Gearbox feel in Z and other cars

wdkwang · 02-26-2011, 05:03 AM

I've been driving the Z for just about 2 weeks now and it's my first manual. I have a short throw shifter installed and the gearbox feels a little stiff and notchy, but I've grown to like it very much. I'm noticing 1st gear is starting to loosen up though.
My friend's that drive manual say it's just the gears smoothing out, but it will stay that way permanently and the other gears will be effected, as well, as you keep driving.
I've driven so far my friends' G35, RSX Type-S, and 09 WRX in the past 2 weeks just to get a feel for different clutches and gearboxes.
First thing I noticed was that all of their clutches grab low and it was very easy to just hop in and drive smoothly (even for a noob like me). I personally feel like I work their clutches better than the Z.
More importantly, all of their gearboxes feel loose. It felt like I could've literally used 1 finger to easily shift through all the gears if I wanted to. Is this how my gearbox will ultimately end up feeling?

Red__Zed · 02-26-2011, 05:54 AM

Probably not. The z's shifter stays pretty notchy. It's not
one of the better-feeling shifters out there.

I haven't driven a g35 in a while, but the rsx s gearbox is a dream, and the wrx is a long and light travel. The z just has a much notchier feeling shifter.

kenchan · 02-26-2011, 08:18 AM

Newbs should stay away from shortshifters and just concentrate on practicing the one car they intend to drive first. Every car is different.

ProfessorDave · 02-26-2011, 08:23 AM

I only owned cars with manual transmissions. I've never noticed shifters getting smoother. Just the opposite.

Personally, I don't see the need for a short shifter in the Z. The throw is not that long.

cfweber · 02-26-2011, 08:29 AM

The Z is rough, loud, harsh because Nissan wants it that way.

Shift wise it feels heavy duty.

Let me ask this, "What did you think during/after the test drive?"

Soygen · 02-26-2011, 08:55 AM

The first 4,000 miles or so, my shifter was pretty smooth transitioning from gear to gear. Then one morning, there was some resistance/notchiness going from 1st to 2nd. Now there is resistance moving into every gear.

Is this just the 370z gear box or do I have a problem? I'm at 6600 miles now and it hasn't gotten any better or worse really, but it's particularly annoying when trying to throw shifts quickly.

ImportConvert · 02-26-2011, 09:37 AM

I thought the 370Z's shifter felt like butter, but then, it's a light-weight gearbox compared to the TKO500 and T56 I am used to.

Shifts rarely get smoother, but I have heard of such.

Soygen · 02-26-2011, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ImportConvert

I thought the 370Z's shifter felt like butter

Yeah, it was at first on mine. I should probably have a tech look at it. I've heard stories of shitty syncros.

ChrisSlicks · 02-26-2011, 10:03 AM

I agree that you shouldn't have installed the short throw shifter especially given that this is your first manual and that the throw isn't long to start with. A short throw shifter increases the effort required and isn't necessarily an upgrade, but rather a preference. On cars that have a ridiculously long throw (e.g. older Mustang) it was definitely an upgrade.

Svre46 · 02-26-2011, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProfessorDave

I only owned cars with manual transmissions. I've never noticed shifters getting smoother. Just the opposite.

Personally, I don't see the need for a short shifter in the Z. The throw is not that long.

I agree. I installed a B&M and found the throws to be just a bit shorter but really not all that much compared to stock. I do like the lower height though. If i knew how it would really feel I would have not even purchased it.

Slynky · 02-26-2011, 10:53 AM

Been driving mine for over a year now and it's still as stiff as ever (feels like it's having to work its way thorugh a bowl of cold molasses). I came from the RSX S and after driving the Z a while (and getting back in my wife's RSX), the RSX almost feels toyish. Don't get me wrong--I don't mind the RSX shifting--it just feels so "free" or something now. I'm not a fan of the manual in the Z but it's OK. Sometimes I wish I had gotten the auto (because it's faster, generally speaking, in the quarter) but it was a hefty price addition to pay. AND, there are a few people who have posted some negatives on the auto anyway (IIRC).

