370z hard to drive?

Jeffblue · 12-16-2010, 08:14 AM

i drove my friends saab 900cs. WHOA that is different. its a cable clutch, that engages like ON the floor. talk about a weird feel.

Zaggeron · 12-16-2010, 08:25 AM

I think the issue is more that the 370z is hard to drive slowly in traffic situations. I believe this is primarily because of the awkward shift from 1-2 when at slow speeds. When driving in locations where you can give it some gas without hitting the car in front of you I find it easy to drive.

ImportConvert · 12-16-2010, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeffblue

i drove my friends saab 900cs. WHOA that is different. its a cable clutch, that engages like ON the floor. talk about a weird feel.

Sounds like it's a cable clutch that needs adjusting. I love cable-clutches. They don't have the issues hydraulic ones do. People like to whine about how "hard" to press they are, though.

spearfish25 · 12-16-2010, 08:28 AM

The Z is not "hard to drive" at all. An 18-wheeler with 22 forward gears is "hard to drive". The Z just magnifies clumsy clutch action and shifting, which becomes apparent by the herky-jerky shifts you'll get.

On the Z, the clutch and transmission require some finesse to make the gear transitions smooth. If you're stalling the car, you're missing some core fundamentals to manual transmission operation. If you'd like to try driving a manual car that's truely 'hard to drive', go try out an early Jaguar X-type manual. The clutch was fully engaged about 1/4" off the floor. If you stall the Z, you'll never get the X-type moving.

Jeffblue · 12-16-2010, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ImportConvert

Sounds like it's a cable clutch that needs adjusting. I love cable-clutches. They don't have the issues hydraulic ones do. People like to whine about how "hard" to press they are, though.

definitely was hard to press, but there was definitely a feel to it.

weird thing was the way the pedal traveled. maybe the car was messed up. but 3 pedals were totally loose. like you could push them down 2 inches with no resistance and nothing would happen (no gas, no clutch release, no brake) then you would get resistance, and each pedal would start to do what it was supposed to do. at first i thought it was the lightest clutch in the world. very strange, never seen anything like that on a car.

i didn't stall it though. he was like 'everyone who drives this car stalls it the first time.' i think he had more fun driving my Z though. i had SRM on when he test drove it and he was like WTF?! which i guess i could see being weird if you didn't expect it.

ImportConvert · 12-16-2010, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeffblue

definitely was hard to press, but there was definitely a feel to it.

weird thing was the way the pedal traveled. maybe the car was messed up. but 3 pedals were totally loose. like you could push them down 2 inches with no resistance and nothing would happen (no gas, no clutch release, no brake) then you would get resistance, and each pedal would start to do what it was supposed to do. at first i thought it was the lightest clutch in the world. very strange, never seen anything like that on a car.

i didn't stall it though. he was like 'everyone who drives this car stalls it the first time.' i think he had more fun driving my Z though. i had SRM on when he test drove it and he was like WTF?! which i guess i could see being weird if you didn't expect it.

Yes, it has problems. Not normal.

Jeffblue · 12-16-2010, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ImportConvert

Yes, it has problems. Not normal.

hmm i should let him know. any idea what that would be symptomatic of?

ImportConvert · 12-16-2010, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeffblue

hmm i should let him know. any idea what that would be symptomatic of?

Loose/stretched throttle cable, same for clutch, and needing new hydraulics or to bleed the hydraulics or adjust the drums for the brakes, depending.

Again, just a SWAG as to the issue, but that's jacked up sounding to me.

Jeffblue · 12-16-2010, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ImportConvert

Loose/stretched throttle cable, same for clutch, and needing new hydraulics or to bleed the hydraulics or adjust the drums for the brakes, depending.

Again, just a SWAG as to the issue, but that's jacked up sounding to me.

haha, interesting. i guess he doesn't really care. the car has been in his family as the old crappy car since 1994. It was written off as a total loss when someone drove into it while parked. they took the check, fixed the car, and it runs ok. i guess he'll just drive it till the wheels fall off. tlk about getting your moneys worth out of a car.

shadoquad · 12-16-2010, 09:14 AM

I've never had trouble driving this car, and I've driven manuals for 15 years now. I've driven sports cars for most of that time, plus one small SUV and one sedan (these are just the manuals, I've driven plenty of autos as well). It's not "hot knife through butter" like a Mazda short shifter, but it's not Mt Everest either.

