(MT question) Who honestly uses 1st gear besides on a hill?
 

1st gear is so damn low range torquey.

I never really use cause its so rough. I usually always use 2nd gear to pull away from a stop sign or stop light on level ground or when the car is facing down a hill.

Even the syncros in the tranny will not allow you to get into the 1st gear gate unless you are at a complete stop.

I think that 2nd gear is the smoothest way for me to get going from a light or stop.

What is everyone else's opinion on 1st gear in our manual trans car?

clutch doesn't like it

I agree, it really doesnt it. I'll feed it a bit of gas to get it into the 1000-1500 RPM range. As soon as I hit that engagement point, car almost stall like an elephant sat on the flywheel.

1st comes before 2nd for me...

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using Tapatalk 2

My Opinion is 1st was designed for a reason to get the car moving and continue the progress with the following gears.

Not using 1st is just adding more stress on a gear that was not designed to be used as the primary gear.

When and if you start having issues with 2nd?

Please don't come back to complain "My 2nd gear is giving me problems"


Good Luck....

I think it's widely enough agreed that the Zs MT is not so forgiving to user error. Personally I don't mind that it takes some effort to make the car react well. It's a sports car. It's good that it requires some skill to drive well.

Not all may agree though.



Tapatalk & such etc

Drives: 09 Nissan 370Z BS AT
Just nice.

I use 1st gear, but only until the engine revs to 8,000 RPM. Then I use second.

I use first if im totally stopped but I try to roll to a light and keep it in second and just go when it turns green. Starting in seconds Is slipping your clutch a lot more than normal.

i actually 'lol'd

ya i mean 1st gear in these cars is so short lived, sounds like you are trying to race someone when you get around 3500 RPM in 1st.


ProTip of the week:
I usually make sure Im doing about 90mph on the freeway in 6th and then when I see the exit. I just force it into 1st gear at 90mph. Keeps my rims clean with no brake dust. My forehead slams into the window but rather have clean rims.

You asked for an Opinion And just because I'm in AT doesn't mean anything.

I owned and worked on various Z's for the past 25years and all been Manuals so don't throw the AT nice comment if you aren't going to like peoples opinions. :rolleyes:

LOL starting from 2nd feels sluggish unless you apply some gas and rev match. Bypassing 1 is just plain silly.... c'mon man! All you are achieving is premature wear and tear. Good luck with that!

I always use 1st gear and I ditched the "helper" spring. All stock set-up right now, but I'm sure that will change soon.

No your opinion is valid and valued. Well atleast the first few sentences of it, because that is what I asked for.

The thread asked simply: Do you use 1st gear in your Manual Transmission 370Z.

What I did not ask for, were the snide remarks that followed your opinion. Which were to discourage me from posting a thread if there was any damaging effects by continuing this practice.

I always use first from a dead stop. It was designed for it and saves 2nd from wear and tear.

The faster I can get off the clutch per gear, the better. Clutches wear out and using 2nd gear from a stop is a good way to increase wear exponentially, and just like it was mentioned before, the synchros in 2nd weren't made for it. If your tranny does lose 2nd, and you take it in to Nissan, it's not going to get covered because it was damaged under a condition it was not built to withstand. I'm sure they will question why 1st gear looks brand new.

So to answer your question, I'm pretty sure 99.99% of us do, including the computer that controls the auto's tranny

I've never had an issue getting into 1st while moving. If you seriously have that issue you need to get your transmission looked at.

^^^ this

My bad to OP.

I didn't actually think you we're being serious about using 1st only on uphill starts. I assumed you were just trying to start a thread about how 1st sucks and were being creative about it lols.



Tapatalk & such etc

I use 1st gear and nothing else. 8000 rpms or bust!

More likely to see clutch wear than gear issues...

You are actually going to see LESS wear on your 2nd gear synchros starting in second...

2nd gear starts in the snow sometimes. However, with winter tires, I get minimal/no spin starting off in 1st. If the car is moving at least 5 mph, then 2nd gear, else 1st gear. First gear is a bit of a challenge to engage when moving, but with proper rev match, goes right in.

OP - you just made my day. Keep doing what you have been doing and let us know how it is with your car every 90 days.

Too much clutch feathering required to start in 2nd for the 370, imo. Sounds more like laziness to not use 1st to get the car moving.

1st ALWAYS from a stop. If I am moving at 5-10 then 2nd. Although not having to shift into 2nd does reduce synchro wear in 2nd the extra wear on the clutch isn't worth it. 1st allows the clutch to be smoothly released with minimal slipping. Slipping clutch = extra heat and substantially more wear.

Generally I don't shift into first unless I am below 5mph and usually when I am stopped.

1st is there for a reason.

I don't know what all this rough 1st gear nonsense is. Perhaps learning how to drive the car better would help:stirthepot:

i always use first, and i can slip it in gear while im moving around 5-10 mph no prob.

:bowrofl::bowrofl:

:|

First gear starts were never an issue for me. 2nd required a little too much clutch on anything but a downhill slope IMO, so I'd always start in first on a flat surface. Never had an issue with roughness.

Also, arguing with mods is not recommended. ;)

^ This

i dunno what everyones prob is with this gearbox
ppl describe so many issues i'v had never any of these only thing i find a bit shitty is to get in 6 cuz u realy gotta push it over hard or else u end up in 4th
oh and i always use 1st

I don't know about you guys, but my tires might end up lasting longer if I start out in 2nd. :icon17:

Seriously though, we all use 1st gear because it's there for a reason. But there are definitely some situations for starting in 2nd as some members described for icy or snow packed conditions.

if there is ice on the road our cars should sit tight in the garage this is not a all year around car everyone should before they buy unless of course you live in cali or so

BS. It's a year round car. Slap snow tires on it and have some fun.

we'll ok u go ahead drive it in winter then i'd rather have it parked away from salt and all this

LMAO.....Some of the stuff I see on this forum I swear.....

If Vettes can drive in the snow, we can do it. :tup:
https://www.lgmotorsports.com/galler...In%20Texas.JPG

:iagree: :bowrofl:

If you're not going to bother with 1st, then why even bother with 2nd? I just determine which road has the fastest speed limit along my route and start in the gear appropriate for that speed. No shifting required, so you don't have to hear that clunky Z gearbox. :ugh2:

Just skip it straight to 6th. That way you'll never have to shift again!