EL Diablo · 02-26-2011, 11:04 AM

Z shifter can be slightly rough/sticky
I had a newer Civic Si and that shifter was butter compared to the Z.

Cell · 02-26-2011, 11:15 AM

Before my Z I had the RSX-S. The RSX-S manual is ok. I always had the third gear issue where I would hit a wall and it would not go into gear unless I played with it. It does feel smoother than the Z but I prefer the Z's manual over the RSX. I actually enjoy that notchy feeling.

RockStarKick · 02-26-2011, 11:20 AM

Mine is really notchy when its cold, I have gotten accustomed to the way I have to drive while tranny is cold. I have noticed that the Z trans likes to be
shifted at around 3K, anything under and it's very clunky. I just ease the shifter
into gear, not forcing it, I can feel the teeth engage and then I finish the shift.

When it's all warmed up, it's like butter.

Mt Tam I am · 02-26-2011, 12:35 PM

OP: Just shift it into gear and drive. However it feels is the way it is. All cars are different and you just need to focus on yours. Enjoy.

02-26-2011, 05:03 AM	#1 (permalink)
wdkwang Track Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: N/A Posts: 899 Drives: slidewayz Rep Power: 21	Gearbox feel in Z and other cars I've been driving the Z for just about 2 weeks now and it's my first manual. I have a short throw shifter installed and the gearbox feels a little stiff and notchy, but I've grown to like it very much. I'm noticing 1st gear is starting to loosen up though. My friend's that drive manual say it's just the gears smoothing out, but it will stay that way permanently and the other gears will be effected, as well, as you keep driving. I've driven so far my friends' G35, RSX Type-S, and 09 WRX in the past 2 weeks just to get a feel for different clutches and gearboxes. First thing I noticed was that all of their clutches grab low and it was very easy to just hop in and drive smoothly (even for a noob like me). I personally feel like I work their clutches better than the Z. More importantly, all of their gearboxes feel loose. It felt like I could've literally used 1 finger to easily shift through all the gears if I wanted to. Is this how my gearbox will ultimately end up feeling? __________________ Powerhouse Amuse \| K&N Typhoon Intakes \| MotorDyne ART Pipes \| Borla Catback Exhaust \| B&M Short Shifter \| Intake Ducts \| Ichiba 25mm F/R Spacers \| Carbon Fiber Interior Vinyl Wrap \| Tints \| 10000k HIDs \| Vtak, yo!

02-26-2011, 08:23 AM	#4 (permalink)
ProfessorDave A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Scranton, PA Posts: 1,580 Drives: In the fairway Rep Power: 19	I only owned cars with manual transmissions. I've never noticed shifters getting smoother. Just the opposite. Personally, I don't see the need for a short shifter in the Z. The throw is not that long. __________________ Rain, snow, sleet, hail: 2009 Mazda 3 sGT HB Everything else: 2009 370z, PW Touring 6MT

02-26-2011, 08:29 AM	#5 (permalink)
cfweber Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Independence Posts: 388 Drives: 10 370Z BS 6 SP Rep Power: 15	by design The Z is rough, loud, harsh because Nissan wants it that way. Shift wise it feels heavy duty. Let me ask this, "What did you think during/after the test drive?"

02-26-2011, 10:03 AM	#9 (permalink)
ChrisSlicks A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North East Posts: 6,203 Drives: 09 370Z Sport M6 Rep Power: 653	I agree that you shouldn't have installed the short throw shifter especially given that this is your first manual and that the throw isn't long to start with. A short throw shifter increases the effort required and isn't necessarily an upgrade, but rather a preference. On cars that have a ridiculously long throw (e.g. older Mustang) it was definitely an upgrade. __________________ Hotchkis ARB \| Stillen CAI \| Art Pipes \| Berk CBE \| Stillen AP Racing Brakes \| AE Performance Oil Cooler \| BC Racing ER Coilovers \| Doran Control Arms

02-26-2011, 10:53 AM	#11 (permalink)
Slynky Track Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: McDonough, GA Posts: 595 Drives: 2010 Red 370Z T/S/N Rep Power: 17	Been driving mine for over a year now and it's still as stiff as ever (feels like it's having to work its way thorugh a bowl of cold molasses). I came from the RSX S and after driving the Z a while (and getting back in my wife's RSX), the RSX almost feels toyish. Don't get me wrong--I don't mind the RSX shifting--it just feels so "free" or something now. I'm not a fan of the manual in the Z but it's OK. Sometimes I wish I had gotten the auto (because it's faster, generally speaking, in the quarter) but it was a hefty price addition to pay. AND, there are a few people who have posted some negatives on the auto anyway (IIRC). __________________ A veteran is someone who, at one point in their life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America," for an amount of "up to and including my life."

