Finally Got It..3 Years in the Making
 

So, after close to 3 years of waiting to finish college, find a new job and get stabilized, I am finally in a position to purchase the car that I've wanted.


Found a nicely used 2012 370Z, Sport + Touring + Nav, 6MT (My first) wih 16k on clock , in Texas, and bought it (unseen :shakes head:) and it was delivered on my birthday (23 y.o now :/) few days ago :D. Best Birthday Present I could give myself. And I must say, for not having seen the car in person before purchasing, I am very surprised as to how clean the car is (besides a few tiny rock chips in front bumper, and slight curbage (around 3 in on rear wheel), the car is IMMACULATE..

FIRST Pic:

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5612/...26ccc5c0_b.jpg11/12/14 - Delivery1 by TaroBaapG35, on Flickr

Taking Delivery (Driver taking it out truck/finishing it all)

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7502/...4e989d77_b.jpg11/12/14 - Delivery 2 by TaroBaapG35, on Flickr

ITS MINE!!!!

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7489/...c7f70fd9_b.jpg11/12/14 - Delivery3 by TaroBaapG35, on Flickr

GOt the car at 7:00pm (Empty parking lot of course). Stalled 3 times INSTANTLY..lol, and then practiced until 10:00pm (N > 1 > 2 > 3) Couldn't go higher then 3rd gear in the lot..lol..Had a friend come at 10, and then SHE (LOL) helped me with using a little bit of Gas during engagement window to get going faster as i was just letting the clutch out slowly and letting it start moving on its own...

and this is at MIDNIGHT when I finally got it home...

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7478/...56c0921c_b.jpg11/12/14 - Garage1 by TaroBaapG35, on Flickr

..So from 7pm-12am, stalled a total of 6 times; 3 as soon as I got the car and got in, 1 up a tiny hill (which i got kinda well after trying it 10 times), 1 in reverse and not paying attention that i was reversing up a hill and didnt blip the throttle a little, and then 1 in traffic on the way back home because i got anxious..lol..Had my cousin drive behind me so that i dont roll back/etc in traffic..

Do have some SLIGHT questions (and before I got flamed for asking and not searching), i have searched and just wanted a slight recap as there are so many diff responses;
1. Transmission is loud when shifting slowly (that's normal yes?")
2. I know about the 4 methods of improving shifting; REMOVE spring completely, REPLACE spring, RJM Clutch pedal, & the most important, PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE.
3. This being my first manual, im just slightly nervous as to burning/killing the clutch, but i think, i've got the moving from gear to gear down well, just that damn starting from stop (on a hill mainly) and reversing (on a hill) is kinda nerveracking..

SO enough of my rant/intro post, but as I am in Charlotte area (Raleigh from time to time) i hope to meet NC owners and gain knowledge from the rest of the forum.

-J

Congrats on your purchase and happy belated birthday!

Yes the manual transmission is loud. You can change the fluid out to Redline MT-90 to quiet it down some and make it a bit smoother. In lower gears (1-2) rev to over 3k rpms to make it a bit smoother as well. After a while you will find the sweet spot. Recommend to either change the spring or install the RJM clutch pedal if you do not like the stock engagement. Lastly as you are learning to handle hills if you have a car behind you and worried about stalling and/or rolling back just engage your parking brake. Then when you feel the resistance as you start moving forward disengage the parking brake and slowly let the clutch out. Practice makes perfect and in short order you will no longer be a noob needing to rely on the parking brake.

Enjoy the Z!

Awesome bday gift! You won't kill your clutch that quickly...within a few days, you'll have it down pat.

A piece of advice...when on a hill, use your parking brake. Once you're ready to accelerate, do your normal disengage clutch/apply gas pedal and slowly release the parking brake.

Congrats man

:welcome:

And practice practice practice on using the clutch. You'll get it :tup:

Thanks guys, Yea. I haven't driven the car the past 3 days due to work. Gonna practice all night tonight and most of the day tomorrow. Hopefully I can start driving it to work if I feel like i've gotten the hills down.

And very quick question to you guys..When I'm letting off the clutch slowly, and giving it a bit of gas, is the clutch pedal supposed to vibrate a little? ...and I can't stop driving it....it's addicting...lol..and I get scared everytime I go above 4k rpm since the shifter goes crazy.. All in all..I love the car.

I have the same problem. Im still kind of sluggish getting into first. I have problem with Hill starts as well. I just got my Z last week and it also my first manual. Keep on practicing :)

Happy Birthday Day and congrats young man.

Congrats on the new car!

I see you are in the Charlotte area, same here! I just purchased my 370Z just over a week ago. I am about to renew my membership with the Carolina Z club (I was a member when I had my 300ZX) if you want to check that out.

Hopefully I'll see you around, I'll keep an eye out. I drive a Black 2013 6MT with the sports package. =]

Congrats on the New Purchase. Looks Clean