tennis classics, or any thinner-soled tennis shoe...adidas has a bunch, and soccer type shoes like the Air Gatos work really well for me. These weren't my preferred type of shoes before but I find myself going for them just because of the way it changes my control of the clutch. I hate wearing any type of dress shoe in the car. Anyway, just my random observation. I was shoe agnostic when I drove an automatic, but now my behavior with the 6MT in wanting smooth shifts + clutch longevity has definitely affected my shoe choices. Maybe it's just me... Last edited by cruzmisl; 08-26-2010 at 03:02 AM.

08-26-2010, 08:29 AM	#2 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	I like bare-foot but it's hard to heel-toe. Picked up a pair of Pilotis that are awesome. The worst for me are a pair of leather soled dress shoes...like driving with concrete bricks on my feet. __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

08-26-2010, 09:00 AM	#4 (permalink)
Zaggeron A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,951 Drives: '10 370ZR '13 BRZ Rep Power: 18	My Favs: __________________ 2010 Platinum Graphite 370z Roadster:Touring/Sport 2013 Subaru BRZ Limited

08-26-2010, 10:01 AM	#7 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	i wear shoes with rounded heel when driving MT cars. even for work i wear leather slippers with the heels rounded since my dd is MT. for business meetings i take another pair of leather shoes. for motoring my Z and G, i wear piloti's. i have several pairs but not all pairs fit well... so there's some trial and error to be done. Last edited by kenchan; 08-26-2010 at 10:03 AM.

08-26-2010, 10:28 AM	#10 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6962	I have a pair of Puma Drift Cats that are very nice for when I know all I'm doing is going out for a drive or hitting up the track. Otherwise it doesn't matter. __________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

08-26-2010, 08:45 AM	#3 (permalink)
ZedZed Base Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Belgium, Brussels Posts: 237 Drives: nothing Rep Power: 15	I tried the car with a pair of Geox, can't say at had any problem clutching. I do think it would be a problem with a pair of running shoes cause of the fact the pedals are so close to each other. Whereas I don't have any problems driving my 6Spd manual Audi A3 with fat sports shoes.

08-26-2010, 09:44 AM	#5 (permalink)
Red__Zed A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: window seat Posts: 28,940 Drives: Mostly on two wheels Rep Power: 120	For normal-to-mildly spirited driving, I'm pretty much a shoe agnostic. I've been driving a manual since I got my license, and I've spent significant time driving in traffic in a pair of thick work boots, skate shoes, etc... all that provide literally zero feel. Took a little time to get used to, but I've no issue now running the car in just about anything. For something crazy, I've got a couple pairs of Piloti's around here somewhere. I'll break them out whenever I've got the time to put the Z through it's paces.

08-26-2010, 09:55 AM	#6 (permalink)
antman22 Track Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Dallas TX Posts: 597 Drives: 09 PG 370z 7AT Rep Power: 16	puma makes some pretty good shoes for driving, even outside of their racing shoes.

08-26-2010, 10:14 AM	#8 (permalink)
Jeffblue A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: NY Age: 36 Posts: 9,192 Drives: Z32TT & 335xi Coupe Rep Power: 37	Really popular on the drift scene:

08-26-2010, 10:21 AM	#9 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	matches your brake calpers, jeff!

08-26-2010, 12:14 PM	#11 (permalink)
ClemsonWill A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 12,045 Drives: a Civic VP! Rep Power: 445	I have had trouble with dress shoes as well. I have big feet and they tend to be too big when managing the pedals. I agree with Zaggeron, Chucks are the best. __________________ Slightly modded

08-26-2010, 12:33 PM	#14 (permalink)
6spd A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: South Florida Posts: 3,001 Drives: Q50RS Rep Power: 25	im a tad shorter than my fiancee, so i bought some shoes with large soles so that when she wears heels, im not being towered over, and they were a bitch to drive in. I just got used to them and there is no issue anymore. these were boots btw. __________________ -Jay- jonathanjamesphotographer.com

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