02-26-2011, 05:54 AM	#2 (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	Probably not. The z's shifter stays pretty notchy. It's not one of the better-feeling shifters out there. I haven't driven a g35 in a while, but the rsx s gearbox is a dream, and the wrx is a long and light travel. The z just has a much notchier feeling shifter.

02-26-2011, 08:18 AM	#3 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	Newbs should stay away from shortshifters and just concentrate on practicing the one car they intend to drive first. Every car is different.

02-26-2011, 08:55 AM	#6 (permalink)
Soygen Base Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Ft. Lauderdale, FL Posts: 163 Drives: 2017 BMW M2 6MT Rep Power: 15	The first 4,000 miles or so, my shifter was pretty smooth transitioning from gear to gear. Then one morning, there was some resistance/notchiness going from 1st to 2nd. Now there is resistance moving into every gear. Is this just the 370z gear box or do I have a problem? I'm at 6600 miles now and it hasn't gotten any better or worse really, but it's particularly annoying when trying to throw shifts quickly.

02-26-2011, 09:37 AM	#7 (permalink)
ImportConvert A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: SWMO Posts: 4,454 Drives: 2019 CX5 GT Reserve Rep Power: 7627	I thought the 370Z's shifter felt like butter, but then, it's a light-weight gearbox compared to the TKO500 and T56 I am used to. Shifts rarely get smoother, but I have heard of such.

02-26-2011, 11:04 AM	#12 (permalink)
EL Diablo Base Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: USA Posts: 91 Drives: Not a 370Z Rep Power: 14	Z shifter can be slightly rough/sticky I had a newer Civic Si and that shifter was butter compared to the Z. __________________ The Z Has Left The Building. Thank You & Good Night!

02-26-2011, 11:15 AM	#13 (permalink)
Cell A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,449 Drives: A Garbage Truck Rep Power: 21	Before my Z I had the RSX-S. The RSX-S manual is ok. I always had the third gear issue where I would hit a wall and it would not go into gear unless I played with it. It does feel smoother than the Z but I prefer the Z's manual over the RSX. I actually enjoy that notchy feeling.

02-26-2011, 11:20 AM	#14 (permalink)
RockStarKick Enthusiast Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Houston Posts: 298 Drives: it like a rental Rep Power: 14	Mine is really notchy when its cold, I have gotten accustomed to the way I have to drive while tranny is cold. I have noticed that the Z trans likes to be shifted at around 3K, anything under and it's very clunky. I just ease the shifter into gear, not forcing it, I can feel the teeth engage and then I finish the shift. When it's all warmed up, it's like butter. __________________ 2013 Mustang GT, 6M, Track Pack & Leather Recaros 2011 Pearl White 6M /Sport Pkg - SOLD

02-26-2011, 12:35 PM	#15 (permalink)
Mt Tam I am A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: California Posts: 10,709 Drives: 370Z T/S/N 6MT & XKE Rep Power: 3843	OP: Just shift it into gear and drive. However it feels is the way it is. All cars are different and you just need to focus on yours. Enjoy. __________________ "Does the carpet match the drapes? NO!!! I don't date bald women." Nissan Motorsports 34R Oil Cooler. Stillen CBE. Hotchkis Sport Sway Bars. KW Variant 3 Coilover System. Stillen Gen3 CAI. Michelin Pilot Super Sport. Stillen Brake Ducts. Carbotech™ XP10/XP8 Pads. Z1 Front Rotors. Z1 Stainless Brake Lines. Two degrees of camber

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