Jeffblue · 12-16-2010, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shadoquad

It's not "hot knife through butter" like a Mazda short shifter, but it's not Mt Everest either.

that is where you are mistaken my friend.

15 years of driving shado? how old are you. you said you were 17 with nice boobs and a sexy butt

Hijinks · 12-16-2010, 09:41 AM

Been driving manual Hondas for the last four years and never stalled the Z once. I agree it took me a couple hours of driving to be smooth if a passenger is in the car.

I really think launching a four wheel drive manual is MUCH harder than the Z. My friend has had his Subaru for two years and still struggles to get good starts off the line.

ClemsonWill · 12-16-2010, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by memorylasts

Clutch is a bit snappy in comparison to other clutches I've driven...and randomly test driven. But I dont think it is a hard car to drive.

I think this is a great way to explain it. I feel the clutch is somewhat "snappy" as well. Specifically when changing from 1st to 2nd. It's not hard to drive though. Just takes a bit of getting used to it.

shadoquad · 12-16-2010, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeffblue

that is where you are mistaken my friend.

15 years of driving shado? how old are you. you said you were 17 with nice boobs and a sexy butt

Yeah, I've been driving since I was 2.

kenchan · 12-16-2010, 10:50 AM

the biggest difference between my Z and my other MT cars that i currently own and have owned in the past is the delay in the throttle input.

it takes considerably longer for the car to respond to your input. that throws me off a little bit each time i get in my Z after a week of driving my other cars. this is another reason why i keep SRM on becuase im tired of timing myself a fraction earlier than my other MT cars just to setup a downshift.

12-16-2010, 08:25 AM	#17 (permalink)
Zaggeron A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,951 Drives: '10 370ZR '13 BRZ Rep Power: 18	I think the issue is more that the 370z is hard to drive slowly in traffic situations. I believe this is primarily because of the awkward shift from 1-2 when at slow speeds. When driving in locations where you can give it some gas without hitting the car in front of you I find it easy to drive. __________________ 2010 Platinum Graphite 370z Roadster:Touring/Sport 2013 Subaru BRZ Limited

12-16-2010, 08:28 AM	#19 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	The Z is not "hard to drive" at all. An 18-wheeler with 22 forward gears is "hard to drive". The Z just magnifies clumsy clutch action and shifting, which becomes apparent by the herky-jerky shifts you'll get. On the Z, the clutch and transmission require some finesse to make the gear transitions smooth. If you're stalling the car, you're missing some core fundamentals to manual transmission operation. If you'd like to try driving a manual car that's truely 'hard to drive', go try out an early Jaguar X-type manual. The clutch was fully engaged about 1/4" off the floor. If you stall the Z, you'll never get the X-type moving. __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

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12-16-2010, 08:14 AM	#16 (permalink)
Jeffblue A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: NY Age: 36 Posts: 9,192 Drives: Z32TT & 335xi Coupe Rep Power: 37	i drove my friends saab 900cs. WHOA that is different. its a cable clutch, that engages like ON the floor. talk about a weird feel.

12-16-2010, 09:14 AM	#25 (permalink)
shadoquad A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: . Posts: 42,608 Drives: . Rep Power: 3886	I've never had trouble driving this car, and I've driven manuals for 15 years now. I've driven sports cars for most of that time, plus one small SUV and one sedan (these are just the manuals, I've driven plenty of autos as well). It's not "hot knife through butter" like a Mazda short shifter, but it's not Mt Everest either.

12-16-2010, 09:41 AM	#27 (permalink)
Hijinks Base Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Minnesnowta Posts: 20 Drives: Nissan 370z 6spd Rep Power: 14	Been driving manual Hondas for the last four years and never stalled the Z once. I agree it took me a couple hours of driving to be smooth if a passenger is in the car. I really think launching a four wheel drive manual is MUCH harder than the Z. My friend has had his Subaru for two years and still struggles to get good starts off the line.

12-16-2010, 10:50 AM	#30 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	the biggest difference between my Z and my other MT cars that i currently own and have owned in the past is the delay in the throttle input. it takes considerably longer for the car to respond to your input. that throws me off a little bit each time i get in my Z after a week of driving my other cars. this is another reason why i keep SRM on becuase im tired of timing myself a fraction earlier than my other MT cars just to setup a downshift.