370z hard to drive?

ImportConvert

Indeed, it does seem to have its flaws. Either way, it's paid for and it does what it needs to do.

sheps58

I have had my car since Oct. My previous standards were a 280z and an 62 E-type. I had not drive a shift for 20 years. I have it down now.

jeffreyfranz

Yes, definitely. I agree with others who responded to your post/initial question. It has taken me 10 months to begin to feel smooth in my Z. It is much harder to drive smoothly than my RX-8, which was a high-revving, low-torque car. Don't give up.

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jeffreyfranz

What did you think of the E-type?

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RiCharlie

This discussion reminds me of the days when the old timers were complaining about those new auto exposure cameras and how they just could not match the old held held meters and manually set cameras the purest (aka... old timers) used. You ought to think of an automatic transmission. Fast. Smooth and easy to master.

houkouonchi

I think I dis-agree with this. The point between which the clutch starts ingaging and is fully engaged, etc... can make a huge difference on how difficult it is and easy to stall if you are not used to it being like that.

See on my 370z if I let out the clutch slowly (at the grab point) I have no problem getting the car going (nice and slow) without giving it any gas at all (just letting off the clutch). The idle RPM is more than enough to get it going in reverse and forward. I typically don't give it any gas when backing out of my garage, parking lot at work, really bad stop/go traffic. etc...

I have driven Z's (mainly just 350z's) where the clutch was like digital. There is no way you could get it going without stalling it if you didn't give it gas. IMHO those Z's were pretty easy to stall and harder to drive than normal. My 370Z is not like this so I don't really consider my 370z to be hard to drive but I can imagine some 370z's are like the 350z I test drove that literally seemed to have a 'digital' clutch. The 'digital' clutch is a term me and my dad made after test driving that car.

cames4

Bought mine around September and had a ton of issues with the car. I found that the issue was PICNIC (problem in chair (seat), not in car). I found that if I let it rev over 3K and shift between 4-5K the car shifts wonderfully. Some may think I am nuts (for many reasons) but I run to 5 in first then shift around 4500 on average with other gears. In traffic, I will run in first for awhile and not have to mess with shifting. Just me though... On a side note, take it to 7K then shift and you will not even hear a pause in the process. JUST AWESOME....

Nitrouz

once I've owned and driven enough carbon clutches, everything else becomes a piece of cake.

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JayYoon

just curious... what rpm do u guys normally shift? i personally shift around 2.5k-3k rpm... and when going around 45mph i will be in fifth gear... u guys?

shadoquad

Depends on the situation.

Daily driving, maybe around 3000-3500.

Fun driving, 6-7k

Downshifting on the highway to pass with style (I don't know, but it's f*cking fun).

To reach supersaiyan, I recommend shifting at OVER 9000!

didymus

I did not find it difficult. It does engage over a small range but after a few shifts it should be clear. I'm thinking perhaps you guys are used to newer, more forgiving clutches, and haven't been driving a stick on older vehicles.

ImportConvert

2001 WS6 Trans Am
Built 1988 Mustang GT
Whatever Ford made in standard for 2005 when I worked at the dealership (other than the GT"40", I am sad to say)

All clutches were more forgiving.

radek7633

Easy way to prevent stalling is just rev it to 5500 and drop the clutch... pffft, newbie... *kidddding*

Vegitto-kun

It is just you sucking at driving a MT

I never had problems with MT cars, I stalled about 10 times in my life and 9 of them were on my first driving lesson and once when my foot slipped cuz of ice and slammed the clutch pedal up.

Yes I know that my Z is a AT if I could I would of gotten a MT but these days I don't mind it.

or maybe I am just getting corrupted.

the MT cars I have driven

renault clio 1.6 diesel
renault megane coupe 2009 1.9 diesel
renault megane CC 2.0 petrol
Renault master 3.2(not sure that is what my father always said) diesel
renault laguna 2.0 diesel
peugeot expert 2.0 diesel
BMW 320 diesel
BMW 325 petrol
Lotus elise
370Z roadster MT some laps on francorchamps and test drive


I OWNED the clio and megane coupe.

megane CC and laguna are my parents cars when the GT-R is in the garage for the winter

The master and peugeot are work cars

rest was borrowing from friends

I still find it funny that I went from a 1.9 4 cilinder diesel to a 3.7 V6 petrol

shadoquad

and the truth comes out